ARIA, Macquarie St, Circular Quay

ARIA, Macquarie St, Circular Quay
Saturday 27 January, 2007

The last time I visited ARIA was during Gordon Ramsey's promotional tour - I loved it. Tonight, we were off to see Kaiden at the Opera House - Meryl Tankard's choreography with Taik Oz - the Japanese/ Australian drumming group.

Whilst ARIA are not offering Fast Festival Feasts, like many restaurants during the Sydney Festival - they do have a Pre-theatre menu that is very reasonable. One course for $38, two courses for $60 and three courses for $75.

We arrived really early - 5.45pm for dinner - it seemed like the time for a late lunch but the show started at 7.30pm so we wanted to have plenty of time to enjoy our meal at ARIA and not feel rushed.

We arrived just as a large group of 8 did, along with another group of 2. However the Maitre'd handled it well and we were warmly greeted and shown to our table overlooking the Harbour and West Circular Quay. Unfortunately a thick concrete pole was blocking our view out to the Harbour Bridge. The Pre-theatre menu is lean and offers about 5 dishes for each course.

I couldn't go past the Salad of fresh figs with mozzarella and Spanish jamon iberico for entree and the Chargrilled scotch fillet with feuillette of mushrooms, anchovy & bone marrow butter for main. We also shared some creamy, truffle infused mash.

My entree was divine - the light, fresh taste of the figs coupled with the enormous, creamy mozzarella ball and slight saltiness of the Spanish ham was exceptional. The perfect summer dish. The chargrilled scotch filet was also very good and size of the scotch filet was impressive.

My dinner buddy ordered the entree special, Red Mullet soup that came beautifully presented in a white bowl with lid and a small selection of sides including large garlic croutons. The lid was dramatically removed at the table to reveal a wonderful aroma of fish and spices. They also ordered the the Chargrilled scotch fillet with feuillette of mushrooms, anchovy & bone marrow butter for main.

After dinner we enquired about the Kitchen Table - the purpose built table that sits within the kitchen to provide guests with an up close and personal visit to ARIA. Our waiter was more than happy to show us inside (it wasn't being used tonight). You enter the Kitchen Table just off the main entrance and it's all deep maroon leather seats around a small, intimate table of no more than 8 people. The cost is $2,000 regardless of whether you have 2 - 8 people.

The ARIA experience is fabulous - the perfect venue before a night at the Opera House. Kaiden was incredibly moving, engaging and emotional - I loved it. For me, the standard out performance during the Sydney Festival.

ARIA Restaurant - 1 Macquarie Street, Circular Quay - (02) 9252 2555

http://www.ariarestaurant.com.au/main/index.php