Exploring Sydney with Syd Review

You've seen our reviews, now it's time to share not only the beautiful images but take a quick glimpse into the experiences that entailed our cafe exploring journey!

We've searched far and wide across Sydney to share with you a small taste of the cafe and restaurant culture in Sydney and collectively have chosen a few of our favourites to share with you!

Join us on our journey and check out our video on YouTube!

Hurricanes Grill

https://www.hurricanesgrilldh.com.au


Looking for a delicious meaty challenge?? Well the Hurricane’s Grill has the best steak and meat of ridiculous sizes! The Hurricane’s Grill has many locations but the one located in Darling Harbour has a vibrant and social vibe, especially on Saturday nights. It is fully licenced but as mentioned before; if you come here, challenge yourself to eat the huge pork ribs!! Not only are they delicious and are grilled to perfection but Hurricanes say that “ribs are standard issue for the ultimate rib-tastic experience” and they weren’t kidding. The ribs I ordered and baked potato covered the plate and left me in a blissful food coma.

Don’t look away just yet fellow vegetarians!! The Hurricane’s Grill also has a vegetarian options. As well as providing a wine, cocktail and desserts menu. Although the food is really good here, I personally believe that the fact the staff were so friendly and fun (our waitress put a bib on each of us) I would be just as happy just being immersed in the atmosphere with a good group of friends and having a drink.
Rating 5/5
Great food, great people, great location and great service, love it!!


-Gaby

Chefs Gallery

http://chefsgallery.com

Chefs Gallery is well known to make some of the best noodles in Sydney! The menu is quite broad, while they take on a modern twist on Chinese cuisine. It is an excellent choice to visit if you are after modern Chinese cuisine in the heart of the CBD, now with a second location in the Metcentre Chefs Gallery is even more accessible for CBD workers during lunchtimes and even after work dinners.

Upon visiting the Chefs Gallery, I decided to try out the Pan Fried Lamb Cutlets ($23.90) which were quite enjoyable. The lamb was tender, juicy and was well seasoned with a variety of herbs and spices. This was a nice dish except it was a bit expensive considering the portion size.

The menu is very helpful! They contain images of every dish, making it easier to know what you're ordering.

watching the chefs make the noodles in the glass fronted kitchen is an experience. The food comes hot, fresh and fast and the selection is wide and varied. We tried things we normally wouldn't and didn't find one dish that we didn't like. If you want a real city dining experience definitely try Chefs Gallery.

This restaurant is super busy, and while waiters are running around constantly, they are never stopping to serve or make sure everything is going well. When we were seated, no serve came to greet us or ask for the order. My table mates and I had to call them over in order to get assistance.

Overall while the food is nice, it is always overcrowded and the service isn't great. Chefs gallery to me would be a solid 3/5.

- Roxanne

The Bucket List

http://thebucketlistbondi.com

Fancy a seafood lunch on the beach without the unwanted additional crunch to your meal from the blowing sand? The Bucket List in Bondi will satisfy your lunch with a beach view cravings, whilst still being treated to table service.

The atmosphere is fresh and extra colourful – bringing summer to you no matter what time of the year! Being located on Bondi Beach, it’s very common to encounter all kinds of people from your average locals, travelling backpackers and even the occasional celebrity face.

I enjoyed the Prawn and Asparagus Salad during my visit and was a little underwhelmed at the size given the price tag that accompanied the meal. However, once I finished I was pleasantly surprised by the additional flavours within the dish and was silently glad that the portion size wasn’t much larger because it happened to fill me up quite nicely!

Leading up to the warmer days we are about to welcome in summer, I would strongly recommend that everybody gives The Bucket List a go at least once!

4/5

- Rochelle

Culture Bean Cafe

http://www.culturebean.com.au/

Located in Kogarah,14 kilometers south of Sydney’s CBD, Culture Bean Cafe is a great place to go for a break or catch up with friends. 

