JoeBloggs80

Hello all,

Its my girlfriends bday coming up in a few weeks so am looking for a posh restuarant to take her to. Something romantic and a bit special ideally.

She loves seafood so a place specialising in that would be good, and something with a decent view of the harbour or something could work as well.

Willing to splash out a bit so budget not too much of an issue.

Any recommendations?

Rosscarbery

If you want seafood and special you can't go wrong with Doyles at Watson's Bay. If you prefer an Opera House view there's one at Circular Quay as well.

There are a few lovely restaurants at Balmoral Beach - don't know where you live though so that might be too far. Jonah's at Whale Beach is iconic and there are a few B&B rooms there as well so nobody has to drive home.

hotfuss

Oooh food, my favourite subject..

Garfish in Manly is just gorgeous for seafood.. went there for my husband's birthday and it was amazing. Not sure where you live but could be nice to get a ferry out to it and then a cocktail in Hugos after!

I second Doyles in Watsons Bay too - if you go to the posh Doyles and get a table outside that would be a brilliant view of the city at night-time and you're practically sitting on the beach.

Otherwise in Circular Quay, Aria is obviously supposed to be fab but that would be super pricey. Wildfire is also supposed to be good.

Cafe Sydney in CQ is also one that's been recommended to me a few times and supposed to be a good splash for special occasions.

I went here - http://www.coastrestaurant.com.au/coast.htm - for our office Christmas party last year and I have to say sitting above Darling Harbour outside the restaurant drinking a glass of bubbly was pretty nice.. Service was fab too and food was great.

itigo

Peter Doyle at the Quay - amazing............

http://www.doyleatthequay.com.au/

Lovely food, amazing view, a bit posh but doable!

Centurion

Aria definately.

http://www.ariarestaurant.com/defaul...ticle&ID=21609

EvannTel

Doyles is good but there are many mediocre reports - mainly its been trading on its name as a Sydney icon.

If you like the sound of that (harbour location, excellent seafood) I cannot recommend The Pier in Rose Bay highly enough. 3 hats, in 2008 best restaurant in Australia (Gourmet Traveller) and arguably the best seafood in Aus.

It small, lovely setting and excellent seafood.

NickyC

Doyles is not exactly romantic. It's basically overpriced fish and chips aimed at the tourists - and has been for years.

Manta on the Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo is nice. It's not as frantically busy over on that side.

Kooky.

I prefer Otto to Manta although have only been to Manta once, some time ago. Often take visitors to Otto.

Quay is lovely unless there's a cruise ship in (as there was a few Val's Days ago - they could have warned us ).

Flying Fish is good food in a great location. Foveaux is rather trendy, The Geek loved it although I thought the food was over complicated.

There's a good Sydney restaurant thread started by, I think, Generali. If I can find it I'll post again.

Kooky.

Here you go: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=587637

I'd take Sugaroom off my list, based on dinner there a few weeks ago. Very disappointed with it I'm afraid.

Bermudashorts

I will be celebrating my 40th birthday in Sydney on 19th April (on my visa validation trip) so have been looking into this recently too. Unfortunately it is my birthday on a Monday ... seems like a lot of restaurants are closed on Monday?

I haven't been to anywhere I mention but I do spend A LOT of time researching my restaurant choices. My first pick would have been Tetsuya but it is closed on my birthday We have booked the Pier in Rose Bay for another night on the trip and we are in the Prime Restaurant in GPO Sydney on my bday - this one I am less sure of but monday night options were very limited - has anyone been there?

Kooky.

We were very disappointed with Tetsuya, Bermudashorts. I've had much better degustation menus without the pomposity.

Prime in the GPO is essentially a separate restaurant in a posh food court. Haven't been to Prime itself but I find that place quite dungeony. Are you staying at the Westin?

Bermudashorts

Oh interesting. Well we didn't get into tetsuya at all, booked up the whole time we are there. Sounds like we aren't missing out then. Not sure I really like the idea of a food court but honestly couldn't find anything much on Monday. I quite like dungeony though :-)

We are staying at Four Seasons near the harbour, even the hotel's own fine dining restaurant is closed on Monday!

man_called_Horse

Cafe Sydney top of the Customs house Circular Quay, Best night was on a Summer Saturday night when one of the big cruise ships was docked in the Quay.

http://www.cafesydney.com/

PS.. it top $$ but worth it.

harrip

+1

You might get some good idea's here - http://www.atablefortwo.com.au/ - quite a few sydney restaurant reviews.

bumble69

Pier in Rose Bay knocks spots off Doyles. Brilliant.