Review Gowings - Sydney

This place hasn't changed a bit, in a good way. Maybe the menu, slightly. It's been a while since I've been back and made a reservation (recommend) beforehand. However, flaw of the evening was the lamb rack which was a bit under, despite the sous vide taste. My steak was marvelous as I remembered it to be. Staff were happy and helpful to be back and complemented a minor error with a cheesecake - I'm not usually a cheesecake fan but it was amazing. For a side dish, I recommend the truffle Mac n cheese, cos it's legit truffle and not oil BS. Extensive wine selection for the lovers out there too!

We arrived in Sydney and are staying at QT. With not having much breakfast because of our early flight we decided to treat ourselves to Gowing which is the fine dining restaurant inside the hotel on the 1st Floor. My lovely wife order for us and she started off with the Burrata. We both haven’t tried this before but we both love cheese. We expected it to be heavy but it was so light and fresh ! We continued our meal with the Caesar salad which is present with a show of them making it in front of you. Our waiter Irnesto put on the show and his lovely charisma made it fun and delicious. Our meals was followed by duck fat potato’s and the handmade pasta Mafaldi. I really enjoyed our fine dining experience with the team at Gowings the service was fun and professional and the food came out quick and presented nicely. I have visited the bar every night since my stay at QT and I love the energy and the ambience which is the reason why I keep returning to it.

Had lunch with my hubby there today. Beautiful food and excellent service. Nice vibes and atmosphere. Loved the cod💯👌

Had a few pre dinner drinks on Friday night at Gowings. Both restaurant and bar were extremely busy with a nice vibe. They have a good selection of spirits, wine and beer. Bar and wait staff are extremely busy so interactions are kept at a minimum, but service is still of high quality and you won’t have to wait too long to order.

The girl on the front of house was rude and lacks any customer service skills. If I was on undercover boss, I would have sacked her on the spot. Anyhow, great bar service, and table service, food-wise the cauliflower steak was exceptional. The minute streak was cooked to order, however the fries were over cooked and tasted like they had been recycled.

Exceptional experience and exceptional food and service. The vibe on Saturday was electric. the DJ really added to the overall atmosphere and played great tunes. The food was exceptional. We had the Ceesar salad, the cod and a steak and it was absolutely delicious! Service was on point and very attentive. The wine list was one of the best I had seen in Sydney and both girls that served the wine were fantastic. Highly recommend this restaurant

The staff and the food were both great at gowings bar and grill. The duck fat potatoes and the zucchini flower fritti were definitely the highlights and the biggest let down was the gowings signature cheesecake which I thought was too dry.

My clients and i had the best lunch at the newly opened Gowings restaurant. Sean the Creative Director (Exec chef) greeted us and made us feel so welcome. The food and service was amazing (Crab pasta a real hit) and the drinks and deserts excellent. I am so happy that this restaurant has come back stronger than ever - and i look forward to coming back - maybe leaving the car at home!! Thanks to Sean and his great team:)

Great bar with an awesome selection of spirits, draught beers and cocktails. Decor was awesome, I'm not a designer but would say 1920's-30's? Food was amazing, and prices you would expect for a restaurant like this. Oh, and the girl at the door on the street was hilarious, in a good way!

Reasonably priced set menu ($65) for a set of three dishes - entrée, main and dessert.<br/><br/>The Kingfish ceviche was a light and beautifully flavoured start to the night however compared to the Farmers Salad, portion size was considerably smaller. The chicken in the Farmers Salad was nice albeit a little tasteless, especially given that it was smoked.<br/><br/>For main, I had the striploin. The first thing I noticed was that the plate was a little underwhelming with nothing but the cut of meat. The meat however was cooked well and had a good depth of flavour.<br/><br/>Finally, for dessert I had the salted chocolate caramel. Personally, not a fan of overly sweet or sticky desserts but it seemed to be liked by everyone around the table.<br/><br/>Overall, I felt that the food was elegant and the menu was well thought out however there could definitely be more work done on creating more flavourful dishes.<br/><br/>One thing that I will say is that we were charged with a hefty amount for still and sparkling water ($76) which I felt was overly exorbitant and a little bit sneaky.<br/><br/>If you'd like to read more of my reviews, please check out my zomato page and visit @cynthiaeats_ on Instagram for more photos!

