Restaurant Guide

Rockpool Bar & Grill: Restaurant review

Rockpool Bar & Grill delivers the glamour via its thrilling Deco-era dining room, all soaring pillars, mood lighting and lofty ceilings.

Address

66 Hunter St
Sydney, NSW

Hours

Lunch Mon-Fri noon-3pm;
Dinner Mon-Fri 6pm-11pm, Sat 5.30pm-11pm, Sun 6pm-10pm

Prices

E $24-$39
M $29-$140
D $16-$26

REVIEW

Neil Perry's flagship fine-diner has no shortage of frills and thrills, from the dramatic Art Deco building and the luxurious Riedel glassware to the 3000-plus bottle wine list and, it must be said, the hefty bill at the end. Fads, however, are in short supply, especially when it comes to the food: the entire menu works in service of a stoutly confident theme celebrating classic cooking and exceptional ingredients. Beef, which is the headline act on the carte, is sourced from sustainable producers, aged in-house and, if the dark-crusted Cape Grim Scotch is anything to go by, cooked with a trained eye and steady hands, but there's almost never a foot put wrong anywhere else either. Layers of complexity push an entrée of chicken soup far beyond the realm of simple comfort food, and a side dish of woodfired creamed corn with chipotle chilli butter and Manchego arrives hot and juicy. The clientele is one of the few surprises; the CBD power players are out in force, but there's also strong representation from more casual diners who know there's nowhere else in Sydney offering such a reliably excellent and timeless dining experience.
Phone:
(02) 8099 7077
Bookings:
Bookings recommended
Features:
  • Licensed
  • Bar
  • Vegetarian-friendly
  • Wheelchair access
  • Private room
  • Impressive wine list
Accepted card types:
  • American Express
  • Diners Club
  • Eftpos
  • MasterCard
  • Visa
Chef(s):
Corey Costelloe & Neil Perry
This review was made independently for the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. The guide's reviewers visit unannounced and pay their way.