Culture Bean has a vibrant and energetic atmosphere, but is slightly lacking in service times.  Whilst the food was excellent and made fresh, the time taken to place our order was excessive, and un-desirable.  The cafe was extremely busy, and seemed unorganised, which could have been the reason as to why it was quite slow. 

Everything that was ordered was delicious, from the much needed coffees and refreshing smoothies to the fruit salad and the poached eggs with avocado.

I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a cute cafe, as long as you are prepared to wait a bit longer.  On Sundays, it gets crowded pretty quickly, so you are best off getting in as early as possible.  

Open from 6am-4pm Monday to Friday and 8am-2pm Saturday and Sunday, Culture Bean Cafe is a great place for breakfast or lunch with friends.

I would rate this cafe a 3.5/5, based on the service, food and atmosphere.  

- Kelsy 

Reuben Hills

http://reubenhills.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reuben-Hills/214224208661661?fref=ts

 

Located in Surry hills, this restaurant is in an ideal location for people looking to eat out. This restaurant however isn’t open for dinner, just serving coffee, breakfast and brunch from 7am til 4pm, ideal for both early birds and late comers!

The urban, art deco look of this restaurant is ideal for residents of the area as they can relax in a nice space, sipping on an enjoyable coffee or warm hot chocolate with a late breakfast or as just a quick stop on their lunch break or on their way to work. The large range of breakfast and brunch options caters for almost everyone with options such as bacon and eggs with sourdough, poached, boiled, fried eggs, yummy omelettes, breakfast sausages, burgers, milkshakes, smoothies, fresh juices, sandwiches, loads of different coffees and the best part is not only does the food look great, it tastes even better and I cannot wait to visit again sometime soon!!

I am going to rate this restaurant a 5/5 because I cannot fault a single thing, and my experience there was awesome! So be sure to go by some time and try their poached eggs with bacon and a chocolate milk shake, you will not be disappointed!

 - Tanya

Oliver Brown Belgian Cafe

If you are in the mood for a sweet afternoon delight of the chocolaty kind, then OliverBrown Belgian chocolate café should be your first stop. With many cafes found all over NSW an OliverBrown Café is never far too far away; especially the conveniently located café in George street Sydney. With a surprisingly affordable menu for Belgian chocolate you can always expect to find something to meet your chocolate craving. Whether it be from their hot beverage, cold beverage or Indulgence menu you will find something sweet just for you or to share with a friend. The atmosphere is also very pleasant due to the chocolaty fragrance in the air and the friendly staff members.

 I decided to go for a simple milk hot chocolate and OB crepe which comes with bananas and strawberries as well as ice cream and whipped cream (delicious!!). This café has a very relaxed atmosphere where all chocolate enthusiasts can come and satisfy their sweet tooth. However those who have a savoury pallet may be have a bit more difficulty finding a savoury menu item.

Overall a rating of 4/5

- Gaby

Gelato Messina

http://www.gelatomessina.com     

Gelato Messina first opened up in Darlinghurst back in 2002, and since has been renowned as having the best gelato in Australia- and my god is this true! The gelato is absolutely amazing, so creamy and full of flavour. Having gone to Messina in both summer and winter yet experienced such long lines all year round, goes to show the popularity and true demand for this delicious gelato! The long queue is definitely worth it!

I come here at least a few times a month because the gelato is just that good. Very reasonably priced, a 500ml takeaway container for only $10 is a bargain! Make sure you keep an eye on their Facebook and Instagram page so you can find out what their weekly specials are (I always find myself going for the specials rather than the regular flavours).

I'm always impressed by how 'real' the flavours taste. And between the standard 40ish flavours and the rotating specials board, you'll never run out of things to try! There's a good variety for vegans too with a wide range of excellent sorbets, including several less citrusy ones such as chocolate and salted coconut and mango.

With so much choice, picking a few flavours will always be a bit of a random stab- having said that my favourite is peanut butter chocolate fudge and then salted caramel white chocolate.

