I recall the first time I walked into Neil Perry’s Rockpool Bar & Grill about 6 months ago. You see my Inner Burmese (no road sense) had struck again and I promptly got lost and I meant to walk into Spice Temple. I felt like a child walking into an adult’s domain. Everything was incredibly tall and silver and sleek, like New York’s Chrysler Building. The pillars were sky high and reached to the higher than high roof. I in turn felt like little I was little more than 80cms tall and a child in high heels. Waiters in white jackets bustled about, men in suits lunched and I almost expected Don Draper to walk past me. I vowed to come back. One day. Maybe when I was grown up.
Fast forward to a few months later and I was lucky enough to be taken here by Winston and Sandra. Just a couple of weeks ago, it was newly minted by the SMH’s Good Food Guide as the Best New Restaurant. On the table are four books plus the large paper menus that are printed out each day. There’s the Red Wine menu, the White Wine menu and then there’s also a booklet that explains the differences between the types of meat.
Lastly there’s the cocktail menu with a page of “Rockpool Bar & Grill House Rules” which may be terrifying at first for a split second before you realise they’re meant in an amusing way. Things such as “Gentlemen, do not approach ladies, and if you’re lucky enough to have one approach you, endear her as you would your Mother”; “Don’t look fiercely at people, or talk loudly or harshly, but cultivate a smiling countenance and a quiet, but firm tone of speech” and of course ” No hooting, no hollering”. And to add to the retro Mad Men vibe, service is old school deferential and unfailingly polite.
The House Rules
There is much indecision when faced with a menu like this. There are cold plates, hot plates, salads and then there’s the grill section. And who’s kidding whom? The grill section is where you want to plant yourself firmly. It is however an expensive patch of Real Estate with steaks heading up towards $110. This is why this particular restaurant is off limits on most corporate lunch lists. Neil Perry advises people to share steaks to try and taste the differences between them. The cynic among us would think this was to help repay the way for the reported $35 million fitout for both the Bar & Grill and Spice Temple. Yes in Perry’s world there’s no such thing as a GFC and I chuckle at the last House Rule “Remember, nothing is on the house, except for the roof” .
Bread and butter
The bread is a lovely crunchy sourdough baguette slice and the butter is sublimely creamy like a lovely French butter.
Meals are brought to the table American style, where the waiter rests the tray on a fold up table and serves from there.
Joselito Iberico Jamon, Jamondul Serrano Jamon Reserva, Fratelli Galloni Parma Proscuitto with pickles $29
Tables are slightly too small for Perry’s sharing philosophy so we do a lot of juggling. The Joselito Iberico Jamon, Jamondul Serrano Jamon Reserva, Fratelli Galloni Parma Proscuitto with pickles comes as three woven ribbons of jamon with the Iberico being the darkest shade to the Proscuitto as the lightest. They’re all delicious and distinct. If anyone thought that all Jamon was the same this plate would convince them otherwise. The pickles are a sweet punctuation and reminiscent of Asian pickled vegetables.
My Steak Tartare with Chips $25
I didn’t add “My” for myself, I assume that the “My” in the dish’s name is Perry’s. We’re used to seeing a circle of raw mince with an egg yolk in the centre so when they put this down we have to do a second take. It’s the Steak Tartare alright but it is mixed with mayonnaise and seasoned. I always find Steak Tartare a bit of a risk, they can be bland with acrid onion and it can be as appealing as eating a raw hamburger patty but this one is absolutely perfectly seasoned with a hint of mustard and spring onions balancing the creamy whole egg mayonnaise well. The hand cut chips are deliciously crispy and golden.
Wood Fire Grilled Vegetables and Goat’s Cheese Salad $19
With all of the meat it was Sandra’s prudent idea to order the grilled vegetable salad. The wood fired grilled vegetable salad is perhaps not the most exciting dish with the goat’s cheese being a bit of a let down and very much missing that distinct goat’s cheese flavour. It’s almost as if it has been mixed with a mascarpone or another creamy cheese as the flavour is so muted.
