TL; DR | Summary
Quay is my top pick for a three-hatted restaurant in Sydney, as it offers an exceptional fine dining experience you would quickly return to. It has a stunning view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, an impressive selection of wines and cocktails, and unparalleled A-grade service. Having visited twice, I can attest that each dish, from the starters to the desserts, is crafted meticulously, combining unique flavours and textures to create an unforgettable dining experience.
Quay Restaurant Review
@bestspots.com.au My top pick for a three-hatted restaurant in Sydney ⬇️ ..is Quay as they offer an exceptional fine dining experience you would quickly return to 💯. It has a stunning view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, an impressive selection of wines and cocktails 🍸, and unparalleled A-grade service 😀. Having visited twice, I can attest that each dish, from the starters to the desserts, is crafted meticulously, combining unique flavours and textures to create an unforgettable dining experience 🍽️ Every offering at Quay is a testament to the restaurant's commitment to excellence ✨. Each course is thoughtfully designed to balance flavours and textures, ensuring diners enjoy a sophisticated and satisfying culinary experience 🎩 DISH HIGHLIGHT: Bone Marrow Noodles 🍜 With Mud Crab 🦀 And Sour Koji Butter This is my all-time favourite dish 🥰 from Quay. Its well-crafted balance makes this dish one you could keep eating and never get sick of 😜 📘 Ready for the full story? Visit bestspots.com.au #quayrestaurant #hattedrestaurant #finedininglovers #foodblogging #bestrestaurants #wheretoeat ♬ sail away - lovelytheband
@bestspots.com.au Fine Dining Done Right: 5 Star Service In Every Way ⬇️ Every offering at Quay is a testament to the restaurant's commitment to excellence ✨. Each course is thoughtfully designed to balance flavours and textures, ensuring diners enjoy a sophisticated and satisfying culinary experience 💯 I recommend getting the 8-course menu 😜 and selecting a drink or two from the cocktail menu 🍸 to experience the epitome of fine dining. A fair warning, though: be prepared to fill your stomach 🤪 🔥 RECOMMENDED 🔥 - Full Course Menu (prepare your appetite!) - Dessert - Signature cocktails 📕 To see ALL of the dishes from Quay, head over to bestspots.com.au #quay #quayrestaurant #finedininglovers #finedining #hattedrestaurant ♬ Best Friend - ASHWARYA
Quay stands out for its superb cuisine and fantastic location, boasting a breathtaking view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Booking a table is relatively hassle-free, usually requiring only a week to a month's notice, depending on the desired time slot. The service at Quay is nothing short of extraordinary, from meticulously folding napkins whenever you step away to luxurious bathroom amenities, an intimate interior, and well-managed noise levels for comfortable conversations. An added bonus is the possibility of enjoying the fireworks around 9pm, especially if seated by the window facing the Harbour Bridge. I highly recommend trying their signature cocktails, particularly the Strawberry Skies with strawberry, coconut, and basil (which I ordered twice in one sitting!).
When served with a course at Quay, the presentation is immaculate and a work of art. Their use of fresh, high-quality ingredients elevates the dining experience, ensuring that every bite is delicious and a memorable gastronomic journey. Whether it's the wine selection, delicate seafood, perfectly cooked meats, or innovative desserts, the quality of the food at Quay consistently meets the highest standards of fine dining. Having visited twice, I've noticed their menus evolve, while keeping to their beloved classics like their Poolish Crumpets and their mouth-watering approach to their pasta dishes.
Quay's interior decor adds to the experience by seamlessly blending elegance and classiness. The seating is arranged thoughtfully, maximising the stunning views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Adding to the restaurant's charm is the beautiful cutlery, each piece carefully chosen for its functionality and to enhance the aesthetic appeal of its artistic courses. This attention to detail in the decor and table settings further upgrades the overall dining experience at Quay, making it a feast for all the senses.
