Our favorite meal in Sydney thus far. Saturday nights they only offer the pre fixe menu which I'm glad we tried since we may not have ordered some of these items normally. The burnt onion jam with the blood sausage roll was so good. Flakey pastry complemented with that jam...hmmm. The potato bread spread with kefir, dashi jelly, and trout roe was delightful. Our favorites dishes were the duck dumplings and the whole tossed prawn. The steak was good but I'm assuming because of the cut "strip loin" it had more tough connective tissues that I'd like. Overall a great spot and would visit again. 195 pp sydney rock oyster, horseradish and fingerlime roasted rock oyster, chicken fat butter blood sausage roll, burnt onion jam Pickled beetroot, sesame duck dumplings, smoky broth, yoghurt 42 fermented potato bread, kefir, dashi jelly, trout roe whole roasted king prawns, shrimp paste butter, fried capers, lemon Wagyu strip loin, hot mustard Lettuce, radish, bagnet vert young coconut sorbet warm little wattle cakes, ricotta panna cotta read more

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I'm not sure I understand the hype. The food was good but nothing really stood out. For example, he reviews rave about the fermented potato head but it's just a nicely baked roll that you would expect out of any high end restaurant. The king prawn was also good but I felt something was missing to make it stand out. Not bad but not great. Finally, I upgraded to the wagyu scotch fillet which was excellent. The meat was tender, flavorful but covered in some pureed vegetable which wasn't necessary. The steak was beautiful by itself. Overall, it was a miss for me. read more

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The food is excellent and the staff is impressively knowledgeable. The most interesting fusion of cuisines, just kinda pricey. Side note: Ester is known for their bread, but the roe it's served with is not that great. You can get the bread itself at any of the AP bakeries. Recs: cheese pie + chicken dumplings + mussel clay pot rice (rotating menu so this may be unavailable) read more

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Best meal we had during our trip. Approachable and inviting space. Definitely make reservations ahead of time and if it's available - get the mud crab dinner. I didn't know it was a whole feast! It was the two of us and we could not bear to spare any of the beautiful food, so we packed some to bring back. Also if I ever decide to eat crab at home I definitely need to invest in some of their tools. Made eating crab so much easier. Highly recommend all the food there - maybe a TAD salty on some, but the detail, quality of preparation and ingredients whisked any critique away. If you need the staff to recommend wines - ask, they are very thoughtful in their response. Biggest regret: not ordering their famous fermented potato bread served with roe. What an interactive delicious meal. A place I would return to if I was ever in Sydney again to see what the kitchen is cooking up. read more

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First off AMAZING. Everything was AMAZING. Ollie my server was AMAZING. The set menu was AMAZING. The wine on the local set menu was AMAZING. The restaurant itself was AMAZING very clean modern. Honestly best meal I have ever had (compared to my mom's cooking) but honestly dead a$$ that was FIRE. Get the set menu! I am a picky eater but you only live once and wow everting was cooked to perfection and taste. Ollie my severer was a g. read more

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As one of the hottest restaurants in Sydney, Ester delivers on an exceptional meal paired with stellar service and laid back atmosphere. The unassuming and easy-to-miss entrance hides behind it a laid back, informal and rustic atmosphere that makes you feel cozy and welcomed. The staff was superb, the recommendations on point, and the service was speedy and efficient. Getting the simple things right enhances the overall dining experience. Ester brings things back to basics in the most wonderful way possible. The innovative and modern Australian cooking highlights the locally sourced ingredients and makes them shine in creative ways. The fermented potato bread with roe and cream, as well as, the king prawns are to die for. Their in-house made drinks are also worth trying, as well. Overall, this place has a little something for everyone that appreciates the modern, simplistic, and honest approach to dining. read more

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AMAZING! If Michelin came to Australia this would definitely get a star. The food impeccable, the service amazing. They were everything you could ask for in a restaurant. They were very adaptable, for example they compensated for my gluten, nut, and seafood allergies. They were welcoming and had great hospitality. if you come to Sydney, I definitely recommend to go here. read more

