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Ratings and reviews

Travellers' Choice2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

PRICE RANGE
AU$210 - AU$275
CUISINES
International, Australian, Contemporary, Fusion
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options
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meals, features
Reviews (2,075)
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Reviewed 2 weeks ago via mobile

We dine out regularly and have been fortunate enough to eat at restaurants like Vue du Monde in Melbourne, Fino in the Barossa Valley and Wickens in Dunkeld. We expected something similar in quality terms tonight, even perhaps having our expectations exceeded. Overall I would...have to say we were disappointed with the food and the ambiance. We ate upstairs in the smaller dining room. The tables have minimal dressing and you only need one "loud" table to kill the atmosphere. The views are spectacular despite the Opera House side being obscured by a massive cruise ship but it is what takes place within the dining room that establishes the vibe. We opted for a six course tasting menu and ordered a bottle of champagne (price was just over double retail). The food was innovative but the portion sizes tiny. The protein was cut scalpel thin and in many cases overwhelmed by other elements of the dish. Compared to other fine dining restaurants in Australia and overseas it is the smallest portion sizes we have ever experienced. We weren't looking for the Tuesday night schnitzel special at the local club, just something memorable and value for money - we didn't get either. Wickens at the Royal Mail in Dunkeld for example offers generous tasting portions prior to the set menu and artisan bread and butter to mop up the delicious sauces - they were so delicious it would have been a crime not to do so. At Quay there was no such generosity. The staff were friendly and attentive but ambient noise levels, once all the tables were occupied, made conversation difficult and it was also hard to hear the descriptions of the dishes. So after spending nearly $600 for food for two people we left thinking about what cheese we had in the fridge for when we got home - we were still hungry. We mentioned to somebody we met at a function earlier in the week that we were looking forward to eating at Quay. "It's not for me", she said. We would have to agree, it's not for us either..More

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 5 weeks ago

We were so looking forward to dining at this restaurant before we arrived in Sydney. The food was excellent. We had the tasting menu. The ambience and view excellent. Staff friendly. However a couple of elements needing perfection. Our wine was not the correct temperature...and could not be served. Sadly our first three courses of the tasting menu was served without wine! Not something you expect from a restaurant with such a high accolade. On receiving our bill at the end of the evening a more expensive bottle of wine had been added to the bill.More

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?2  
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Reviewed 6 November 2023

My wife and I dined here hoping for a great experience to try a top rated restaurant and we were extremely unsatisfied with the food. Beyond the food, the environment & service were very pleasant which included a great view of Sydney Harbor. We did...a 6 course tasting meal. The combinations of ingredients created a nauseating taste one meal after the next, from the pallet cleanser to the dessert! Some were too salty while others were too buttery and creamy. For the expensive price you pay, it should be nearly perfect! The chef seemed to focus more on the design before the taste. My wife and I may not be extreme foodies but have adventurous palates. We both struggled on keeping the food down. Plates were very small and we were still hungry! Save your money - go to a really great local boutique restaurant or Pub! Sorry team, we will not be back.More

Date of visit: November 2023
Helpful?2  
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Reviewed 5 November 2023

Excellent on everything! The food, service and the atmosphere. I had such a great time at the Quay restaurant. My top 3 cuisine were: •Tasmanian White Asparagus mud crab custard •Southern Rock Lobster Sea Urchin, Koshihikari rice Marigold broth • Maitake mushrooms blacklip abalone schmaltz,...garum, sour koji OMG, they were so nice!!! Staff there was very friendly and helpful. I would surely visit there again. Thank you for the lovely night!More