Wagyu Bolognese with hand cut Fettucine $25
Bolognese is one of those dishes that I am always disappointed in when I order it out. It seems that as far as this particular pasta dish is concerned, nothing beats home made. So we try this with much anticipation in the hopes of breaking the bolognese dry spell. The pasta is firm – too firm – and not as silky fine as a hand made fresh pasta should be. I don’t mind the sauce but Winston is disappointed and says that he wouldn’t order it again.
David Blackmore’s Dry Aged Full Blood Wagyu Topside 220 21days aged $49
We’re offered a choice of sauces to go with the steaks. There’s a house made BBQ, a Harissa a horseradish and three mustards. I choose the Harissa and homemade BBQ and they’re both fantastic even though the Harissa isn’t as spicy as I’ve had and prefer. I adore my Wagyu but lately I find that I prefer the Cape Grim Grass Fed Beef from Tasmania in favour of the fattier Wagyu and have been ordering that instead of Wagyu. The steak comes pre sliced into neat strips and is perfectly cooked. Sinking my teeth into the Wagyu it instantly feels and tastes different from the Cape Grim that I’ve had lately. It’s good but it is a fattier cut and you can really taste it.
The Sauce Selection
Rangers Valley Dry Aged 300 Day Grain Fed Fillet 250g $65
The thicker cut of the Rangers Valley is also delicious, tender and well cooked.
Beetroot, mache and feta salad with pistachio nut dressing $19
The beetroot salad with mache and feta and a pistachio nut dressing is decorated with little jelly cubes or beetroot water. I wish the feta was creamier though and I find the beetroot jelly cubes a bit too “earthy” for my taste.
Black Forest Trifle Inspired by The Fat Duck’s BFG (Black Forest Gateau) $20
We ordered the Black Forest Trifle for our chance to try something somewhat similar to The Fat Duck Black Forest Gateau. Is it a trend of chef’s playing homage to living chef’s dishes? Is it a love letter disguised as dessert? Both desserts come to the table and they’re enormous. I don’t just mean big, I mean gi-freakin-ormous and we’re a bit stunned at the size. The bowl is about 16cms in diameter and there’s a layer of rich chocolate cake, some cherries and a thick blanket of cream with a cherry in the centre and a sprinkle of chocolate shavings. There is an unmistakable flavour of kirsch but both Sandra and I dislike the artificial taste of the cherries – like cherry lip balm that tastes nothing cherry, it’s that faux cherry flavour that I don’t like. Give me fresh cherries any day.
Passionfruit Pavlova $18
After reading all the raves for the Passionfruit Pavlova I had to try it. It’s also enormous with huge balls of vanilla bean double cream on top and passionfruit seeds raining down the sides of the pavlova. It is very good indeed but then the baker in me says that whilst it’s a good pavlova it’s less intricate than some of the other desserts on offer.
When we look at our phones, we realise that it’s 4pm. All Fridays should be like this. Don Draper would agree I’m sure.
So tell me Dear Reader, do you get to go out for work lunches very often and where do you usually go?
Rockpool Bar & Grill
66 Hunter Street, Sydney, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 8078 1900
Open: Monday to Friday 12:00-3:30pm
Monday to Saturday 6pm-11pm
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53 Comments | Add your own
I went to Rockpool a couple of months ago and enjoyed it but had different things from you. If I recall correctly the apple tart and creme caramel desserts were v v good. But one thing for sure when you walk in there you have to say WOW! It’s an intimidating place at first glance.
I think for lunch though I prefer sushi e. The prawn shu Mai is to die for!
I was pondering whether to dine here or not. My dining companion loves Wagyu whereas I’m partial to grass fed so this might do well to cater for both of our tastes. Thanks NQN.
This place is impressive!! I like the WOW factor of the place and the errr… $65 steak :p
“No Hooting, No Hollering!”
♥ it! Gorgeous shots
I’ve always thought about going to Rockpool Bar And Grill here in Melbourne, but the prices have always put me off. But after reading your blog and seeing the photos, I’ll have to reconsider.
The grilled vegetables, jamon, and the steaks all look wonderful.
Stupid feed burner!!
Looks delicious. I love the house rules, even though I’ve read them before
My usual outing for work at the moment consists of sushi.. mmm
Wow that pavlova is ginormous!
The hospital cafeteria is about as far as I get to go for work lunches … and although it has a pretty good location on the esplanade, I’d rather Rockpool!
