Going to the iconic Sydney Opera House was on the destination list for either attending a…read moreperformance, wandering about, or dining at their "Two Hats"-rated restaurant during our short four-day pre-cruise stay. Originally, I made dinner reservations for Saturday night through the OpenTable app a month in advance, but ended up changing our reservation to lunch service since we were scheduled to check out of our hotel by 9:00 AM Sunday.
Instead of walking from our hotel (Hyatt Regency at Darling Harbour) to the Sydney Opera House, we chose to catch a ferry from the nearby Barangaroo Pier. Also, the ferry route took us directly into Circular Quay, with spectacular views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, in an air-conditioned cabin, since we dressed up and didn't want to ruin our shoes or clothes along the way. The ferry ride cost us only $17.70 AUD, or around $12.50 USD, round-trip per person. I suppose we could've caught a ride-share or another form of public transportation, but the ferries offer a more scenic ride.
The ambiance of Bennelong Restaurant was impressive, with its sail-like architectural design by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, and each dish was artistically crafted to complement the UNESCO Heritage Site. Under the direction of Executive Chef Peter Gilmore, Head Chef Rob Cockerill and his fine-tuned kitchen team executed menus (two and three-course prix fixe, à la carte, and bar) which captured the essence of contemporary Australian dining by featuring the finest and freshest seasonal Australian ingredients. We were seated in The Main Dining Room, one of the five distinct dining levels, which offered gorgeous views of Circular Quay.
After imbibing cocktails (Burn it Down $36 AUD and Lemon & Melon $22 AUD) along with six sweet, creamy, and slightly briny Sydney Rock Oysters with Lemon Pepper Granita $54 AUD, we selected the 3-course lunch menu (entree, main, sides, and dessert) experience, which cost us $225 AUD per person. We couldn't be more pleased with the exquisite artistry, creativity, flavors, and expert preparation of the dishes. Also, we noticed and appreciated the sophisticated yet not stuffy teamwork, genuineness, and Australian hospitality of all the servers who interacted with us, directly and indirectly, from start to finish.
As we were selecting our entrees and mains from the menu, our server pointed out the menu items listing locally and sustainably sourced Australian produce and ingredients from farmers, fishermen, and growers who use sustainable practices. Each dish was stunningly plated and looked too pretty to bite into, but we were informed that, as a couple dining, we had a two-hour limit in the dining room. Our server delivered each course promptly, and we never felt that the service lagged or rushed. In between courses, we could leisurely converse with one another and allow our taste buds to savor everything.
We look forward to dining at Bennelong Restaurant and returning to Sydney, Australia, soon.