Gowings is somewhat of an institution. Everyone knows it but I suspect most haven’t been. It is naturally a bit pretentious, a bit over priced, but it is definitely worth a visit.... if you have cash to burn. It is not that it is super expensive, it just not the kind of place where you order a wine that is less than $100. You are eating not just the steak and drinking that wine, but the haughtiness. The restaurant decor is quite modern and edgy. I like it a lot. Will I be back? Probably not for a while.

Great place for a late night catchup, as it is conveniently located in the CBD, however it is a little hard to find, which adds to its exclusivity and overall experience. The drinks made really well here, and the food is great quality and is obviously made fresh.

Expensive. Dishes are sparse. You have to order a side and sides only feed one person. Left starving after my meal. Had the poached chicken which was tasty, but a very small dinner and the dish and side of mashed potato alone cost the guts of 50 dollars. Very cool restaurant tho, but not good value.

The menu has changed, the ones here on zomato are out of date. I had the Berkshire pork which is overcooked and sitting on nothing. It was overcooked, dry and what else can I say but cardboard dry and a waste of Berkshire pork. There was no sauce, just two dollops of a thick paste so the whole dish was dry. Not good for $44. My partner's dish was equally ungenerous. I don't mind at all paying for extra sides, in fact had the potato puree and heirloom tomato side dishes, but a main dish should not be so sparse as to force you to get sides to get a meal experience.<br/><br/>This place has changed, the old menu was the same price range but it was delicious honest food, you could take a date or mates and leave feeling good. <br/><br/>

Gowings is a great cocktail bar/restaurant to pop into if you're heading to the theatre downstairs. The cocktails are innovative and often, delicious! <br/><br/>Dining here was also pleasant, although I recommend you book ahead to avoid disappointment, as it can become quite busy - especially if there is a show on. Really enjoyed the expansive menu and the way the cocktail bar is separate from the restaurant, so it feels more intimate. The service overall was great, although had to ask for our drink order a few times, as there was a long waiting time between ordering and receiving them.<br/><br/>Ultimately, a great cocktail bar and restaurant and would definitely recommend if you're in the area!

This place really showed how much the quality of the service can affect your experience. Firstly, the restaurant has beautiful decor and a stunning layout. My bf and I went on a weeknight, and with nearly half the tables empty, they chose to seat us right next to another couple who’s conversation we had to listen to all night 🙄<br/>There seemed to be only a couple of waiters for the whole restaurant, since it took about half an hour to order after we got their attention. We ordered 2 steaks and a bunch of sides, everything tasted delicious (I would definitely order the scotch fillet again, the rib eye was average). <br/>Overall the food was pretty good & desserts weren’t anything special but were tasty nonetheless. Again, we had to wait another half hour just to catch the waiters attention, and once we did, another 15 mins waiting for the bill. We got so frustrated that we decided to get up and actually go to them to pay - who wants to be seated for nearly an hour just to leave?? Overall I wouldn’t go again, the food is nice but overpriced, and the service was definitely one of the worst experiences I’ve had in a while.

I came to this place for the first time yesterday (as a vegan) and I definitely won't be back anytime soon. I had the vegan set menu valuing at $65 per person, which consisted of 3 meals. I was very disappointed in the quality of the food. I don't understand how a cucumber salad, a piece of eggplant with sauce, and a tiny scoop of sorbet can equate to $65. The only issue I have with this price is that the non-vegan set menu costed the exact same, and there was a lot more food served within that menu (seafood and several different types of meat). Ridiculous pricing scheme... not worth it. Food quality - not the standard I was expecting from Gowings as I was told that the chef was from the famous Nova restaurant in NYC. Below average experience for me.<br/><br/>The only good note I can make out of this experience was that my waiter was exceptional.

Staff incredibly rude and dismissive. Not worth the wait or the time and money. Ordinary service indeed. Much better venues to spend your pennies.