Overall apart from the long line to get into the store, there is not one bad comment to make! Absolutely delicious each and every time - Definitely rate Gelato Messina with a solid 5/5!! 

-Roxanne

Bread & Circus

http://breadandcircus.com.au

This little hidden gem amongst the many phenomenal cafes and restaurants in Alexandria is one that’s definitely worth finding! I must admit that I was very happy that I actually knew what I was looking for because without knowing I never would’ve discovered what this café had to offer!

With a new menu daily, there is never the fear of being unable to try something new! From fresh fruit juice concoctions to beautifully and loaded fresh fruit platters, there is something for any foodie who wants to enjoy what they’re eating as well as nourish their body.

I enjoyed the Morning Jumble on my visit and was overwhelmed with the selection of not only fresh fruit but also yoghurt and bircher muesli for only $15!

Due to it’s increasingly booming popularity particularly amongst fashion and food bloggers, the café is frequently packed and it can be hard to find a seat. The staff however, are enormously helpful and super friendly and won’t stop at anything to make sure you’re happy and leave with a smile.

4.5/5

- Rochelle

Blackbird Cafe

http://www.blackbirdcafe.com.au

Located on Cockle Bay Wharf with exquisite views over the waters of Darling Harbour, Blackbird Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.


On a Saturday night, Blackbird Café has an energetic and vivacious atmosphere, with live music and entertainment for patrons to enjoy. If you’re looking for a venue to go with friends, a place to hold your 21^st Birthday or somewhere to have a drink after work on a Friday night, Blackbird Café can cater for you, no matter the size of your group.


The new and re-vamped cocktail bar at Blackbird Café has something for everyone. Whether you are just after a nice glass of wine after a long day, or if you’re looking for a more extravagant and exquisite cocktail, the bar has everything that you could possibly need.


Food at Blackbird Café ranges from pizzas and pasta to burgers and lamp chops. You are sure to find something to satisfy your cravings with its range of entrees, mains and desserts to choose from.

After visiting Blackbird Café, I would rate it a 4/5, based on food, entertainment and its prime location in Sydney.


- Kelsy

Harrington Thai Restaurant

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thai-Harrington-Restaurant/153541164770985

If you are looking for some yummy sensational Thai flavours this is the place to go!! It’s a small little family run business, with great food at a moderate price. The restaurant is also decorated and styled richly in heritage and it sets a great mood and environment for customers when experiencing different Thai flavours and meals. 

I only have positive things to say about this restaurant as their staff are all friendly and the food is on your table in no time which is great if you want to quickly grab a nice meal before heading off to go see a movie!

My favourite entrée is the chicken satay skewers, these are a must have, chicken covered in a peanut satay sauce with the option to also have cucumber sauce; which may sound strange but is amazing, I cannot leave this restaurant without ordering this entrée.

For mains I highly recommend both the chicken satay and the chicken cashew nut, both come with your choice of steamed or fried rice and both taste great!

They unfortunately don’t have much of a dessert range but the important thing is that they have fried ice cream and yes it is amazing!

I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone and I’m going to give it a 4.5/5 because the food and service is great!

- Tanya

The Boathouse

http://www.theboathousebb.com.au

Located right on the wharf of scenic Balmoral Beach, what better way is there to enjoy breakfast than with the sun shining and being cooled by a fresh sea breeze?

The atmosphere is relaxed and very organic with beautiful fresh flowers present upon entry and a fresh nautical theme throughout both the interior and exterior of the café.


I was lucky enough to enjoy the Quinoa Bircher with greek yoghurt, grate apple, dates + nuts for breakfast with a very clever themed cappuccino whilst sitting at a table outside however, upon your visit you might not be so lucky!

Unfortunately, due to the popularity of the café they don’t take bookings and therefore it isn’t a rare occasion to turn up only having to visiting another neighbouring café instead because you’re unable to actually get a seat. Besides this downfall, I would strongly recommend paying The Boathouse a visit - just make sure you get there early!