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 24 September 2023

Traveling on business, I dined at Quay with a friend. With the 8-course degustation, the portion size was ideal which left us pleasantly sated. Four of the courses were exquisite. The 2nd course was raw Albrolhos Island scallops from Western AUS, which were firm textured,...buttery, and naturally sweet. Served on a bed of katsuobushi cream (smoked and fermented skipjack tuna) with sea cucumber crackling and topped with Murray cod roe, the crunchy sea cucumber absorbed the savory flavor of katsuobushi with a truly memorable result. Moreover, the cod roe accented the dish perfectly. The 4th course was dancing Japanese mushrooms (Maitake), black lip abalone, magical schmaltz (nondairy butter flavor from goose fat), garum, and koji. In short, an umami wet dream. The 6th course was Maremma duck (free range pasture-raised) served with a medley of tasty, fresh vegetables – white sprouting broccoli, Jerusalem artichoke, Chinese cabbage (Hispi), and heirloom spigarello (like broccoli). The duck was perfectly prepared (medium rare), with crunchy skin and incredibly succulent meat. Mouthwatering, although arguably out of place given the seafood leitmotif. Nonetheless, had I dined on duck alone, the meal would not have been any less memorable. Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the famous White Coral dessert (7th course) – French white chocolate, cream & eggs treated with liquid nitrogen (giving a coral appearance), atop chocolate mousse, mango ice cream, and coconut cream. A perfect finish. Stunning views of Sydney’s harbor and semicentennial opera house offered world-class ambience. Kudos to the attentive waitstaff, especially Monique, as well as to the maestro himself, Head Chef Troy Crisante.More

Date of visit: September 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 16 September 2023

Dining at Quay in Sydney was a culinary voyage that celebrated Australian cuisine and the art of fine dining. The restaurant’s location overlooking Sydney Harbour set the stage for an exceptional meal. The menu was a symphony of local ingredients and innovative techniques, showcasing the...flavors of Australia. The tasting menu was a culinary adventure, with dishes that delighted both the palate and the eye. The staff’s expertise in gastronomy and their dedication to providing impeccable service made the dining experience truly unforgettable. Pairing the dishes with selections from the extensive wine list added to the overall indulgence. Quay is not just a restaurant; it’s a testament to the beauty of Australian cuisine and a must-visit for anyone seeking an extraordinary dining experience in Sydney.More

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?2  
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Reviewed 30 August 2023 via mobile

Quay not only ticked all the boxes for what a fine-dining restaurant should be, but It also excelled in certain aspects. A truly excellent service with all food restrictions noted in advance. We were all allergic to alcohol and the server of this particular restaurant...was the only one (among the dozens of Michelin-starred, hatted and hotel restaurants I have ever visited all around the world) who DID NOT ask if we would like some wine and walked away with a long face after learning that we did not drink. The server asked us straight away to choose from their non-alcoholic beverages, which I was extremely impressed. I remarked our alcohol allergies whenever making a reservation at any high-end restaurant but those restaurants , with no exception, would send their sommelier to introduce their wine list , the servers would then ask about our food restrictions like they had never been aware of it beforehand. We would like to give Quay a big hand for this ! The availability of “NON”, a wine alternative, was also a pleasant surprise for us. The dishes were curated around the concept of australia or more specifically, Sydney. Starting from the sea, then the land and finally the sky. The sandstone color (a common stone in Sydney) was seen in almost all the dishes, we really appreciated such consistency of concept. Another example, feathers were seen in the dessert, on the rock sugar clip, as well as on the latte art. How thoughtful the chef is! Portion was just right for us ladies, maybe we have had many other fine-dining experiences of having lesser food with a more extravagant price tag before and were accustomed to it. However, we were definitely not hungry after the meal. When it came to taste, the dishes were good but not something extraordinary or mind-blowing to be honest. The marron dish was cooked beautifully and easily the best of the evening. Don’t expect too much on the taste especially if you are a gourmet. The view was absolutely stunning and the atmosphere was relaxed yet elegant. One more plus: unlike some other same-tier restaurants in Sydney, they did not explicitly solicit gratuities/tips from the customers by either verbal or written prompts, Quay was really classy in comparison. All in all, Quay is a great restaurant that one should at least visit once.More

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 15 August 2023

Wow, wow and wow again. Our son treated us to dinner. We were away from uk for our daughters birthday, so we celebrated it in style for her! Everything amazing from beginning to end. Fantastic view of the Opera house at first obscured by an...enormous cruise ship, but even that was an experience when it moved! Attentive staff, wonderful unforgettable food. Each course perfectly balanced with appropriate wine to accompany it.More

