Sails on Lavender Bay Restaurant
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I was always bit sceptical about fine-dining restaurants with an incredible view thinking the food expectation does not match up to the setting, or that the dish may taste too experimental with no substantial value. Let me say from the outset, Sails on Lavender Bay does not have these problems.
Sails on Lavender Bay is a quiet, hidden treasure of Sydney's north. It is a well-positioned waterfront restaurant right on the prestigious Lavender Bay with stunning iconic views of Sydney Harbour, the Bridge and the Opera House.
The restaurant is modern and suggested an elegant setting. It is decorated with floor-to-ceiling glass windows to allow a lot natural light in, as well as to showcase the million dollar spectacular waterfront views, Harbour Bridge, and surrounding picturesque scenery. It is a small restaurant, but the clever use of mirrors and glass create a spacious feel. The general ambiance is inviting enough with some reservations.
One of the best parts about Sails is the fact the food is well presented. If aesthetics are important to you as tastiness, this definitely is the place for you.
When my friend suggested a leisurely Sunday lunch, I certainly did not expect dining with a panoramic waterfront view. However, this was such a good idea of hers!
We certainly felt relaxed with the tranquil picturesque views and excited about the upcoming gourmet dishes. It was a nice space to unwind. I wish my dining room have a view like this!
We decided to order from the a la carte menu instead of the 8 course degustation menu.
Like any good fine-dining restaurants, complimentary bread, butter and sea salt were presented to us before the meal started. They were simple looking but nevertheless delicious.
We started off with an amuse bouche - a lovely blue cheese tartlet with walnut. The blue cheese curd was rich, smooth and creamy and it was topped with a roasted crunchy walnut for a lovely textural contrast. It was a very simple, clean and fresh dish to start the meal.
[IMAGE="http://www.weekendnotes.com/im/005/06/sails-lavender-bay-sydney-north-fine-dining-waterf7.JPG" width="100%" link="http://www.weekendnotes.com/im/005/06/sails-lavender-bay-sydney-north-fine-dining-waterf71.JPG" align="CENTER" thumb="http://www.weekendnotes.com/im/005/06/sails-lavender-bay-sydney-north-fine-dining-waterf72.JPG" border="1" caption="Entree - Hiramasa Kingfish Tataki $28.00
(Pickled daikon, salt & pepper tofu, miso, black sesame, shiso)" wrap="0" title="Sails, Lavender Bay, Sydney, North, Fine Dining, Waterfront, GMV, View, Lunch, Restaurant," margin="5"]
One thing that really impressed me was the presentation of the dishes. I was definitely enticed by the Hiramasa Kingfish Tataki. It was a stunning beautiful dish that looked almost like an artwork. The lightly seared kingfish was fresh and tender. It was served with tangy pickled daikon, crispy salt and pepper tofu and a miso black sesame sauce to balance the dish.
It was a lovely dish which ticked the aesthetics box and showcased the natural flavours of the kingfish perfectly. Our entree was so good that we wished there was more!
Perhaps we were under the influence of the stunning water views, even this simple Mac & Cheese side dish tasted so alluring delicious. The flavour was hearty, rustic and my kind of comfort food.
I like these hot fries and the smoked paprika salt provided an addictive enhancement to the crispy shoe-string fries. The flavour was very more-ish and we could not stop ourselves.
I was in the mood for some seafood, so I chose the Special of Day which was an assortment of seafood in a tomato-based broth. I held my breath when they served the dish. Initially it looked like a simple classic light soup dish with beautiful meaty barramundi, scallops, mussels, clams and a grilled king prawn.
On the palate, the barramundi fillet delivered a pleasant taste sensation with an almost fall-apart flaky texture contrasted with the crispy oily skin. The soup broth was delicately flavored with seasonal root vegetables.
We could taste the soft natural sea flavour in the soup and I believed it was enhanced by the seared scallops, mussels and clams. Also, the crispy grilled king prawn added texture to the dish. Overall, it was a very nice put together dish in a beautiful composition.
[IMAGE="http://www.weekendnotes.com/im/006/01/sails-lavender-bay-sydney-north-fine-dining-waterf11.JPG" width="100%" link="http://www.weekendnotes.com/im/006/01/sails-lavender-bay-sydney-north-fine-dining-waterf111.JPG" align="CENTER" thumb="http://www.weekendnotes.com/im/006/01/sails-lavender-bay-sydney-north-fine-dining-waterf112.JPG" border="1" caption="Main Course - Roasted Grimaud Duck Breast $41.00
(Carrot purée, Israeli cous cous, witlof, toasted almond, orange, watercress)" wrap="0" title="Sails, Lavender Bay, Sydney, North, Fine Dining, Waterfront, GMV, View, Lunch, Restaurant," margin="5"]
This dish was all about the richness and flavour of duck. It was beautiful roasted, tender and succulent with dominating flavours. The vibrant carrot puree looked healthy and the large plump Israeli cous cous and the charred witlof paired with the duck very well. The zesty orange gave this dish an extra dimension.
I really liked the plating presentation as it added to visual appeal to the dish.
Between our lovely selections modern Australian entree, side dishes and the mains, our meal was satisfying and delicious. However we were so full so we skipped dessert. We concluded our wonderful lunch by taking a post-feast stroll in the Lavender Bay lookout area and enjoyed the stunning harbour view.
Dining at Sails on Lavender Bay is such a wonderful experience, you can travel the world but there is nothing more beautiful and tranquil than a fine gourmet meal by the Harbour. I don't think I will ever grow tired looking at this view. Perhaps I should start look for real estate here.
#australian_restaurants
#fine_dining
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#lavender_bay
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#north_sydney
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105913 - 2023-06-12 12:10:45