So exxy but so chic and it looks so art deco!
Does neil still have a ponytail? 
Oooh, great review, I enjoyed that and thanks for the tips, pretty sure we have a 30th there in December
I’m drooling at the food and giggling at the ‘house rules’. Hahaha! I’ve wanted to go here since visiting Spice Temple too! The space looks stunning in that first photo. I would normally never order bolognese when eating out but that wagyu fettucine is making my mouth water
What a gorgeous, grandiose restaurant. I also had to laugh at the last house rule! The pistachio nut dressing on the beetroot salad sounds incredible, I’ll have to try to replicate that!
The steaks look great, as does the pavlova. The only way I’ll get to Rockpool B&G would be as Don Draper’s elegant, well-dressed and ladylike dining companion. I’d have a dry martini beforehand and carry a small handbag.
Ahh, the famous Rockpool. I guess it looks how I’d expect, and the prices are similar to what I’d expect, yikes!
These days my work lunches are invariably held on campus, at the ‘members only’ Uni Club. I’m too stingy to be a member but luckily my most common lunch partner is one
They do a mean lamb shank, but sadly it’s only occasionally on the specials menu. More lamb shanks, say I!
It’s 11:30 in the morning, I’ve got a perfectly delicious lunch of stir-fried noodles lined up, and a perfectly delicious dinner lined up, but right now all I want in the world is that chargrilled steak. Followed by the pavlova. I really shouldn’t read your blog on an empty stomach!!!!
Definitely Don Draper’s milieu, how gorgeous.
Stunning place, your photos certainly capture the grandeur of the building.
The wine list is great, in fact so great in comes in 2 volumes. A tad ridiculous, furthered by the extremes of a $45 bottle next to a $14,000 bottle!
Steaks were good, but not $65 great. We had to send 2 back as they were actually cold – which was bit unfortunate for a ‘grill’ restaurant.
Will give it one more opportunity to impress…
Wow, I can see how you felt like a little girl in that huge room! It looks impressive. The steak tartare and the wagyu bolognese sound interesting… I don’t like that artificial cherry taste either. Real cherries please!
$18.00 for a slice of pavlova? C’MON! Tell him he’s dreamin’.
A wonderful review of this place. I love the way you describe the dishes and their flavors.I’ve nevr had a dessert like passionfruit pavlova, so I can’t take my eyes from it now.
I’d be feeling really out of place there…for sure! LOL
The food looks nice. I’m not used to going to ‘fancy’ restaurants and stuff…I’m from western Sydney, so I guess I’m a ‘westie’ at heart…I wouldn’t mind going to a restaurant like this…except for the fact that I can’t afford to eat there (or anywhere really) at the moment.
Thanks for the review
Hmmm looks to me like some of the dishes were a hit or miss, eh? I had to giggle out loud though with a few of the house rules!
Wow it certainly all looked rather impressive, a shame to hear that some of it didnt live up to the hype.
Looks great! Sorry to hear the cherry trifle tasted a bit – well, plastic – but that pav looks magnificent. For work lunches, we usually end up at Sushi Station or the pub across the road!
What a grand interior. It looks like a bank or a masonic hall. I like the idea of serving the three kinds of jamon together for comparison.
I’d love to try (and nearly did in Melbourne) but I just can’t bring myself to spend over $50 on one steak knowing I could buy kilos of good steak and eat at home LOL. Same goes for bolognese – nothing will ever beat home made so I could never order it!
I’ve been to the Melbourne one and have to ask; did you like the ‘woody smoke’ flavour the steak has? Or is it different in Sydney? O.o
Also, think long work lunches should be outside enjoying the sunshine with an alcoholic beverage of choice
A good change after being indoors for most of the day
The meat looks amazing! Deliciously chargrilled and definitely the star… you ordered loads of veggies!
Wow the interior looks amazing! Not sure if I can afford to eat here though… but maybe one day
The steak tartare looks interesting – did you prefer it to the more traditional version?
One day I hope to go there for dinner because I am a true fan of Neil Perry! I love the way he cooks. He cooks a lot healthy food & I love his aproach to cooking!!!
The place looks fantastic & the food too!
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,…
Isn’t it just a sublime interior? Different by day though.