Ester Restaurant and Bar - Merengue - Bars Near Me - Chippendale, NSW

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Ester is all about the local sourced farm to table ingredients and creativity in its best possible way. I particularly enjoy the cozy and informal atmosphere and the friendly service. There is a good selection of wood-fired small plates Signature dishes include the young chicken stuffed with a lobster sausage, which was full of flavor and the chicken is hands down the best (and memorable) I have ever had! King prawns doused in fermented shrimp butter was fantastic. The duck dumplings are so good I had every drop of the broth (and still wanting more of that broth!) We were told that the menu changes frequently so i won't waste my time reviewing course by course. Organic wines characterize the clever drinks list, which the Somm recommended an orange wine that paired well with the chicken. A lot of wine by the glass options to showcase specific flavors of each of the dishes. Do yourself a favor and make a rest in one of the hottest seats in Sydney. read more

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Oh man! I made a reservation to a different place (rhymes with Liarpoor) but I couldn't get Ester out of my mind. With not a lot of nights in Sydney, I had to be strategic about where we wanted to eat dinners. About a month before our trip, I pulled the trigger and cancelled that other reservation and made one at Ester. While I've never dined at the other place (but I can watch their episode on Netflix again if I wanted), I just know I made the right decision. The service was impeccable. I loved how hospitable and happy everyone working here seemed to be. We arrived a bit early and were just standing outside. They saw us and were like, come on in, even though it looked as if they were still in a bit of pre shift mode. Every person came to the table to say something nice or talk to us about something. They also put up with my dad who loves to talk, too much. The restaurant itself is dark and moody with not a lot of decoration. I appreciated that actually. I loved the idea of wine storage being a design feature, with concrete and bare lighting. Now the food? Wow. We got the Ester Classics tasting menu with the wine pairing. We also started with some cocktails. The cocktail program here is really good, great balance of flavors and good creativity. The food was intensely amazing but be ready to roll out of the restaurant. They are very generous with their portions, which I am NOT mad about. Everything was amazing but I have to talk about the fermented potato bread with dashi gelee, kefir cream and trout roe. This is something I will never forget. Ever. It was probably the best bite of food I've had in my whole life (and I am a chef in Las Vegas so I've gotten to try some amazing things.) I would also be remiss to not mention the salted caramel semifreddo with black sesame. I told the server I could take a bath in it and I still feel this way. I'd fly 20 hours again just to eat here. read more

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Best meal we've had in Sydney to date. Crispy egg plant was phenomenal. The bass was out of this world. Great drinks and lovely staff. This is as close as I have come to finding a reason to justify Australia's existence. read more

Ester Restaurant and Bar - Crispy egg plant - Bars Near Me - Chippendale, NSW

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Food was amazing! Best prawns I've ever had. One of the best breads I've had. Lounge-y vibe, not too stuffy. Great meal!! read more