Firstly unlike some others I would like to compliment the staff on the service. Two of us dined last night before a show at the State Theatre and got a table made up for us without having a booking. The wine and food order takers and servers were attentive and professional.<br/><br/>You couldn't hear yourself think it was so noisy. Not because of the diners (although they do contribute to the noise) but because of the overly loud music playing - trying to be hip but not called for in what is supposed to be a high end dining experience. There is no way that the two of us could hold a conversation in that atmosphere.<br/><br/>The menu has changed slightly from what is published here and the duck now doesn't come with any sides.<br/>The food was MOSTLY excellently cooked and presented and the Paris mash was to die for . . . BUT a $46 duck dish that was served with two 10c size dollops of sauce, and not a side in sight. Looking at the menu about 1/2 the dishes have sides included but half have NOTHING with them to speak of . . . massive fail. The diner at the next table also complained about the lack of a side with the Blue Eye fish fillet. Serving sizes were also extremely small, the main was not 1/2 a duck as claimed, but one leg and two small breast pieces, the side of mash would only feed one, as would the side of asparagus, so you end up paying $73 for one main that is not a large serving. Speaking of "mostly" excellently looked the two duck breast strips were perfectly medium rare, but the leg was very dry. It seemed like it was off a different bird and cooked much earlier than the breast. Will actively tell others to avoid.

Love the pork belly, it's slowly cooked which is very tender and juicy, the bbq seafood mix is kinda ok, the rib eye is also a good choice with red wine.

It took 4 of us 20+ minutes to get the food at lunch time.<br/><br/>My New York sirloin was mediocre and did not deserve $35.<br/><br/>My friend is a third grade student in chef school and he did not like his one minute steak as well.<br/><br/>The staff was not well prepared. As we wanna ordered cheese plate, he said he did not know what was available and need to ask chef.<br/>

We stayed at QT for our anniversary and had the pleasure of enjoying the room service menu for dinner followed by breakfast at Gowings.<br/><br/>Dinner was the hot dog, steak and chicken salad - which were all delicious options. The chicken salad was definitely a stand out for me and my husband said the hot dog, though a little small, was his favourite meal of the weekend. Sadly we were too lazy to take pictures! <br/><br/>Breakfast was the farmhouse breakfast (huge and all components were extra tasty ... except the toast which was a little un inspired) and the salmon omelette which came recommended by the waitress and didn't disappoint!<br/><br/>I've eaten at Gowings before for a work dinner and everyone loved the dinner menu. I think pricing is quite reasonable given the quality of the food! We would definitely return!

To be honest, I was a little underwhelmed with my experience at Gowings. Being very familiar with Qt Canberra's very similar restaurant (Capitol) I was expecting a lot from Sydney. Gorgeous set up, atmosphere and decor is incredible. Service did leave a little to be desired. The hostess was unwelcoming and did not look happy to be there. Waitress was a little better but by no means was it 'good' service in comparison to Canberra's Captiol grill. Good cocktails, incredible (complimentary) bread. The BBQ seafood, having had this previously and it being my favourite qt meal I was left again, disappointed. Smaller, and fairly cold. Fish, prawns and scallops were lovely however the salmon was very rare which I wasn't the biggest fan of. I requested it be put on the grill for a few minutes more as I prefer my Salmon cooked through. The waitress seemed slightly annoyed but shortly brought back my plate with my salmon cooked well. The side of greens was also not hot. The pork belly had by a friend was apparently great as was the chicken salad. Very nice house red wine. Desserts were good overall, especially the donuts and the chocolate balls. I'm not in the biggest hurry to return but would I recommend against it? No.

Highly recommended dining here. <br/><br/>We came late on Saturday night without a booking, which was no issue as we were given a table almost instantly. Inside the restaurant it is dimly lit and feels romantic, would be a good date night restaurant.<br/><br/>Some complimentary bread was served, toasted nicely and still warm to the touch. <br/>We didn't know what wine to choose since our order was a mix of seafood and meat so we left it to the waiter to choose. Ata Rangi Sauvignon Blanc 2016, not bad not bad in deed. Was really smooth, light and not overly sweet.<br/><br/>First came a dozen oysters, 6 Pacific and 6 Sydney Rock. Nothing to fault there, they were juicy fresh and the condiments gave it a little extra kick.<br/><br/>We also shared octopus, tuna tartare, and kingfish crudo. The octopus was so tender, soft and flavourful, almost felt like it was sausage that I was eating. Tuna tartare was a little bit spicy which masked the tuna taste, overall wasn't a bad dish. Loved the kingfish crudo! Only six pieces of fish for $24, on the expensive side, but enjoyed every bit of it.<br/><br/>We ordered 3 rib eye steaks, medium rare $144 it came with a side of shoestring fries.<br/>Steaks were cooked perfectly, was presented nicely and every bit was demolished.<br/><br/>Even though this restaurant is more on the expensive side, it's a pleasant dining experience with great food and knowledgeable waiters. Cant wait until my next dine here