And did you have any of the sides? They were some of my faves when I went
I am actually going to take my parents to Rockpool Bar and Grill for a special treat. So glad you blogged about it. Now I have an idea of what to order.
I’m turning into a real Neil Perry fan, even though I only have his cookbook Balance and Harmony and have yet to visit his restaurants! The interior looks amazing…
This place looks and sounds amazinngg!! All those steaks mmmmm and wagyu bolognese XD?! The house rules seem a bit 0_o
I often meet friends for lunch on work days and am always late back but not as late as 4pm! I go to Cache or, my favourite, Mates Gully which is an organic, local produce cafe where the food is delicious (both in Wagga of course). I’m going there tomorrow maybe I should pretend I’m you and do a review!
Have been meaning to gather a few friends together to try Rockpool Bar & Grill, so your overview helps. We tried the Melbourne one in the Crown Casino when it first opened,fantastic food but it was so busy that we ended up eating at 11pm! However, we didn’t enjoy it as much as we should have because our friends had their two little boys with them and it was way past their bedtime
A group of eight of us dined at the Spice Temple recently but were a tad disappointed.
Wow, fancy place! When I was working, we’d usually end up at the pub for lunch on Fridays, you can’t beat a pint of Guinness to mark the end of the week! xxx
I meant to visit Rockpool bar & Grill and Spice Temple, but I’ve lost my chances to go due to recent flu and busy work… The deco looks sure impressive! I can’t wait to finally make it there
This is such a fun place!
no hooting or hollering? what kind of place is this?
also, it must be said that cherry-lip-balm-flavored foods make me gag.
One day I’ll get there – when I’m feeling rich!
We went to the one in Melbourne in May and I found it ultimately style over substance.
Room looked fantastic, menu great, reasonable service and a good sense of theatre from the open kitchen. But to be honest my steak tasted like it had been cooked on the flame throwers that were going off in 5 minute intervals outside the crown casino in which it lives.
Rather than a satisfying smokey char to me it had an odd cooked over gas bars flavour (for want of a better way to describe – something chemical about it).
Wouldn’t go back shame as the Sydney room looks even better.
was thinking of heading there for my anniversary (: now. it’s on! haha the food looks SO AWESOME! thanks for the post!
this place is great too. love the steak ye have shown here
I have to agree with the size of the dessert as being gi-freaking-normous! My partner and I had the ersatz BFG, and luckily we shared it because there is NO WAY either of us could’ve eaten it solo. Cor blimey it was rich and thick also.
Hi Trissa-Yes the setting is amazing! I remember having meetings in that same building many years ago and it doesn’t even look like the same building!
Oh wonderful! I’ll give it a go! 
Hi Mike-Ahh well you might be bothered well catered for then!:) You’re welcome!
Hi Ellie-Isn’t it!
Hehe I just want some more steak tartare! 
Hi Simone-How cute is that?
thankyou!
Hi Daniel-Yes it’s not a cheap place at all. But for special occasions it’s very nice
Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Hehe they’re cute even a second time!
Yumm!
Hi Soph-Isn’t it! I don’t know how one person is expected to finish it. We asked them to consider doing an assiette plate, that would be much better! Hehe I’m not surprised!
Hi Brianna-Haha I think he does!
Hi Madelin-You’re more than welcome!
Great idea for a special birthday!
Hi Steph-Hehe! Yes the setting is soo sleek and other worldly!
Hi Faith -Yes good idea! I like getting recipe ideas from these places
Hi Belle-Ooh I like your plan! Indeed you would be a fine Betty Draper!
Hi Conor-Hehe so it’s everything that you expected?
Hey as long as one of you are that’s good! 
yes lamb shanks a plenty!
Hi Alison-Hehe sorry!
That happens to me all the time when I read blogs 
Sadly Don did not materialise.
Hi Al-Thankyou very much!
I didn’t venture into the wine list but I should have to see that bottle! 
Oh no, that’s terrible! 
Hi Betty-It’s so …high and sleek!
Yes I’ve been told the real name of those cherries and even thought they’re expensive ones, I don’t like the taste!
Hi Belinda-Haha yes it’s true!
Hi zerrin -Thankyou very much!