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This is an elevated grotto. Walk up the stairs and you're in a concrete bunker giving the small dining room that Pont du Hoc feel. A small open kitchen with a gun port pass through fires the plates out to the two rows of two/four tops and the hockey stick Bar. Caveat: The 18 hard wood backless bar stools are the size of a hummingbird nest but not quite as comfortable. The seats feel like you are milking an angry cow while constantly shifting your bum to find the sweet spot. Your allotted space to dine at the Bar will require a tight mise en place. There are two large windows with a view of parked cars that have been there for years as a space is Unicorn rare. There are 2 seats at the window counter which is barely wide enough to balance a butter dish. The Vibe: Bristling Sardines with credit cards. People who like being squeezed like pimples because every dish is a home run. The place is so packed you'll easily hear how dysfunctional everyone else there is. Of course they can also hear you.The Bar Tenders were as busy as Bees on Speed. You'll have to vie for attention. (Tough for only children). Its a booze fueled barely controlled Christmas Party and all good. The Bar Program: Full spirited. The Wine List is a final exam Blue Book of mostly Aussie and Euro eclectics plus some Ciders, Sakes and Draft Beers. My Montenegro Sour was Amaro, Luxardo Cherry Liqueur, Lemon and a trace of Egg White and that bad ass was nasty good. A total refreshing gulper. The Staff: At the Bar they all knew the menu but that was about it. So, Sex, Religion and Politics are off the table or should be confined to your dinner companions or the Sardines next to you. The Food: Ah, what food. Food for a foodie. The Expediter claps when dishes are ready for delivery and I guarantee, you're gonna be happy you got the clap. Be prepared as plates can come at you fast and furious or in full slo-mo. You maybe eating like a wolf or on the bar stool that time and servers forgot. The Blood Sausage on Milk Bread was a ghoulish little cocktail weenie the size of an index finger. (Yeah, but who's.) This dish is delicious and everything a B. S. should/could be. The Pickled Pipis. No, nothing to do with circumcision, they're clams on a Malt Crisp Cracker with Smoked Tomato. Beyond creative, it rivals the best of LA or NYC. Leave the whole tray, please. The Potato Bread (the size of a small Rugby Ball) was as soft as a down pillow. I wanted to take it on the plane for my neck. Probably the Kefir Cream and Trout Roe it comes with would make a mess of my hair. The Duck Croquet were an Ester riff on a Soup Dumpling. One bite and your place setting will resemble a kill site from a Stephen King novel. The Croquets winked and whispered "Bite Me". I did. With Sesame and Sriracha this dish sizzled. Time for a glass of 2017 Manon Pinot Gris to freshen the palate after all Orange is the new White and all right. Roasted Peas with Curd and Pea Tendrils were so fresh I could tell who the farmer last slapped or tickled. This plate was spectacular. Iceberg Lettuce with Green Goddess and Nori/Olive Tapenade cleansed for the next course. This was a classy spiff from the kitchen as they could hear me oohing and ahhing above the dining din and they felt bad for dragging their feet with my Moreton Bay Bug which finally arrived after a lengthy post roast rest. The Bug was divine. Nestled in a puddle of Salt and Pepper Bechamel with Chili to balance it. This was worth waiting for even if Rip Van WInkle's nap was shorter. Dessert: No room? Make room. The Left Over Sour Dough Creme Anglaised, Black Sesame, Burnt Crumbs, and Salt, was positively inspired. The Chocolate-Licoirce Dart Tart was slice of perfection. It was as good as the Licorice Bon Bon on offer at Bavel in LA which might be the only reason to visit the States. I now have a zest for Ester. read more

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Ester is my favorite restaurant in Sydney. The food served here is seasonal modern Australian. The savory dishes are really what shines here. This is the type of food that I like. Nothing fancy but just really delicious rustic food. The environment is really lively and generally the staff is pretty friendly. They do get really busy which led to really short food description and checking in. Food: 5 stars Environment/service: 4 stars Value: 4.5 stars Recommendations: set menu, potato bread w/ fish roe, lamb intercostal, hanger steak I had the set menu and I highly recommend ordering it if you are hungry. The portions are roughly half sized and you get to try a good portion of the menu. Everything I had tasted good while some dishes were great. The potato bread with fish roe and dashi jelly was amazing and I really enjoyed this dish. The desserts I had were pretty good. I liked the sourdough ice cream and I liked the creative use of the old bread crumbs to provide some texture and crunch to the ice cream. The menu changes constantly depending on what is in season. Looking forward to coming back again to try some new dishes. read more

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Challenge, authenticity and innovation. They often conflict and overlap, while at other times working together in a harmony. Ester is a place where the harmony of flavors will engulf taste buds in things that embody all three ideas, bringing together a beautiful composition and challenging what people perceived as Aussie food. What makes Ester even more unusual is the fact that many people coming here, including myself, have not had a chance to establish a fundamental understanding of what Australian food is. Yet, here we are tasting a reinvention and future of something that frankly, has not been introduced in foundation to the taste buds to start with. Nonetheless, despite skipping the one 101 courses, we are here. Opened in 2013 by Mat Lindsay, Ester rapidly introduced a delicious and groundbreaking version of modern Australian and made it to the lists of world's 50 best restaurants. Charred blood sausage is crispy, slightly sweet and savory. The menu is seasonal. The innovation does not stop. Every dish was a creation like no other and an experience to behold. There is something special about an evening at ester. It presents ideas and flavors that don't try to be unique for the sake of difference, but rather to expose us to profiles that are often misunderstood and under appreciated. It is, simply put, a comforting retreat into the mind of an Aussie chef. read more

