I think it’s fairly clear by now there were a number of food highs and lows during my trip to Australia. Restaurants I thought were going to be amazing but did not live up to the mark, and those I had literally no opinion of (or did little research on) that went way beyond the hype. In a city like Sydney, which already has plenty to choose from, perhaps sometimes it’s the luck of the draw and a little bit of trusting your instincts. In this instance, while staying at the Old Clare Hotel (separate review to follow), I noticed an insert for the nearby (practically next door) Automata and was intrigued by the lunch special (offered Fridays and Saturdays only). Fighting a cold and the weather (which couldn’t make up its mind for our last 3 days), we decided to stay closer to home for a long lunch over the…
The post Automata: My favorite Australian dining experience. appeared first on A TO ZA’ATAR.
]]>Before even entering the restaurant, Quay comes with a bit of a reputation. I’ve had a number of foodie friends visit this iconic Sydney property — some have thoroughly enjoyed the experience (placing the meal in the upper echelons of remembered meals), and others have thought it was a bit overrated (praising the view and not much more). Where, exactly, would our opinion lie? Let’s first start with the positives — the view from the dining room is among the best in Sydney. Full stop. Given that we dined during Vivid, we had a front row seat for the brilliant lights of the festival, which were at times absolutely show stopping. Additionally, I thought the service staff (and all front of house) were highly professional and involved and appreciated the ability for the kitchen to adhere to Hubs’ no gluten or dairy preference. Unfortunately, friendly staff and a beautiful view do…
The post Quay: #95 World’s 50 Best Restaurants. appeared first on A TO ZA’ATAR.
]]>