Restaurant Review: Est.

My work team and I have developed the happy routine of visiting some of Sydney's best restaurants for lunch every now and again. We've already visited Marque and Assiette and this time it was the turn of Est.

We took advantage of a special offer to coincide with the Sydney Festival. Two courses and a glass of wine for $55.

When we booked we were firmly told that we had to be seated by midday and leave by 1pm if we were taking advantage of the offer. We duly arrived just before midday only to find the restaurant was even open yet! We had a frustrating few minutes trying to get in. Why would you insist people have to be seated by midday, if you don't open until after midday?

However, once we were inside the service was very relaxed an unhurried. We didn't end up leaving until close to 1:30. They weren't too busy, so I don't think they minded us cheapies hanging around.

You don't get any choices with the set menu lunch. Our starter was a pink grapefruit, avocado, witlof and courgette salad. It was a light and refreshing salad dressed in olive oil and lemon juice. You could taste that the olive oil was of excellent quality.

The main course was crispy skin fillet of Mulloway, green beans and shaved fennel. Again another excellent dish. The fish was perfectly cooked with a crispy skin. I particularly enjoyed the shaved fennel salad which had bite and the same refreshing citrus dressing of the starter.

There was no choice of wine, with only a glass of red pinot noir being offered. It was a lovely wine and not too heavy. But we did think matching a red with with salad and fish was a bit surprising. We noticed that a nearby table of two mature ladies persuaded their waiter to give them white wine. The authority of age!

While we were waiting for the bill we were given the unexpected surprise of some delightful petit fours.

Before visiting Est I couldn't get my head round the fact that one of Sydney's best restaurants could be located above the office watering hole of the Establishment pub. However, once you step inside you feel that you have entered somewhere a little bit special. The restaurant is light and airy, stylishly decorated and with formally laid tables. The service was attentive, discrete and at the same time friendly. The food we tasted gave us a glimpse of what the restaurant was capable of.