Holy wow. My sister and I did the prix fixe dinner so that we could try as much as possible. Oyster: the oyster was in almost a cream sauce, which felt weird at first but was delicious and really worked with the brine. Fried corn: I could have eaten 20 more of these. It was almost like deconstructed elote, and the fermented chili on top really was a great touch. Crab salad: tasty, but paled in comparison to everything else Macadamia and lime scallop: another somewhat "creamy" dish which doesn't immediately sound like it would pair well with raw fish.... but damn! I could have eaten spoonfuls. It was citrusy and tart and perfect for summer. Blood sausage: surprisingly good! The bread was almost like a steamed bao bun. I enjoyed them. Potato rolls with kefir cream and dashi jelly: this was amazing. The bread was perfect and pillowy, and the flavors of the cream and savory jelly were amazing. My sister doesn't go out to fine dining often, and looked at me with wide eyes and said she wants to buy that and bring it home. Hanger steak: my sister didn't love this one as she was unfamiliar with a lot of the flavors used. I thought it was phenomenal - the shrubbiness of the saltbush worked very well with the fermented garlic and the anchovy sauce. Cauliflower: this might have been my favorite of the meal. I think the cauliflower was cooked in their wood fired oven, and was paired with what tasted like smoked yogurt, almonds, and mint. It was amazing and I could have eaten so much more! Coconut sorbet/sake: I loved this also. I love sake, and the light iciness of the sorbet worked so well together. The presentation was also gorgeous. Sourdough ice cream: also very unique and enjoyable. Burnt pav with macadamia and citrus: I'm not a huge fan of meringue and so this wasn't my favorite, but I loved how it ties us back in to the very beginning of the meal with the lime and macadamia. Overall a phenomenal meal and would recommend to anyone. read more

If you are considering going to Ester go make a reservation now! This was my favorite place in Sydney. It was great service with a very low key chill vibe. The menu is seasonally depending on what is in season so all items are really fresh. They have a great wine and cocktail list as well. The must was the king prawns. They were sweet and not fishy at all. Be sure to order a side of bread to soak up the sauce after. The other item ordered was the hanger steak - grass fed. It was cooked perfectly and really juicy. The other item ordered and would skip was the jerusalem artichoke. It was a little too charcoaled for my taste. The cauliflower was a great vegetable side - the small was more than enough for two! read more

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Ester was talked up with great gusto by friends. There was no shortage of superlatives and suggestions as to what to eat off the 'incredible' menu. I found none of the superlatives deserved and the menu nothing short of pretentious. The signature 'old-world carrots' wasn't available. The Moreton Bay Bug was tiny while the King Prawns at $44 - all two of them, were disappointing. It was expensive. Very expensive. The wine list, while extensive, is largely unrecognizable. The cheapest red at $68 is a local Cab Sav Merlot while most are French, Italian or Spanish. I guess there's nothing wrong with that if price is no obstacle. The one solid point was the service. The wait staff were courteous and not the hovering type. There when needed. Absent when not. Ester is for those who like to take photos of their food and say they've been to one of the more costly restaurants in Sydney. I walked out after splitting the bill $175 lighter and was still hungry. I'd avoid it. read more

Impressed even from the first phone call. They like to do a fairly strict two sittings, one starts at 6.30, where they want you out by 8.00 (I think) This did not suit us, as it was my Birthday, and I am not a big eater, so like to take my time. The cheerful call from a lovely woman was happy to oblige. We arrived at 7.00, and left when we were ready to. Where to start? We opted for the $75.00 tasting menu, and were not at all disappointed. Baked oysters in a wasabi cream were amazing, and I could have eaten half a dozen! SOO GOOOOD!! These were followed by an ugly looking, and intriguing squid dumpling. It looked like a black rock, and had such an odd texture, sort of chewy, gelatinous, strange, but I found myself unable to stop eating it. The dish I was least looking forward to, was the "Blood Sausage Sanga" I hate sausages, on the whole. This, however, was one of my favourite things of the night!?? (What the hell?) It was a small, sweet and spicy sausage presented on a cloud like brioche. Every bite was utter heaven! I posted a pic on facebook and came home to a barrage of comments including things like "Dick on bread" and "Dog Turd on a plate" (Yes, I have creative and helpful friends) Anyhow, they had a point, but I don't think I could have been more surprised! Do yourself a favour and make sure you try it! It's utterly, completely delicious. There is a kingfish sashimi that comes with burnt mandarin and pickled cucumber that I was not a fan of. My partner said it reminded him of a Big Mac. I wouldn't go that far, and I can't really say what it was that I didn't like about it, because the texture was fine, and it was beautifully prepared, it just didn't work for me. Then, who would imagine I would be raving about a salad? Yes, first a sausage, now a salad. I must be off my rocker!?! I don't even have a clue about what was in it, apart from the green shit and the roasted pumpkin seeds and some genius designed dressing from the gods, but MAAAN, it was bloody scrumptious! Again, I ate almost all of my portion. (By this time, it's getting dangerous, because, as I mentioned, I am a fairly pathetic eater) Roast shoulder of lamb followed, which left me a bit "Meh" but I was getting terribly full by that stage. The accompanying "Burnt Cauliflower" was incredible! Yes, it is burnt, on top, and that works amazingly, it's topped with nuts and other flavour packed Ping! Kapow! Pop! type things. Again, I have no clue what they did to it to make it so good, but they better just keep doing it! So, Desserts....I was somewhat shocked when I was presented with a small and amazingly delicious birthday cake with a candle in it, along with their famous "Three Milks" and Salted caramel with black sesame semi fredo. All of them so very good. I was taken from a food coma to a diabetic coma, and loved every minute of it! Tip? Don't go dressed like a wanker, as I did. The place is somewhat Hipster and downbeat. Rock up in your casuals. Hell, Ride your bike, they even have a bike rail on the way to the bathroom. read more

