With the reputation of being Australia's most awarded restaurant and one that prides itself on using locally sourced food, Quay was one of the must-eat-at places during a recent trip to Sydney. Having already exhausted ourselves with the degustation at Tetsuya's, we were glad that we had only booked in for lunch, and went with choices from the four course menu rather than another degustation.
Before I get to the food, I must mention that the view from the restaurant is amazing. With large expansive windows, there's a clear view of the harbour including both the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. It amused me to watch the ferries and water taxis bob along the water, as well as the endless stream of tourists, even a wedding party or two. The restaurant itself was light and airy, with plenty of space. We were lucky enough to have a relatively private booth (even if the seating itself was a touch awkward) and thoroughly enjoyed just being there. When a slightly inconsiderate patron wandered over and started a phone conversation during our meal, it wasn't long before a staff member gently ushered her outside so as to not disturb anyone else.
Moving on to the actual meal, all in all, I was quite impressed but things were perhaps slightly too fancy for my tastes. So much was going on with every dish that there were moments of confusion as to what exactly you were eating. None more so than perhaps the appetiser. I didn't hear the waitress very well, and so wasn't even sure what we were eating. Jelly perhaps? It was very pretty, but tiny enough that I barely tasted what I was eating. Maybe my palate just isn't good enough in that case.
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Jelly? |
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Sashimi of blue mackerel, smoked eel flowers, sea scallops, pickled apple, nasturtiums |
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Mud crab congee: Fresh palm heart, hand shelled mud crab and Chinese inspired split rice porridge |
I'm not sure how to classify the second course seeing as dishes were all slightly heavier than entrees yet lighter than the mains (as expected). In any case, I definitely enjoyed my order of: Gentle braise of black lipped abalone, rare breed pig belly, shiitake, warrigal greens, ginger milk curd, earth & sea consommé.
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Gentle braise of black lipped abalone, rare breed pig belly, shiitake, warrigal greens, ginger milk curd, earth & sea consommé |
M ordered the slow cooked coturnix quail breast, stone ground semolina enriched with Alba truffle butter, buckwheat, farro, walnuts, pumpernickel and malt.
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Slow cooked coturnix quail breast, stone ground semolina enriched with Alba truffle butter, buckwheat, farro, walnuts, pumpernickel, malt |
The mains were stunning though. I ordered the Berkshire pig jowl, maltose crackling, prunes, cauliflower cream, perfumed with prune kernel oil.
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Berkshire pig jowl, maltose crackling, prunes, cauliflower cream, perfumed with prune kernel oil |
M was brilliantly happy with his main course too: David Blackmore's full blood Wagyu, bitter chocolate black pudding, ox tail consommé.
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David Blackmore's full blood Wagyu, bitter chocolate black pudding, ox tail consommé |
What we had been anticipating the whole meal was of course, the desserts. Eight texture chocolate cake!
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Quay's Eight texture chocolate cake |
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Quay's Eight texture chocolate cake |
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White nectarine snow egg |
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White nectarine snow egg |
The meal was rounded off with coffee and petit fours.
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Coffee, Petits Fours |
Being royally spoilt by Melbourne coffee, I was once again disappointed with Sydney's offering but at least it was presented nicely. All in all, a wonderful meal with good food, good presentation, set in sophisticated surrounds. Given the option, I would still pick Tetsuya's over Quay, but it's interesting to see how two top restaurants in the same city do things so very differently.
Given the chance, try both and make up your own mind. Just expect to live off instant noodles for a few weeks if you do.
Quay
Circular Quay West, Sydney
Lunch: Tue-Fri 12pm-230pm, Dinner: Mon-Sun 6pm-10pm

Haha I was also questioning the wording of some of the menu items!
ReplyDeleteWe were going to go the degustation when we went there for dinner over the weekend but because it was late at night (our booking was for 9pm), we were kinda getting tired anyway so we thought we'd play it safe with just four courses. Made the right choice for we were extremely full anyway. Kicking myself over not giving the chocolate cake a go cos it looks soooo good but the snow egg wasn't too bad either :)
Play it safe with just four courses? I think our view of 'safe' is warped by all our glorious eating. Glad you had a good time though.
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