4/5

- Rochelle

The Spot Café - Glebe

If you see this sign you are at THE SPOT

The Spot Café- Glebe is not to be confused with “The Spot Chocolate Bar” which is located in the Liverpool NSW (may review this one later) but for now let’s focus on “The Spot Café- Glebe”.

This Café is perfect for a “going to grab coffee with friends” kind of day and yes; the coffee was fantastic! I was also pleasantly surprised with the affordability of the menu items and was recommended to try a dish that consisted of eggs with mushrooms and toast. This particular dish I would recommend so highly that you will forget to take a picture of the dish to post on your Instagram (just like I did).The smell and aesthetics of this dish were so good you can tell they take care in not only the taste of their food but the presentation as well.

However, if having a large dish of eggs with mushroom for breakfast isn’t your cup of tea, don’t be discouraged to try out The Spot Café – Glebe. The lovely people and service provided by the staff is exactly what you would expect from smaller Cafés and makes the atmosphere there casual and pleasant.
My rating is 3.5/5

For those who are looking for more of a fancy night out, maybe this isn’t the place for you. Keep in mind it is a breakfast Café and more suited to help you start a great day, rather than add to a great night on the town.
Visit their Facebook page for more information.

--Gaby

The Grounds of Alexandria

http://groundsroasters.com
The Grounds of Alexandria is a lush café, bringing hoards of people lining up for their posh breakfasts. If experience has proved anything, the key is to get there bright and early or else be prepared to be oh so very hungry as waiting in line is inevitable. The setting is reminiscent of a mini version of a farm village with lots of outdoor areas to sit down and enjoy the sun.

The Grounds of Alexandria is guaranteed to give you the most delicious and satisfying breakfast – ever! The delicious breakfast burger was served up on a delicious roll with trimmings of egg, bacon and lettuce. However, the polenta chips were very thick and a little bit bland. 

One of us had also ordered The Health Plate – which was outstanding! A massive bowl of granola with vanilla yogurt, a cute little bottle of milk, rhubarb compote, strawberries, passion fruit, pear and kiwifruit, with a little jug of juice on the side.

It is a good looking venue; clearly a designer has been hard at work styling everything from the plants to the market stalls to the tin cans that are delivered to your table containing cutlery and coffee coloured serviettes. Service was very quick, which was a good thing too because previous times the service wasn’t that great. A few months back, I had ordered the stake sandwich – it not only came out cold with soggy bread, but they had gotten the drink order mixed up. It was good to not receive this type of food the second time around.

Overall the scenery is beautiful, the food seems to be a risk – depending on the day and the amount of people, and the waiters seem to be overwhelmed. However would definitely go a third time. I would give The Grounds of Alexandria a solid 4/5.

-Roxanne

The Tuckshop

www.thetuckshopcoffee.com.au

Located in Glenhaven, 30km north-west of Sydney, The Tuckshop is the perfect local cafe for anyone. Whether you are after a quick coffee with friends, or one of their very popular cheeseburgers, The Tuckshop has something for everyone.

The Tuckshop caters for all times of the day, with a range of menu items to choose from. Whether it’s early in the morning and you’re after that freshly ground latte, or it is mid-after-noon and you’re looking to dig in to a cheeseburger and fries, you’ll be sure to find something to feed your appetite.

This cafe aims to create a welcoming and friendly environment, where you can literally ‘tuck-into-a-meal’ whilst enjoying the lovely weather in summer, or the warmer indoors when it’s a little chilly.

Open from 6am until 5pm Monday – Friday and 6am until 4pm Saturday and Sunday, there is plenty of time for you and your friends to meet at The Tuckshop.

After visiting this cafe and experiencing it first hand, I would give it a /5 for its menu range and relaxing environment. Be sure to check out The Tuckshop on your next visit to The Hills Shire. 

- Kelsy

Coco Cubano

http://www.cococubano.com/pages/cafes_bars

Coco Cubano is a trendy new restaurant located in various areas around Sydney, the furniture and decorations in the restaurant are very attractive. 