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I went last night for dinner- we had a 6:30p reservation at the bar. It was empty until about 7:15... which was perfect because I am cranky and don't usually like the sound of people having fun in restaurants. The chickpea-rosemary snack is delicious. The sourdough, oysters, sanga, and cured snapper were solid, but the smoked potatoes, Moreton Bay bug and fish fillet were truly memorable. Save room for dessert. We had both the burnt pav (tart because of the passion fruit dust) and three milks (cannot even describe) and were ecstatic. read more

Ester Restaurant and Bar - My bug. Sorry the photo is not very great, but know that it tasted delicious and that sauce was insane. - Bars Near Me - Chippendale, NSW

An amazing meal from beginning to end. Each plate bringing news flavours and experiences. We tossed up between the set menu (great value 8 options for $72 pp) but decided to order off the menu. We started off with the baked oyster which is topped with an amazing horseradish cream, the kingfish ceviche which comes with a burnt mandarin that you squeeze over the top to create a delicious sauce, the squid ink dumplings and their signature blood sausage sanga a cheeky take on a sausage in bread. I was already blown away by their amazing flavour combinations and just when I thought it couldn't get any better we move onto the bone marrow. Topped with a chilli sambal and served with the housebaked bread on which to smear the chilli marrow every morsel of this dish was consumed with sheer delight. after some careful deliberation through the mains we rounded our savoury collection out with the spatchcock. This is by far one of the best poultry dishes I have had in a long time. So tender and juicy served with a garlic bread sauce ... Yes the grey sauce really does live up to its name and you think you are eating garlic bread and confit garlic. One of the things that really impressed me was the king fish head special. The road the leftover portions of king fish from the sashimi and serve it up with lettuce and condiments to eat like a San Choy bow. Great use of the fish to minimise waste. Oh and the desert. I was impressed by the value for money for desert. Great quality and low prices and some simple options on the menu. The salted caramel semi Freddo was delicious and perfect end to my meal whilst the companion tucked into the chocolate licorice tart. It was rich creamy with a delicious texture with a lingering subtle licorice flavour. Would I be back ... Absolutely. read more

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What a great place! Really enjoyed the delicious, seasonal, innovative food. We were fortunate to dine at the bar. This afforded us the opportunity to engage with the barman, have wines recommended and matched to the dishes selected, cocktails fine-tuned, all while soaking up the cool vibe of the establishment. Make a booking and go!! read more

Underwhelming and overpriced for sure.. definitely a weak approximation of a NYC hipster tasting menu restaurant. The flavors were quite strange and imbalanced in most of the dishes we had, and the plating wasn't even that aesthetically pleasing (if that's why you all are showing up). Save your money for the other restaurants in Sydney read more

Incredible place to eat. Initially, as a vegetarian, I was concerned there would be no vegetarian options. But there was no hesitation when I asked for the vegetarian set menu. This place is expensive and requires a reservation. But it's so worth it. It's better to think of this as an experience as opposed to a meal. Great place for a date. read more

Superb. We came here for lunch and sat at the bar - the food was world class (bread with dashi and trout roe / pork chop were both must-orders in my opinion) and the service was attentive and helpful. Special shout out to the Sunday bartender Simon for his warmth and wisdom. read more