Located conveniently in the most busy of Sydney's Central Business District, Gowings Bar & Grill boasts an impressive seasonal menu and an equally impressive customer service. In other words, a perfect target for this foodie's adventure comeback.<br/><br/>From the conceirge at the front desk to tasteful interior decor, this Bar & Grill is certainly more refined than your average bar and grill. The dim lighting and the abundant display of glassware created a soft and intimate atmosphere - perfect for a date night. Through out the night the staff were attentive and we found no difficulty flagging them down.<br/><br/>We ordered the tuna steak and half roasted chicken to share, along with the lemon tart and peanut and caramel mousse. The tuna was seared perfectly with an array of tri coloured tomatos adding colour to the grand sized plate. The sauce was a touch too strong for my liking but that was expected given my relatively bland palette. Likewise the chicken was roasted to perfection with a crisp outter skin and moist inside. The mash was creamy and abundantly seasoned. If I were to be critical, then again it was a little heavy on the palette and needed some greens to freshen up the protein.<br/><br/>As for the deserts this foodie has never really been a big fan of sweets, but alas one must accommodate for ones sweet toothed dining partner. The lemon tart was nice and fresh and tasted good while the mousse was too sugary for my liking. This was all washed down with a glass of freshly made almond milk and I must admit was really the highlight of my night. Must thank my dining partner on that note. It is no secret that this foodie has an obession for her almond milk.<br/><br/>One thing I've come to realise as I have matured is that the dining experience becomes just as important as the food itself - if not more. As young working professionals it is not easy to schedule dinner plans that align perfectly with everyone's timetable. Lack of attention from staff, long waiting times, incorrect billings are all factors that in the past that have spoilt an otherwise wonderful night. Which is why one must always factor in the "feel good factor" when paying for the price attached to a plate of food and for the rating they give.<br/><br/>Overall feel good factor 4.5<br/>

Girls night in this beautiful atmosphere bar,staff is friendly and foods is awesome with a good price. Surprised in the choc and the creme brûlée ....

In the old Gowings department store in the QT hotel. The service is prompt, the coffee good but a bit on the small side and the food tasty. The truffle eggs were strong in flavor but perfect in taste.

After indulging in both dinner & breakfast at the Gowings Bar & Grill - I'll happily tell you that you will not have any regrets eating here! <br/><br/>They have friendly service, sexy vibes and good portions. It is above average on price but the quality and experience is worth it. <br/><br/>I recommend staying at the hotel too. So sexy and unique if you enjoy boutique, dark vibes - QT Hotel. I had fun with M eating and dining here.

Special occasion dinner for 19 of us in the private room upstairs. Pre dinner drinks in our own mezzanine area overlooking dinners downstairs. Funky lounge chairs and fittings. The long dinning table was set beautifully. Our personal maitre d Toby was non stop ensuring arriving guests had a drink and more importantly kept them topped up. Our dinner and wines were selected days earlier. Entree share and main plates arrived in rapid succession by a team of waiters directed by the maitre d. Excellent service, food and ambience. Felt like the rich and famous. Hang on we are, lol. Highly recommend this venue for special celebrations with your closest family and friends.

Quirky decor. Love the atmosphere. Very helpful and friendly bartenders and staff, very accommodating. Had a wonderful evening here catching up with best friends. Even go to witness a proposal here, which made the night even more special. Much better than that Morrison Oyster Bar which had absolutely disgusting service.

Best stake ever!! Like the chips. Bit surprised with the lemon. Cuz every time I need to request couple pieces of lemon for my stake. Stake with lemon are perfect.