Fine Dining Done Right: 5 Star Service In Every Way
Every offering at Quay is a testament to the restaurant's commitment to excellence. Each course is thoughtfully designed to balance flavours and textures, ensuring diners enjoy a sophisticated and satisfying culinary experience.
Below is a snapshot of 2 different dining menus during my visits, where I had both the whole eight-course and shorter six-course menus.
Now, I know you're desperate to know if Quay is worth the price. At the time of writing, the 8-course menu costs $355 and the 6-course menu costs $295. That doesn't include any cocktails or drinks (which I recommend indulging in). For those who appreciate fine wines, Quay also offers the option of expertly curated wine pairings with each course.
Having dined at other restaurants with similar price points, I can confidently say that Quay stands out not just in taste but also in the satisfaction and fullness you feel post meal. It's an investment well-suited for special occasions or when seeking a guaranteed unforgettable dinner experience with good company.
I recommend getting the 8-course menu and selecting a drink or two from the cocktail menu to experience the epitome of fine dining. A fair warning, though: be prepared to fill your stomach.
Here's essentially everything I had at Quay. I warn that it is a feast for the eye and may cause some hunger!
Strawberry Skies Signature Cocktail with Lightly Sparkling Moscato di Asti
If you enjoy a good cocktail, this signature mix is a must-have, and as a testament to this, I ordered 2 for myself. This drink is a refreshing blend of Sparkling Moscato topped with a light and airy foam of strawberry, coconut, and basil, adding a sweet, fluffy start to the meal.
Shiitake Custard & Pork Crackling Tart
A great savoury start to the course with the delicacy of a crisp tart. This dish was a delightful fusion of textures and flavours, blending shiitake's earthy taste with pork crackling's crispiness.
Salted Caramel Canele and Post Brood Honey Tart
These one-biters offer a harmonious balance of sweet and savoury with added richness. They are a luxurious treat, with the crisp outer edge, soft centre of canelé, and the sweetness of a high-quality honey tart.
Osetra Caviar with Smoked Eel and Young Almonds
A spectacular presentation with a taste that matches it. It's one of the prettiest dishes I've come across to date. With the right blend of textures and flavours, this dish perfectly showcases the soft umami burst of Osetra caviar, complemented by the smokiness of the eel and the intricate bite of the crisp young almonds.
Raw Blackmore Wagyu with XO Sauce, Pickled Radish and Cultured Cream
A beautiful blend with the premium quality wagyu melting in the mouth that's been gorgeously paired with the pink tangy pickled radish and a mix of bold XO sauce. What's not to love in a piece of wagyu thoughtfully prepared and combined with citrus and umami notes.
Hand-harvested seafood of octopus and scallops with virgin soy, seaweed and aged vinegar
Quay is a testament to preparing fresh produce with a fitting sauce. With its tender octopus and succulent scallop, this seafood-based dish was enhanced by the subtle notes of virgin soy and aged vinegar. A light yet satisfying dish I could easily have a second serving of.
Young Pea with Cultured Cream on a Liquorice Kombu Tart
An artistic showcase of colours with the vibrancy of the fresh green peas and the black charcoal from its base tart. This dish offers a delightful blend of fresh, sweet peas and rich cultured cream, all served on a uniquely flavoured liquorice Kombu tart. I'm no fan of liquorice, but it's subtle enough to thoroughly enjoy the tart.
Garden & Sea Greens with Light Broth
The combination of garden and sea greens with a delicate broth you can add to it was refreshing, providing a light yet delectable experience, considering it's basically a salad. I particularly love how Quay uniquely incorporates their sea greens, a common theme in their seasonal menu.
Poolish Crumpets with Smoked Roe and Cultured Cream
A familiar dish in both my dining experience and for good reason. Instead of the usual bread and butter you'd find at most fine dining restaurants, these crumpets are a classic English favourite with their holey texture and crisp base. Spreading the cultured cream and smoked roe on top adds an enjoyable smoky and creamy flavour I secretly wish I had as a breakfast staple.