It’s a must try, I love pavlova 
Hi Liv-It’s quite fancy pants isn’t it
Maybe one day?! You’re welcome! 
Hi Trisha-I think I definitely like some dishes more than others
Hi sandra-Some of it did but some of it didn’t but I guess when you charge up to $110 for a steak, people expect a lot!
Hi Cakelaw-Me too! I think the rest of it was quite nice except for that flavour. If I worked in an office I think my daily lunch would be sushi
Hi Arwen-It’s stunningly impressive!
It’s very old world bank I agree or the Chrysler building 
Yes it was interesting to see how different they were in look and taste.
Hi Karen-Haha I suppose although I don’t cook steak that often myself
Yes agreed with bolognese, never had one that beats a homemade one!
Hi Lex-It wasn’t overly woody flavoured although it was nicely charred and I did like it
I guess it depends on the work one does! 
Hi Christie-Hehe we had to! Otherwise it would have been a meat fest
Hi Jacq-Yes it’s one of those “one day” kind of places I think!
Oh I definitely preferred this version, I loved it but am ambivalent about the traditional version 
Hi Sophie-That’s great, perhaps if you visit Sydney!
Hi Tina-Oh really, how is it different (aside from the obvious light hehe).We had the beetroot salad which wasn’t a side but a salad
Hi Katherine-Oh good stuff, what a great daughter you are!
Hi Helen-I don’t actually have any of his books-oops!
The interior is worth a visit in itself! 
Hi Ffichiban-Hehe it’s just made for you-after all it’s a steak place!
Hi Amy-Hehe I think that can only be swung on Fridays
Oh you should! You should start a food blog! 
Hi Matilda-Oh that’s great! But eek 11pm is terrible! I’d be distraught by then
OH yes 11pm is really too late for kids (and some adults). What a shame about Spice Temple! 
Hi Angela -It was
Ah yes Friday lunch has to come with a beer or some sort of drink! 
xxx
Hi Yas-Oh no, what a shame! I’d love to know what you think of it!
Hope your tooth is ok?
Hi pigpigscorner-Definitely a nice place to visit
Hi grace-Haha a place not for Grace?
Yep me too 
Hi Renee-Good idea!
Hi Joey-That’s no good to hear. Did you send it back? I would have if had a chemical taste to it!
Tis terrible to hear!
Hi Lianne-Happy Anniversary coming up!
I hope you have a great night 
You’re welcome!
Hi nora-Thankyou!
Hi campgrenada-Hehe isn’t it! It’s just too big for one human
great to see what they have on offer. some of the prices actually are a lot more reasonable than i was expecting. gi-freakin-ormous, that’s hilarious! i pass this place at least a few times a week going out to lunch so have been wondering if it’s worth all the hype. sounds like it might be depending on what you order.
Hi Simon-Yes I think the steaks are the things that may be on the high side (as well as things like libster but one expects that). It’s definitely worth trying!
HI – a friend of mine told me about your blog….amd from the Philippines but in Sydney now fro work..I’ll be going to Rockpool on monday – the Tartare looks great..I will definitely order that.
You can check out my food blog at: http://www.miguelvecin.com
So what is your final say? Will you go back? I have not been there yet but I am willing to try. I personally love Rockpool in The Rocks and hope that this one will be just as good!
Hi Miguel-Thanks, what did you think of it? Did you like it?
I hope you enjoyed Sydney!
Hi Aggie-Yes, if my budget allows!
It is very good although the focus here is more about meat having the grill and all whereas the Rockpool in the Rocks is more about seafood 
i’ve dined @ the melb branch of Rockpool and tried their cabbage and potato gratin (yumm). What i really really loved was their Black Lip Abalone Steak (yumm yumm yumm)!
http://thesiujiat.blogspot.com/2009/09/birthday-dinner.html
n how interesting it was to read abt their house rules! the melb branch didnt have that. menu was just a thin piece of paper table mat.
I’m heading to Rockpool this Friday with a group of 10 colleages – Yes work is paying! Yay. After reading your review, I can hardly wait! Will try the Black Forest Trifle as on the weekend my bestie bought me the ‘Fat Duck’ recipe book and looking at how complicated Heston has made his version of it, this may be the closest I can get for a while!
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