Service was friendly and accommodating. We were a group of 8 on a Monday evening. Our mains came out pretty fast but dessert was almost an hour wait. <br/>I enjoyed my steak but it was on the rare side. Despite others at the table ordering the same medium rare steak, there were inconsistencies between the plates. <br/>The profiteroles were underwhelming and lacked chocolate sauce.

The flavour of the pork belly here and the cured egg were beautiful and the atmosphere was very lively and staff were quite attentive. Would definitely want to come back and try the other items on the menu

I sadly must say Gowings was a huge disappointment for me. We had booked the restaurant for a corporate function as was initially impressed. The menus read well for our group booking and upon arrival the fitout and atmosphere was all very impressive – and a pleasant change from the usual restaurants targeted for corporate events and group bookings in the city. <br/><br/>After a few drinks in the bar we were seated. Food arrived promptly and continued to throughout the evening. It all presented well but the execution lacked as some food was undercooked and just tasted average. Grissini in the tuna tartare tasted stale. Parmesan crisp in the beef carpaccio tasted like powdered ‘parmesan’ you eat growing up, although could have been attributed to a greater thickness in the crisp leaving way too much flavour in comparison to the beef and capers. Scallops just tasted like breadcrumbs, and in turn the use of breadcrumbs just dried them out. We also had some chicken dish which was raw in some pieces. As a pre-booked group dinner someone managed to order their own dessert and no approval was sought from booking-maker. <br/><br/>Our evening fell flat and our guests weren’t impressed.

Amazing decor, great service and great looking food. The taste on the other hand, extremely disappointing. I was in a group of 9 and we shared everything which meant that I got to try lots of thing off the menu. The food is average at best. I ordered a lemon custard thing for my desert. I took one bite and left it sitting there, It was BAD!!!!

Beautiful decor and super friendly staff. We came here as a group of 3. Ordered the steak with sides of mash and seeet potato. Had the profiteroles for dessert. Food was delicious and wine was great. Espresso martinis were excellent. A bit on the pricey side though for what you get and also, if you don't like seafood, your options are extremely limited

Best hotel in Australia. Best hotel breakfast in Australia. Love staying here in my home away from home. Gowings Big Breakfast is BIG on taste and BIG on value!

Had the gowings breakfast and at first thought the scrambled eggs were a bit light on but with everything else it's good. Ordered the granola which was served up with warm milk and then had the gowings breakfast again and asked for no mushroom but instead got mushroom but no bacon and that's after waiting 10 minutes in line to get a seat.

Poor service, and food are pretty low in quality, flavour, and presentation. Not one that I would recommend other than the occasional drinks at the bar

Such a lovely dining experience. The breakfast was to die for. Try the truffled eggs. <br/>Their ingredients were fresh and the meals well executed.<br/>For dinner, all six of us were impressed with the chef's execution and the staff's attentiveness.

Seriously amazing bartenders, they know how to make a cocktail! Really lovely dinner - one of the best I've had. Great quality produce. The service was OK in the restaurant - not overly attentive, but the food made up for it. Outstanding experience In the bar + a great place for a pre-dinner drink

Not the cheapest place for breakfast in town but you'll certainly get some interesting options on the eggs benny! I had mine with caviar on top which was fabulous. The big breakfast was a little less inspiring, but I don't know why my husband ordered that anyway when the other options all looked way more exciting!

Breakfasts! fantastic the flavors and combinations are well excuted . Great American chic dining experience and good service . I went hoping to have the pancakes which unfortunately they have taken off the menu however was delightfully charmed by the 'Rockerfella'.

Lively super pack 'em in style restaurant with a nightclub track list. Overall a solid performance but loses points on price. Mains hover around $30-$40 for a very standard menu. We had the half-chicken and the mac n cheese, both good but not knock your socks off. Good variety of wine. Profiterole ice cream was a highlight. Excellent service and decor.

Nice environment. <br/>Seafood are really fresh. <br/>Doesn't like the sauce of oyster tho. <br/>Recommend seafood fish but not steak. <br/>Ordered lavender tip which is a lovely cocktail.

