Foys Kirribilli
76 McDougall St, Kirribilli, NSW
Sun to Wed 12 – 10pm, Thurs to Saturday 12 – 11pm
(02) 9955 8350
Website

Where fine-dining meets boat-club relaxation.

Walking into Foys Kirribilli, the first thing that strikes you is how effortlessly it walks the line between a casual, relaxed ambience and a feeling of class and sophistication. The synthesis between its sailing-club aesthetic and its restaurant professionalism is truly unique – and it instantly summons a fresh, exciting anticipation of the experience ahead.

We arrived at a busy time in the evening and the waitstaff seemed a tad overwhelmed, but we were seated promptly and the service for the rest of the night was stellar. After a couple of glasses of bubbly, we were ready for the food – eager to see if the culinary experience matched the unique atmosphere of the restaurant.

To start the night, we opted to jump headfirst into the seafood for which this restaurant has earnt its positive reputation, ordering half a dozen of the Sydney rock oysters with avruga caviar ($4.50 each or $24 half a dozen). They certainly didn’t disappoint. I’m not usually one to exaggerate, and I mean it when I say that the oysters were some of the best I’ve ever tasted.

To follow, we ordered the potato croquettes ($16) filled with creamy gruyere cheese, another excellent dish that set the precedent for the night ahead. All round, the entrees were absolutely superb, and had us palpably excited for the food that would follow.

Heading onto mains, we once again decided to take advantage of the seafood on offer – possibly motivated by the quality of those oysters. Naturally, we ordered the Cone Bay grilled barramundi ($34) served with parsnip puree, seasonal greens and lotus chips; as well as the pumpkin risotto ($27) that was nourished with mushroom, pea, watermelon radish, ricotta, and parmesan.

The barramundi was cooked quite well and the dish was extremely well brought together by its complements enabling the freshness of the barramundi to be highlighted. The puree was subtle and delicious, and (while I might be a bit biased given they’re a favourite of mine) the lotus chips really rounded out the dish.

The risotto was equally as stellar, with the cheeses and other flavours perfectly matched to create an outstanding complete dish. Both dishes were quite well presented and definitely reached the high bar set by the standard of the entrees.

After a few more glasses of bubbly (maybe one too many) and a few minutes soaking in Foys’ distinctive ambience and the surrounding marina, we found the time to order a dessert and settled on the chocolate three-ways ($15) – and yes, it was just as delicious as it sounds. The sorbet, crumble and panna cotta all came together in a chocolatey amalgamation that would be the source of my happiest dreams for the week that followed. It was a perfect way to end the night, the dish was displayed beautifully and left our palates very satisfied.

Overall, Foys Kirribilli is a truly unique dining experience. Between the casual atmosphere, professional staff and fine food, you’ll find yourself lost in the experience and ultimately leave the restaurant extremely satisfied with your night. I cannot recommend Foys highly enough, especially with good company.