Date of visit: October 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 31 July 2023

We enjoyed the complete menu - every dish a very intriguing treat. Impeccable Service, view of course also perfect. Especially liked to have a big mirror - which meant that every member of our party of 6 had the opera house view… Full recommendation. Only...thing for the Restaurant to think about: even though we very hardly could be called „strong eaters“, we still felt somewhat hungry after the complete course. The main dishes should be a bit bigger, and the quantity of „greetings from the kitchen“ to start out with could be more than just one - compared to other places which play at your level worldwide, one is used to be pampered a bit more in that direction…More

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 21 June 2023

Extremely delicious food, everything we had was exceptional, view is stunning and service excellent. It is rare to get a restaurant to tick all the boxes, Quay certainly did on our recent visit. We have not been here for many years and were pleased to...really enjoy the whole experience. The flavours in the degustation were outstanding, and we could not fault anything that came to the table. So we would definately choose this again for a special experience and look forward to our next visit.More

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 27 May 2023

Dining at Quay is an experience. Classic iconic Sydney location. Yes the serves are extremely tiny. However each mouthful is amazing. You’re not going to this restaurant to have a great big Chinese cook up. It’s Australian fine dining at its best. The cocktails are...incredible and the wine selection is the best around. If you only go once it’s worth it just to have the experience. One criticism is the duck was not up to scratch. The dish needs to be re looked at as it was the dish I was most looking forward to and it was not good.More

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 23 May 2023 via mobile

Been there with my boyfriend on a busy Saturday, good service, nice view on the bridge and food up to the hats. Price a little bit high.

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 3 May 2023 via mobile

We visited Quay on 22 April 2023 to celebrate a milestone birthday & we absolutely loved it. We were wowed by every dish of the 8 course degustation and the cocktails were some of the best I can remember. The service was fast, attentive and...friendly, our lovely server Michelle was just great. We were even given additional desserts complimentary due to my birthday. Thank you Quay for a memorable experience - we can’t wait to come back!More

Date of visit: April 2023
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Reviewed 15 April 2023

This restaurant takes your breath away, even as you enter it, to be greeted by stunning views of Sydney harbour. We were even fortunate enough to be treated to a firework display form across the harbour, where "Madama Butterfly" was being performed. The staff were...very friendly and efficient. We were offered a choice of an 8 or a 10 course menu and opted for the 8 course one. We also opted for their wine pairings, choosing the basic and the "sommelier's choice", which really complemented the food. As we expected, the menu had several seafood and fish courses, all of which were delicious. As I said the wines complemented the courses perfectly and were surprising, in that we enjoyed wines that we wouldn't have thought of ourselves, which was a revelation. The sommelier was a joy, especially when we had a surprise extra course, of a kind of crumpet, with a mini sake tasting session; a revelation in itself. We loved everything about being there; they even gave us chocolates to take away. A wonderful. I can't rate this place high enough.More

Date of visit: April 2023
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Reviewed 2 April 2023 via mobile

Let me start with the best part of this restaurant - the view is incredible! Otherwise the entire experience was a big let down. The service was super slow and the food was just ok. They said 2 hours for the 6 course meal. It...was 3 hours. My husband and I are foodies. We enjoy eating at the best restaurants when we travel and when we’re home. I don’t mind spending a lot of money for great food. Quay did not deliver. We did the 6 course meal and I have to say not one dish did I say, “wow that was amazing!” There was one that I thought, “finally a good dish” ( and that was for the shiitake noodles). And there was one dish that just didn’t work for me at all. The worst part? We spent $750 for 2, and I was still hungry at the end. When you spend that kind of money, you should at least be pleasantly full. I was not. Sorry Quay, I will not come back and I would not recommend you to any of my friends.More

Date of visit: April 2023
Helpful?4  
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QUAY RESTAURANT, Sydney - The Rocks - Updated 2023 Restaurant Reviews, Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Quay Restaurant

Quay Restaurant is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 3.5
  • Atmosphere: 4.5