Friday 28 March 2014

Restaurant Review - Aria

I've been to Aria a few times - I used to go there for the pre-theatre dinners when we used to subscribe to the Opera.  However, it's been a number of years since I went, and since then it's still kept its hatted status as one of the great restaurants of Sydney.

A group of female friends decided we would do some fine dining and try Aria out again.  We went with the tasting menu, and 2 of them had the matching wines with their food.

King salmon confit with horseradish, brook trout caviar, apple and dill
2012 Peter Zemmer ‘Punggl’ Pinot Bianco, Alto Adige Italy 

Wagyu beef cured and smoked with pickled cucumber, dijon mustard and rye bread 
2012 Golden Ball ‘Cherish’ Rosé, Beechworth Victoria 

Roasted scallops with Coorong pipis, calamari, celery and hazelnut oil 
2013 Jauma ‘Blewitt Springs’ Chenin Blanc, McLaren Vale South Australia 

John dory with mascarpone, fennel, verjus and semi-dried salted grapes 
2009 Cotes d’Auxerre ‘Biaumont’ J-Hugues & Ghislaine Goisot, Burgundy France 

Kipfler potato poached in butter milk with brioche, shaved truffle and roasted onions 
2009 Barolo ‘Blagheur’ Cascina Ghercina, Piemonte Italy 

Moran’s Family lamb loin with salt baked celeriac, sunflower seeds, lemon aspen and saltbush 
2005 Zitta ‘Greenock’ Shiraz, Barossa Valley South Australia 

Black sesame seed parfait with passionfruit jelly, yuzu and almonds 
 2013 Top Note Semillon Rosé, Adelaide Hills South Australia

I think the food was very well done, but the service was a little lacking.  Usually the waiters come and tell you about your meal, but for at least 3 of them they just put the food down and didn't tell us what was in it. The menu was next to us, but I do like them to tell us as well!  The salmon was great, and I always love scallops!  The Dory was also very tasty, and the lamb was done well.  the presentation of the dessert was nice, and I quite enjoyed that, but I think he lamb was the most memorable dish for me.

The ladies quite enjoyed their wines too!

But be prepared for a hefty bill - harbour views and 2 hats don't come cheap!

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