The food is absolutely incredible - really inventive, and beautifully presented and OH SO TASTY - and the service is absolute spectacular. Our waiter Nina was magnificent - so friendly, so funny, and helped us find our way though the menu so well. 'Don't miss this.' 'oh, if you're getting this, can I suggest this as a side dish instead? It cuts the richness beautifully.' 10/10, she was terrific. Drinks were phenom, and our whole experience, just a catch up with friends, suddenly felt utterly memorable and like a glorious event. Would absolutely come back here for an anniversary, or special occasion. Kind of what Australia does best - fine, innovative dining, with absolutely no attitude. Brilliant! read more

One of my favourite restaurants in Sydney. The cuisine here alone speaks for itself! Morton bay bug is to die for. Wine menu is extensive whilst there are many boutique/local beers. Overall a wholesome experience, catered by both the venue and enthusiastic staff. read more

D1's pick to celebrate GHB's 18th. She has been before and claimed this place should be World Heritage listed. First thing I noticed was Claire H at the table next to us. Claire is one of those on Yelp who you just know are highly intelligent and dedicated foodies because she knows about things like 'soft power' and because her reviews are from the coolest spots on the planet and because she lives in Redfern where D1 now lives. Like a lot of Aussies her posts are less regular since Australia was shafted by....since we lost our status as worth .....well since.... you know what happened. Anyhoo, we caught up, turns out she checked in to this place - her first Yelp post in years. Oh yeah, ... this place. This place is good. Great people, great wine list (a natural wine Pinot from the Loire Valley) great cocktails, and superb food. High end design and passion. The Chef's play list has Muddy Waters and some classics that tell you he's a genius. Which he is. 'Fish on the Bone' says the menu, which is date stamped today, Cauliflower, Blood Sausage sanga, prawns with fermented prawn bits, Quail ...the menu is outstanding. Our server tells us the fish on the bone is in fact the head. Unfortunately a bridge too far for some in my family, D1 and I would have gone for it. We tricked the rest of the fam into the Boudin Noir sanga and they loved it. Then we told them what it was. All GHB said was "blood from where?" I told him its usually Giraffe but I don't think he believed me. Unfortunately I lost credibility when I ate the quails head. 'Burnt Pav'. The sheer honesty of the Chef to own his mistake and send it out anyway! Delicious. You have to go to Ester if you have any interest in cutting edge dining in Sydney. Its a must. read more

I took my old boss and mentor and his wife to lunch today at Ester and was recommended from their daughter who eats there weekly. I had to try it We started with the artichoke and a little crunchy, was pleasantly nice The Sausage on soft bread was outstanding as was the crunch sourdough bread served with the grilled prawns with prawn butter was the best I have has for a long time The pre ordered Rib on the bone was succulent, cooked perfectly and was fantastic served with Jus and homemade mustard with the Cauliflower made this a 8.5 for me and I've never given a 9 and I eat in the best restaurants and this little Jem, for the food and service experience was outstanding The ambiance was 1960's and was different, but was clean, toilets were trendy and I will be going back The Wine was nice and for around $100 per head I was pleasantly surprised read more

This place was our best yet in Sydney. A local gem. Food is fantastic and creative. Presentation is gorgeous and everything really over the top. The wine list was great and the staff was professional and friendly. A real gem. Do t miss it! read more

Ester Restaurant and Bar - Bars Near Me - Chippendale, NSW

We had the set menu ($72 pp) on a weekday night. Though it was Monday night, it was almost full. Booking must be essential. My opinion about this restaurant was just brilliant. All dishes were very creative and of-course delicious. Especially I loved the king prawns with butter sauce. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very cozy and the staff members were attentive and friendly. I'd love to come back to this restaurant again! read more

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Ester is modern, unique and inspired. If you are a foodie and looking for something new then Ester is the place for you We had a selection of small plates, all of which had something quirky about them and made you challenge preconceptions about certain foods. The beef tartare had roasted scallops in it, amazing. Bone marrow on toast was my favorite and something I had never had before. As well as this we had the carrots and Brussels sprouts and for dessert we had the 'three milks' and the burnt pavlova, both of which I ate the majority of because they were too good to share Only downside was they had run out of the coconut sorbet and marscapone icecream on the dessert menu. Otherwise, 9/10! read more