At my visit I sat in front of a fire place which definitely made my experience better, a warm fireplace while you sit and have dinner, definitely awesome! I ordered an open chicken burrito and my partner ordered a chicken burger with wedges and chicken wings as an entrée. All food tasted sensational and I really enjoyed the wedges.

Although there was a problem with our chicken wings as 2 of them weren’t cooked completely and were still pink on the inside, but the real problem was how the staff handled the error as they weren’t concerned and didn’t try to recover our relationship.

Apart from this I do recommend the restaurant as it only happened one time and neither of us were sick after our meal, just be weary.

Overall the restaurant has good food and comfort for your meal and the atmosphere is great for a night out. I would rate it a 3.5/5

- Tanya

Via Napoli

http://www.vianapolipizzeria.com.au

Panzarotto Con Nutella

Anybody who has ever visited Italy and experienced their authentic wood-fired pizza will be able to sympathise with the fact that it's extremely difficult to find a restaurant that can replicate the brilliance and taste - the search is over, enter Via Napoli!

Having been tremendously successful in their Lane Cove location, the Italian restaurant sensation has recently decided to spread the love into the near suburb of Hunters Hill. It has been more than a welcome addition with queues of customers waiting in line outside almost every night - the pizza is to die for and with 1/2, 1 and 2 metre pizza varieties delivered to your table in under 5 minutes - I can't think of a better restaurant to indulge at during the weekend with friends!

Crudo E Rucola pizza

The atmosphere is loud, buzzing and truly resemblant of a typical restaurant in the heart of Naples, Italy.

I would recommend trying the Crudo E Rucola pizza and if you manage to be able to squeeze in room for dessert, the Panzarotto Con Nutella is a must try!!

Via Napoli gets a 5/5!

- Rochelle

The Station

http://www.thestationwahroonga.com.au/index.php

Located in the heart of Wahroonga Village, the newly renovated and re-designed cafe The Station provides the area with another unique cafe for locals. The Station caters to intimate gatherings and larger parties, with a range of menu options available. If you’re looking for a light breakfast, or a full 3-course meal, this cafe is perfect for any occasion.

This cafe provides a positive and unique vibe, with its eclectic style and design, complemented with the outdoor nature that is present in the area. It’s the perfect setting for a spring morning, without door seating, and in the winter, the warm and homely feel of the cafe provides the ideal location for customers.

With Gluten and Wheat Free and organic options available for order, The Station caters for all customers. Doubling as a wine-bar, this cafe is ideal for a mid-week drink with friends!

Whether you are looking for a place to head out for Sunday Brunch with friends, or a mid-week afternoon catch-up, The Station is the perfect place for you. Open 7 days a week, you can always find a time to meet at The Station.

Overall, I would rate this cafe a 4.5/5 for its food and atmosphere. 

- Kelsy

Sahara By the Park

http://www.saharabythepark.com

Sahara By The Park is a Turkish restaurant located in the heart of Burwood. Sahara offers a great range of versatility, as it contains two sections to the restaurant. In the first entrance there is a small walkway where people can purchase takeaway followed by a second entrance on the right, leading into a lively and welcoming restaurant on the left side. The décor of the restaurant is something worth mentioning. It sets a truly welcoming vibe with beautiful prints and posters hung on the walls allows you to feel like you’re sitting in the midst of your very own dining room.

They provide affordable lunch specials where a two course menu of $20 per person includes triple dips plate with home made garlic bread and chargrill plate with chicken, lamb and Adana skewers, salad and bread. The serving size is not too generous, however this is made up as they do provide a number of different foods within one dish. The chicken and lamb are succulent and full of flavouring – absolutely to die for.

While enjoying the food, entertainment is provided. A belly dancer had performed during dinner from 7pm-7.30pm. This allowed for a fun and enjoyable atmosphere as the belly dancer was engaging with the people seated, and almost felt like we had paid to enter a concert.