I love this place for the buzz & hearty food. There always seem to be more men then women here, all in power suits whether its for lunch or dinner. The bar in the middle is a great place to start with a cocktail & a nibble, watching the open kitchen busy at work. The food is rich & substantial with decadent schnitzels, meat dishes, fries & mac n cheese as sides. Dessert is underwelming & an after thought almost but the affogato is good. Probably as they think everyone will be too full to go that extra sweet mile. Not a cheap place as you do get carried away also with wine & cocktails but it is prime location & a beautiful historic building.

Been on the wish list for a while so was super excited to finally get here. Wasn't disappointed-the venue is super funky with a great atmosphere. Wait staff was super helpful and the friendly. Great wine selection and the menu is extensive. Crab cakes were amazing and the minute steak with anchovy butter had great flavor. Only let down of the night were the beignets- over cooked boarding on burnt and a little dry. Was offered chocolate sauce to go with them and was given the smallest little jug which was only half full. Definitely disappointed but the rest of the meal was so good I can totally overlook and I would definitely go back.

Overpriced. Enough said. Mushroom with truffle entree was good. The half chicken Provençal with truffle was bland and too much to digest. The breast section was tasteless and paid $40 for that dish. Service was great though.

Ate at Gowings on Friday night just gone with a group of work colleagues after a 2 day event. After feeling extremely ill the Sunday after, turns out so too at least another 4 of the 12 person group that ate there. Must have been something in the entré as thankfully I didn't stick around for dinner. Steer away from the tuna cups and perhaps the Kilpatrick oysters. <br/><br/>Fancy looking place which has given me a fever and food poisoning.

Gowings Bar and Grill is situated inside the very trendy and quirky hotel (QT Sydney) where the elevator sings lonely songs to you if you are alone, or party anthems if you are in a group. As you walk into Gowings from the QT reception floor, you can't stop but feel excited as the room itself also has similar quirks and trendiness like the rest of the hotel with its nice decorations and smart-casual DJ. <br/><br/>I need to come back here for proper dinner, as I was only here for a short while for some pre-drinks and snacks.. But from the snacks I have to say their tartare spoons were delicious (I really wanted more though!!), as well as the octopus balls I ordered alongside an espresso martini.<br/><br/>I'll definitely be back to try rest of the menu out. <br/>(visited in November 2015)

We had dinner at QT Hotel’s restaurant Gowings on our first night in Sydney. Mainly because nothing else was open on a Sunday night. (What the hell, Sydney!! How are you a major city and yet all your restaurants are closed on Sunday, and most are closed again on Monday!!) But Gowings was awesome anyway.

Pretentious pub food. I agree with reviewer Dmitry Rad. The ambience and service is good but it doesn't quite make up for a table for 8 - where all the courses were a complete FAIL. I hope they Gowings B&G will do something about their kitchen to turn this ship around, which is set in a good location and slick atmosphere.<br/><br/>On the night, we ordered a $35 main tuna salad, in all honesty, was lacking in size and flavour (refer to my pics and you'll know what I mean). Also, we had the truffle chicken which did not taste of truffle, the chicken was dry. The spiced duck was burnt and what spice? The presentation for the $42 seafood pie was disappointing and very salty. For the sides, we ordered onion rings which were burnt and tough, shoestring fries that tasted like Mackers (seriously, pls go look up what shoe string fries mean, they are meant to be long and crunchy) and steam vegetables that weren't wash properly. It was so disappointing that we decided not to stay for dessert. <br/><br/>We did notice that the waiters who came to pick up our plates did not dare ask if we enjoyed our dinner at all. They probably are well aware of this.

Do: the pork belly. Quite yummy but the crackling didn't live up to expectations. The pepper steak was also nice. <br/><br/>Don't: over stuff yourself on the delicious warm bread and butter. So good. <br/><br/>Tip: make sure you book early and leave room for dessert. The lemon meringue tart was very lemony and delightful to look at.

I ordered the Black Angus Steak, Oysters, and Sea Urchin. It was great I loved the atmosphere and vibe and service was top notch. It does get a bit loud but I guess it's part of the atmosphere.

