LOCATIONEnter Westfield Centre in Market Street, between Pitt and Castlereagh Streets.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAPerhaps it is the twinkling skyline, the beautifully crafted cuisine, or the whimsical Australian wine that makes for a perfect proposal, but you needn’t such an excuse to dine at one of the two restaurants at the Sydney Tower. Sydney Tower Buffet serves a buffet of international cuisine while on another floor, 360 Bar and Dining provides a more upmarket experience with an a la carte menu.
Sydney Tower Buffet serves such fine food that some of the dishes could easily be served on the a la carte menu of the more upmarket 360. Sydney Tower Buffet attracts both tourists and casual diners, and while they come for the view, they stay for the food. The buffet provides a range of international cuisine, featuring fresh oysters, Thai chilli jam mussels, roast kangaroo rump, Moroccan vegetarian tagine, and soy braised pork belly. The tamarind and coconut braised fish should be added to the fine dining menu – it has absorbed notes of coconut milk and chilli to create a culinary fusion of Thai and Indian flavours which cannot be forgotten.
360 Bar and Dining embodies a sleek feel with brown leather banquettes, dark mahogany tables and soft warm lighting. Each dish is cooked so skilfully that the flavours distract you from the stunning skyline for just a moment. A beautifully presented entrée is the yellow fin tuna, seared, arranged on asparagus, and drizzled with fried courgette and lime dressing. You needn’t be a vegetarian to enjoy the smoked eggplant risotto which is creamy yet light, and has goat’s croquette stirred through to complement the earthy flavours. The grilled beef is tender and flavoursome, and is served with confit Jerusalem artichokes and steamed mushroom boudin, making a perfect dish. The wine list has a fine selection of Australian varieties with some particularly noteworthy drops from the Barossa Valley. Both Sydney Tower Restaurant and 360 Bar and Dining serve food that needn’t a picturesque skyline to be appreciated.
Edwina Storie