Rockpool Bar and Grill

Rockpool Bar and Grill is an exceptionally beautiful restaurant with very good food and very good cocktails. The service by Sydney standards is top notch, one could even argue they offer anticipatory service. The menu is vast, vast enough for many different options, but also vast enough to allow for incredible inconsistency. Example A: Entrees(that's "starters or apps" in Sydney speak)-mussels were excellent and the portion suitable for a party of 4, the Calamari was just ok and the portion was so small we each got one bite, literally one bite each of the just o.k fried squid for $30+. Example B Mains: lamb - to die for, braised beef - crave it for days, don’t toucha my plate kinda meal, bone in rib eye - beefy perfection on a plate, John Dory - boring, plain, looked worse than I would serve up at home for a Tuesday night dinner, my Mom said it looked "boiled." Example C: Sommelier pick of wine for my dinner was the most nothing wine I have tasted in ages, it could have been water if I closed my eyes. It was their own brand which should have tipped me off to the game in play. As a consolation, they bought another glass of something suitable with no drama(sometimes dining in Sydney "no drama" from the waitstaff is the best you can hope for). I will go back at some point, it is just too beautiful of a restaurant and the service too gracious to turn my back on RPBG, but I will be wary and very selective of what I order.


I would also go back in a heartbeat and sit in the bar and have a great drink, a killer burger and fries. It is a great night in itself!


Good: An interior architectural dream with history, great service, great food if you get the right thing, good wine if you know what to order, great cocktails, great atmosphere, a great place to go with parents as the volume level stays managable.
Bad: if you get the wrong thing you will not be happy
Ugly: None 


Brasstacks: A very nice night out, you should visit at least once, if nothing else get to the bar and eat a burger.