What a classy establishment. Beautiful food, decor and service. Such wonderful choices on the menu.<br/><br/> The food was impeccable and the whole experience felt on another level, rarely seen in restaurants in Sydney. <br/><br/> I would definitely recommend you attend, and I promise you will be back for more! <br/><br/> I do especially recommend for an anniversary or special occasion as it has that glamorous atmosphere.

I was expecting a lot from this place. I picked up a card when I went to Spice Temple and it was intriguing. I love the logo! Anyway, the food was tasty but WARM. I couldn't be bothered complaining... but all of the food was luke-warm. The squid dish was weird - it was kind of slimy and tasteless. The onion rings were good... but warm and therefore not crunchy. The truffle mac was really tasty... but warm. The kale side dish was a bit strange... and warm. The setting is amazing, the staff were nice (a little inattentive though) and the wine was nice but this is overpriced for what it is. It is trying to be fine dining but doesn't hit the mark at all. I will not go back.

Pretty delicious food - we had fresh fish and salad and some naughty desserts. I wouldn't say it was outstanding, as some people absolutely rave about it, but it was good and the mains were very healthy and tasty. Atmosphere... very busy, and very loud. We were there for a business meeting and practically had to sit on each other's laps to hear.

Overall, Gowings offers a pretty top-rate dining experience. Our meal was necessarily quick as we didn’t have a reservation, but I can see how it would be a great place to enjoy a long meal over several excellent cock/mocktails. The bill does start to add up though and before you know it, you’re shelling out three figures per person – so I would reserve this one for special occasions only.

Gowings Bar and Grill  is located in the QT Hotel,  in the heart of the CBD and is the perfect place to escape the busy streets below. The entire hotel has transformed what was once the old Gowings department store and part of the State Theatre into a flawless wining and dining experience. It’s edgy contemporary design meets the style of a European brasserie – a concept created by acclaimed Sydney restauranteur Robert Marchetti.

Gowings is one the iconic Sydney restaurants frequented by countless celebrities from Angelina Jolie to Redfoo and Robert Pattinson. . Located inside QT hotel, just above the State Theatre, the restaurant features a flamboyant design with stunning art deco doors. . As you head up the stairs to the restaurant, you are greeted with a large kinetic digital installation emanating a post-modern feel to the decor.

We started our lunch by having a drink at the bar as we were waiting for friends. The staff who was there was very friendly and offered tastes of wines that were available by the glass.<br/><br/>When our friend arrived, we moved to our table and was saddened that the lunch menu was short and concise, the dinner menu has more variety and had items I really wanted to try. Still my husband and I tried their crab cakes which were well cooked and flavorful (3 small pieces) and then we both had the minute steak which came with a salad and French fries. Simple but done well and we couldn't complain. Even though their dessert menu options were out of three choices. I decided to be swayed by the table across who sat across from us ordered their profiteroles, so I decided to get that as well. Small profiteroles which chattily and ice cream inside. While it was nice, it wasn't amazing or something I would order again for the price you are paying.<br/><br/>Service was friendly and professional from all the staff and it's a spacious restaurant who had many large groups of families with young kids/babies. I'm glad I got to try this place but probably go at night for the dinner menu.

This stylishly designed bar and grill has a huge breakfast menu selection with some delectable choices like blueberry spelt flour pancakes, free range egg white omelette, and even lemon crepes.

An interesting location hidden within the gowings building. You would not know it was there unless you had a peak. The cocktails were impressive. I thought the service was a little pretentious which was a let down.

This is one of my top 5 places to eat. Great ambience, stylish decor, cool modern vibe. Great food, staff (who wear cute outfits) and a cool bar! Even if you don't come here to eat, you can lounge in the bar and enjoy the scenery and cocktails.

First night in Sydney and decided to head here for some steaks and wine. First off the room is really well set up. Private enough but you still have people around which gives off a good vibe. <br/>Ordered the Rib Eye 100% Black Angus 320g. And when they say 320g, they mean it. No bone. Also had the Mac and Cheese with truffle as a side and it was perfect. The waiter recommended a few different wines though we went with the Pooley 2013 and Claus Preisinger Zweigelt 2013. Both were fantastic. <br/><br/>Finished it off with a cheese board of gruyère, goats and blue and we were done.<br/><br/>All in all a great night and friendly service.

