Universal opened in Sydney in 2007, after a 7 year absence of chef Christine Manfield from the Sydney restaurant scene. Unviersal aims for exceptional service and repeat patronage, in their words:

“We intend to make UNIVERSAL as broad based and user friendly as possible, to extend it to a wider cross section of people that reflects the dynamic location of the restaurant in Sydney’s vibrant inner east.”

Universal has won many awards including 2 chef’s hats from the “SMH Good Food Guide Awards” in 2009 & 2010, as well as winning Maitres d’ of the Year in the “2009 – Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Awards”.

At the 2008 Food and Wine Awards in New York, Universal was nominated as one of the World’s 10 best new restaurants.

About the Chef Christine Manfield

Manfield has run acclaimed restaurants at the Paragon and Phoenix Hotels at Circular Quay and Woollahra respectively before opening the acclaimed Paramount in Potts Point.

In 2003 Manfield headed to the UK and opened East@West, in London’s Soho. She has now returned to Australia and in addition to running Universal, Manfield has authored 5 books, and has her own Christine Manfield Spice Collection product range.

Manfield also hosts luxury gastronomy tours around the world. For more information see christinemanfield.com.

Signature Dish

Universal does not proclaim a signature dish, rather Manfield says:

“It is my ambition and desire to introduce diners to flavours of the world inspired by world travels, with distinctive and definitive flavour combinations that are not limited by traditional boundaries.”

Menus

A sample menu can be downloaded from their website here Universal Sample Menu.

Reviews

The Sydney Morning Herald’s 2007 review says: “Exciting, spectacular, seductive” and “There’s a remarkable harmony to her flavours, which work as a strong ensemble cast supporting the occasional star”

Gourmet Traveller says “the food is really good” and “There’s also no filler on the plates. No potatoes, no rice, no chips, none of the things that normally allow you to recoup your food costs. It’s no-retreat, no-surrender all the way, with full-bore flavours in just about every mouthful, pop, pop, pop.”

Website:

www.universalrestaurant.com

Address

Republic 2 Courtyard Palmer Street, between Burton & Liverpool,
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Ph: (02) 9331 0709‎

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About Rockpool Bar & Grill

Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney opened in 2009, the third of Neil Perry’s Sydney restaurants (Rockpool opened in 1989 and has been a Sydney dining institution since; and Spice Temple which also opened in early 2009).  Located in the 1936 Emil Sodersteen-designed American style art deco skyscraper, the RBG style is simple and uncomplicated.

Rockpool Bar & Grill aims to serve perfectly grilled meat and seafood, with what they proclaim is Australia’s best wine list.  If you don’t believe them you can see for yourself here – Rockpool Bar & Grill Winelist: Red & White.

There is also a Rockpool Bar & Grill in Melbourne, located at the Crown Complex, South Melbourne.

About the Chef Neil Perry

Neil’s career began at Sails restaurant (McMahons Point and Rose Bay), where he started at front house.  He quickly moved into the kitchen and is now one of Australia’s leading and most influential chefs.

The author of 5 books; Good Food, The Food I Love, Simply Asian, Rockpool and Balance & Harmony; TV presenter; airline chef (He designs the menus for Qantas First and Business Classes); there is not much Perry hasn’t done in Australia.

There is also the obligatory food product line, Neil Perry Fresh.

Neil also has his own blog at Rockpool Restaurant Blog as well as an in-depth biography.

Signature Dish

Beef, beef and more beef!  The beef is sourced direct from the producers and dry aged on the premises. Wagyu, grass or grain fed, Rockpool believes in the human treatment of the cattle with no growth hormones or antibiotic feed supplements  used.

Menus

You can download the entire menu here as a pdf: Rockpool Bar & Grill Menu.

Reviews

SMH rated RBG  17/20 in May 2009 and said “This is Sydney’s most beautiful dining room. A breathtaking, thrilling, dramatically gorgeous mix of art-deco panache and sleekly understated modernism with clever lighting, soaring three-storey-high columns, shiny dark leather and sculptural towers of thousands of Reidel glasses” and “Neil Perry shows the old chef still has a few tricks left with a superb, smoky steakhouse where excellent seafood is a bonus.”

Website:

http://www.rockpool.com.au/sydney/bar-and-grill/

Address:

Rockpool Bar & Grill
66 Hunter St
Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 8078 1900‎

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