Highly recommended for a special event. The set menu was spectacular! The seemed to be a non stop parade of dishes. Oysters, blood pudding sanga, bone marrow, beef, all done to perfection. The set menu is reasonably priced at 72, but the wine is very expensive. A bottle will double your cost. read more

My family went here for dinner and we got the set menu to share. This was our favorite restaurant we went to throughout Australia. We were very impressed with the creative dishes and how passionately our waiter spoke about them. The flavors and textures were unreal and I cannot wait to come back. Highly recommend. read more

Food was creative and delicious. Covid safe and everyone was socially distanced. The staff was helpful and polite. Service was on point, enough yet not overwhelming. Loved that! read more

Seriously Ester ??? We have to be grateful and told off by a waiter?? Not cool people not cool at all. Poor service and we have been here 10 minutes. Mansplaining by a waiter when we asked to slightly rearrange seating so one of my dinner companions did not spend the whole evening looking at a man's underwear. Food underwhelming- no to whole bird on plate with head and feet, seafood undercooked - and pork quite undercooked. Maybe it's a thing that I don't get but maybe omg just maybe pork can be cooked better. Not everything is meant to be sashimi. Then don't get me started on iceberg lettuce with a green goddess dressing. Ice cold lettuce. I don't know people - have we thought maybe don't be so arrogant and maybe try harder. Feels like the chef is having a laugh and the waiters have drunk the kool aid! read more

Honestly don't know what all the fuss is about. It's a cool looking place and the staff were friendly, but the food was pretty average. I don't know why this place is rated so high. I could name 10 more places in Sydney that are better. Sorry, I don't like to be negative, but it just fell short. read more

Very dsappointed by this restaurant: it's totally over-hyped. It's noisy and one of the staff was very condescending. The wine is overpriced and they serve the smallest measure: when I commented on it, the snooty waitress sarcastically told us we should have ordered the bottle instead, but we couldn't, as I was driving and there were just two of us, not that it was any of her business. The "calamari" is actually small, rubbery pieces of grilled squid on a tiny skewer.but the shock was the pre-ordered "crayfish": be warned, it cost us AU$380 and my partner didn't realise it until the bill came: he didn't read the small print!!! We nearly threw it all back up! It came with just a couple of sauces on the side and the smallest amount of noodles, not enough for two people, but still AU$380! We also had to pay an extra 1% credit card surcharge. There's no tablecloth and when I mentioned it to my partner the snooty waitress butted in and said there's a drought in Sydney and washing table cloth uses too much water! She also uncerimoniously moved our phones, the glasses and the sauces onto the cement ledge to fit the plates on the tiny table (ther was a larger table available, but it was immediately underneath the loudspeaker). We shan't be back and will instead stay in a smart hotel with breakfast for the same price! read more

One of the 'coolest' restaurant that I have visited. The food is 'different ' - PIG TAILS - unusual , woodfire calamari and many more. - ask for their 'chef choices' so you can try many different starters and mains in smaller portions. good value at $65pp! Service is excellent, friendly staff. Space is limited and hence you would be able to hear the next "table conversation" and vice versa as the tables are very closed to each other. Filtered coffee is fine but still prefer a option of a flat white, cappuccino which Ester does not have. will definitely visit this restaurant again. Booking is a must, no BYO and parking off street is quite good and its free after 6.00pm.. read more

I adore Ester, what an absolute delight. Everything was delicious, I would eat here every week if I could. The beef tartare is the best I've ever eaten, and the squid ink dumplings and burnt pav were both winners. Great for a date night or just a catch up with friends but the restaurant is small so I think it would be best enjoyed with 2-3 people. read more

When deciding how to introduce a friend moving to Singapore to the Australian food scene, I couldn't think of a better place than Ester. This little eatery serves up delicious modern Australian fare with some familiar asian ingredients and is always appetizing. We sat down to the cheddar pie, leeks, cauliflower, and king fish head sung choi bao most recently and were very pleased. Don't worry if you don't like leeks, there is everything to love about a vegetable long grilled and topped with savory bread crumbs. Give it a try. We also had the pork special, wasn't as much of a fan but the table loved it. Not only is there food fantastic but their service was delightful and super respectful. Can't wait to have another excuse to go back. read more