To add onto Sahara’s level of versatility there is a private section on the second level available for private functions of up to 35 people and allows for the facility of CD player, projector and screen for slide shows.

They also provide a delicious range of desserts and coffee – including the famous Turkish ice cream called Dondurma, which was bursting with flavours.

Despite the smaller proportion sizes, overall this restaurant sets a great vibe, is versatile to suit a range of different needs, whether you’re on the go and need some quick take-away, want to wine and dine or simply book a private function, Sahara is guaranteed to provide delicious food every time and provide a lovely experience to remember. I would give this restaurant a solid 4.5/5.


-Roxanne

Braza Churrascaria

Braza Website

Welcome to a meat lovers haven guys. Braza Churrascaria is located at Darling Harbour, Newport and Leichardt and it is definitely the place to go if you and your friends have a spare $50 and are ready for an all you can eat Authentic Brazilian style buffet. 

This buffet however doesn’t require you to move from your seat as the friendly staff bring to you various types of freshly barbequed meat and other interesting delicacies on huge skewers straight to your table!!Our table chose Yellow Rice, Beer Battered Chips and black beans as our side dishes which were perfect compliments for this style of buffet.

By far the most interesting thing brought to our table were the "Chicken hearts"(which were actually pretty tasty).Other skewers included Beef Ribs, Prawns, Garlic Bread, Halloumi Cheese, Chicken breast with bacon and my personal favourite Grilled Pineapple with cinnamon. 
This restaurant is fully licensed but keep in mind drinks are extra.
They also offer other Menus such as the Dessert, Bar and Lunch menu, but if you come here guys it has to be for the Churrasco buffet!

Bookings are essential for this popular restaurant with the atmosphere being busy and lively even on the Sunday night our group went. 
I would give this restaurant a 4.5/5 

For the great atmosphere, service and food. The only downside is the limited selection available for our vegetarian friends.

- Gaby 

Crinitis

Located on the Darling Harbour, this waterfront dining restaurant is to die for, their delicious range of metre long Italian pizzas are sensational; 3 outstanding pizza choices include

• camorra sausage, ham, gorgonzola & D.O.P buffalo
• carne amore veal, salame, ham, pancetta, sausage, mozzarella, origano & bbq sugo
• padrino chicken, avocado, D.O.P mozzarella & semi sun-dried tomatoes

The mixes of toppings and sauces on these pizzas are amazing and the carne amore veal was by far my favourite. 

Although if you don’t feel like pizza there are plenty of other delicious mains to choose from including homemade pasta, burgers and wraps, salads and of course Ribs. 

Their ribs were cooked to perfection and the sauce was heavenly, complimented with those chips equalled to an amazing meal. 

Although one item on the menu made me sick just reading it, the forgetaboutit a ‘750g triple decker burger with 3x 250g of Australian beef patties, caramelised onion, melted cheese, bbq sauce & aioli. if you can get through this one “forgetaboutit”’ When it was ordered it was simply impossible to finish or not feel sick after attempting to eat it, so I would steer clear of this choice.

Overall I would rate this a 4/5 and recommend anyone to make a booking at this restaurant!

http://www.crinitis.com.au/


-Tanya 

SYD REVIEW

Welcome to Syd Review - we'll be sharing our cafe + restaurant experiences over a 4 week period from venues all over Sydney.

We've chosen this topic because we all found a common interest amongst the 5 of us quite quickly - food! 

We have chosen the theme of the untravelled road as a background image for our blog to represent the journey we will be taking over the 4 weeks to come.

We also have chosen to include a Translator widget to enable our International followers to gain a better understanding of the food culture within Sydney - even though English may not be their predominant language.

Our team includes:

Rochelle - 20 - Commerce-Marketing with Psychology
Gaby - 18 - Commerce and Arts
Tanya - 18 - Commerce - Accounting
Kelsy - 20 - Criminology
Roxanne - 19 - Commerce-International Business

Speak to you soon!