Cafe Sydney is definitely no ordinary cafe, think of it more as a fancy restaurant with a spectacular view!  A few months ago my friend and I wanted to eat lunch and dessert here but unfortunately it was fully booked and we were unable to get a table. My friend who has been here a few times said the dessert was her favourite out of everything she ate there. We decided to just eat dessert and we were lucky enough to get a table this time! I recommend that you call up a few hours before your desired time to go there to book or check if you can show up (that's what we did).

Cafe Sydney is located on the 5th floor of the Customs House, Circular Quay. Once you enter and see the view, you'll definitely know that you are not just paying for the food but the view too! We were given a table outside overlooking the Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay. The dessert menu has around 5-6 options to choose from and they are all extremely elaborate with many elements on one plate. There are also cheese platters to choose from.

Both the desserts looked way too pretty to eat, I am very happy with the presentation and of course I took a million pictures of it before eating it :P The salted caramel and chocolate peanut tart was a little bit too sweet and rich but if you eat it slowly and with the ice cream it is very delicious. I think salted caramel is only an acquired taste because my friend did not like it very much. The banana fritters were very unique, it had a nice crispy coating sprinkled with cinnamon which tasted nice with the caramel.

The lemon curd panna cotta was ordered by my friend and it is a much lighter option than the salted caramel and chocolate peanut tart. The panna cotta is light and not too sweet, the sweetness comes from the rhubarb and strawberries. It is a very good summer dessert!

Overall, I am very pleased with the experience at Cafe Sydney. The view was absolutely breathtaking, it is rare that you get the chance to admire one of your countries most iconic landmarks. Cafe Sydney has a very relaxing vibe and I think it'll be a great place to host events (more information on Cafe Sydney's website). The service was nothing too spectacular, they don't give you any special treatment like some more expensive fancy restaurants. It was quite windy and my hair was flying all over my face, so if you're not a fan of eating while wind is blowing in your face I recommend you request a table inside :) The dishes are quite pricey but as I said before, you are paying for more than just the food :) Treat yourself :)

Happy eating x

Disclaimer: This review is only my personal opinion and experience of/at the restaurant, this review is not intended to damage the reputation of the restaurant.

Vapiano is a newly opened Italian restaurant on the corner of York and King Street, and it definitely making a name for itself with its innovative ordering system, quality Italian food and simple, sleek decor. Right at the entrance of the restaurant is a waiter who happily greets you and hands you a plastic card that looks like some sort of credit card, this is the card that keeps track of everything you ordered. Every time you order something you swipe the card and at the end of the meal it gets one final swipe and then you pay. Pretty creative but you can get quite carried away but this ordering/ paying system.

The food ordering system is quite similar to a food court but much more fancier :P You go up to the counter and tell them what you want and the chefs make it right in front of you! So you definitely know it is fresh and nothing funny is going into your dish. There are a few ordering sections, one for pasta and on the other side is for pizza, there is also a drinks/ bar section. My friend and I were quite lost when we first entered but the chef serving us was extremely friendly and helpful and she recommend dishes for us to try and basically how everything works at Vapiano! After asking the chef what to order she said the 'best seller' was the 'Pollo E Spinaci' which has chicken, onion, pesto and baby spinach and a cream sauce. My friend ordered the 'Aglio E Olio' which is a simple dish with olive oil, garlic, chilli and parsley.

Vapiano is a very large restaurant, as it has downstairs and upstairs seating. We chose to sit upstairs, which is almost empty and it felt like we had the whole restaurant to ourselves!

The 'Pollo E Spinaci' was a very delicious dish, the pasta and sauce completely melted in your mouth and was complemented very well with the pesto, spinach and nutmeg (sprinkled on top). The cream is quite heavy after awhile, as it is very creamy. The chicken was moist and tender and was cooked to perfection. As you bite into it, it is juicy and it soaked a lot of the cream and pesto flavouring, which gives it that extra flavouring.

I tried a bit of my friend's 'Aglio E Olio', which is a very simple dish with very basic ingredients. If you don't want to order something too heavy this is the dish to go for. At first I thought this dish would be spicy because my friend said there was chilli in it but the chilli in this dish was very subtle but it had the ability to give that kick to your taste buds. 

My thoughts on the Vapiano chipcard is that it is a very clever and innovative way for people to keep their orders on, but my friend and I was thinking of cons to it, like what happens if someone looses it or you're charged the wrong amount...? Nonetheless I'm sure these cons are nothing to worry about :)

Overall, I had a very pleasant dining experience at Vapiano. I am overall impressed with the quality of the food, however I did find it a little pricey ($19.50- total + drink = $24.00) for just lunch at a restaurant which was semi self- serve. The chefs and waiters were very polite and patient, which is a major plus in the Take & Eat books! :) I'll definitely be back in the near future to try their other dishes and dessert too! :)

Happy eating x

Disclaimer: This review is only my personal opinion and experience of/at the restaurant, this review is not intended to damage the reputation of the restaurant.