Smoked Pig Jowl with Black Lipped Abalone, Shiitake and Fan Shell Clams
Seeing pork and seafood is not standard, but Quay has created a rich and hearty dish from the best parts of pork and seafood. The smoked pig jowl harmonised brilliantly with the luxurious abalone and the earthy shiitake and clams, creating a unique flavour profile that packs your tastebuds with hits of different umami notes.
Bone Marrow Pasta with White Asparagus, Koji and Garum Butter
This fresh gnocchi pasta was a revelation upon first bite. With the rich bone marrow and the delicious garum butter, the pasta is well coated with lots of savouriness contrasted by the crunchiness of asparagus.
Roasted Maremma Duck with Burnt Mandarin Paste
This dish showcased skill, featuring flawlessly cooked duck that was tender and flavourful with a tint of pink. It's beautifully complemented by the burnt mandarin paste's unique, slightly charred sweetness.
White Coral Dessert (shaped like a fluffy ball)
A visually stunning and equally delicious end to the meal, this dessert was not just a treat for the eyes but also a delightful play of textures and flavours. Quay is exceptionally talented at their dessert making, so it's a shame there's only one dessert in their courses.
Native Marron with Roe & Flowers
This dish celebrates the delicate, sweet flavour of native marron that's been perfectly complemented by the rich savouriness of fish roe and the gentle touch of edible flowers. Not only is it a visual delight, but it also amplifies the subtle flavour of marron further. On top of this, it's also super pleasing to the eyes!
Confit Pig Jowl with Earth & Sea Greens and Smoked Trotter Broth
This dish showcases the succulent, rich flavours of confit pig jowl beautifully paired with fresh, vibrant earth and sea greens. The smoked trotter broth added a depth of flavour that elevated the dish to a new level of gastronomic excellence.
Bone Marrow Noodles with Mud Crab and Sour Koji Butter
This is my all-time favourite dish from Quay. These noodles are an exquisite fusion of flavours, combining the rich, indulgent taste of bone marrow with the delicate sweetness of mud crab. The sour koji butter added a unique, tangy twist that made every bite a delightful surprise. Its well-crafted balance makes this dish one you could keep eating and never get sick of.
XO Broth with XO Scallop, Pipis, Shiitake, Cured Ham and Squid
A luxurious uplift on the XO sauce with the addition of premium seafood and umami flavours from the other components. The scallops, pipis, shiitake mushrooms, cured ham, and squid all contributed to a rich, intense, savoury experience that was both complex and satisfying. Perfect for those familiar with the highly renowned taste of XO!
Stone Fruit Fantasy
This delightful icy dessert was a feast for both the eyes and the palate, featuring light pink hues of ice placed on top of a creamy base. Its combination of refreshing stone fruitiness with the richness of cream creates a perfectly balanced and indulgent treat, cooling you down while easing you to the end of your course.
RECOMMENDED
- Full Course Menu (prepare your appetite!)
- Dessert
- Signature cocktails
Final Words
Quay is a top restaurant in Sydney, consistently awarded 3 hats for at least 22 consecutive years. It's no wonder, as during my dining experiences, Quay did a great job of combining culinary excellence with a stunning environment and impeccable service. Whether it's for the innovative dishes, the breathtaking views, or the luxurious ambience, Quay remains my favourite three hatted fine dining spot in Sydney. It's a place where each visit is not just a fancy meal but an everlasting memory.
Where To Find Quay Restaurant Sydney
Address
Hours
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 6:00 – 8:45 PM
- Thursday: 6:00 – 8:45 PM
- Friday: 6:00 – 8:45 PM
- Saturday: 12:00 – 1:30 PM, 6:00 – 8:45 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 – 1:30 PM, 6:00 – 8:45 PM
Website
Phone
+61 2 9251 5600
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OOO l want all these dishes you ate! You had me at Bone Marrow Pasta just based on the menu description alone.
Quay is definitely a restaurant you can keep coming back to. Bone Marrow Pasta is a common theme here which is great for you 🙂