Staying at QT hotel, Gowings on site is very good, groovy bar, minute steak I was warned was brilliant and they were right, the profiteroles also top notch. Good job. Will be back. Hotel side of things great as well.

Quite alot of seafood tonight. My mate had the line caught SA snapper. Pan fried, classic lemon butter sauce, frisee, mint shallot salad. I had a bit and never knew how good grilled snapper can be! I ordered the beef rib and when this came i thought hmmm…. bit odd. It was for out other friend fortunately this didn’t look as appealing as the other dishes. “Old School Chicago Veal” which was topped with mozzarella, mild red chilli, baked in tomato passata, marjoram, black olive capers, splash of brandy.

Poor management at Gowings Bar & Grill. After a great night out with great friends, our the night was suddenly brought to a hold my a random manager telling a 100% sober friend of ours that we could not be served any more alcohol at our table because we were too loud. Our friend was told this as he was walking to the bathroom. Up until this point we had not had any prior warning that we were being too noisy or too “drunk”. I must say that I did not expect to be treated like a child after spending more than $1000 on meals for all of us. Even children get advanced notice, a warning or a heads up before being put on the mat.<br/><br/>What a way to ruin the night for all of us.....I will never come back....Fail!!!!!

This morning I had the great pleasure of experiencing some of the new additions to the menu at the highly acclaimed Gowings Bar & Grill, located right in the heart of Sydney CBD on Market Street. Mr Fit Foodie and I have promised ourselves a dinner there since it opened some time ago, but given our busy schedules, have not had chance to book in. To my delight, I was invited to enjoy a breakfast to sample their new healthy options available to both hotel guests and general public alike. I have to admit, I don’t generally think of hotels as my first breakfast choice, but this little gem has a genuinely luxe but relaxed vibe, perfect for both an impromptu latte or something a little more substantial for anyone and everyone in need of a morning pick-me-up. You may have read from a previous blog post that I struggle to find healthy eateries on my doorstep, and actually finding somewhere that remains open on a weekend (catering for more than just suits and city-slickers) is a whole other challenge in itself. However, I’m pleased to say this place might be just what I’ve been looking for. Serving breakfast from 6am, 7 days a week, it even kindly plays along with my unforgiving body clock. On arrival I’m greeted by the enchanting decor of the original Gowings building, lovingly restored and celebrated by it’s new inhabitants. The building is listed to protect it’s original features, and offers a wonderful sense of old-world character that I miss from the abundance of heritage buildings in the UK.   Gowings dining area   The ground floor houses Parlour Lane Roasters – a casual drop-in cafe serving freshly brewed coffee and light bites by day, and by night, wine and bar snacks to hoards of pre-theatre goers. To my joy, I learn this place has free wifi, and immediately pledge to get out of the apartment regularly to blog here and enjoy a spot of people-watching over my afternoon long black. The first floor houses the Gowings Bar & Grill, which is whe

A super sexy den of steak and New York-esque fanciness. <br/>Best mushy peas and sides I've probably had at the one place. <br/><br/>[pictorial : let the photos do the talking]  

This restaurant seems quite promising, fantastic wine list with a equally great temperature control cellar, the wait staff look sharp and modern in black and white wearing suspensors. The table seating its beautiful and the voices of busy business men and women closing deals over lunch while drinking expensive bottles of wines creates a superb atmosphere that goes hand to han

Searching for a place to eat before Chelsea Handler’s stand-up comedy show at the State Theatre late last year was fairly easy. What was close, had decent food, an excellent wine list and offered something a little bit different to the norm? That would have to be ‘Gowings Bar & Grill’.

Didn’t love so much :: The food is delicious but found it to be slightly overpriced. Floor is not stiletto friendly - so slippery.

Gowings Bar & Grill is hidden away in the quirky QT hotel on Market Street. The menu is huge, covering red meat, seafood, poultry, salads, sweets and much more. With such a varied menu, it was a very hard decision to decide on my meal, but eventually I chose the Roast Gruyere Crumble Beef Fillet and Paris Mash.

Our waiter was friendly and attentive; service was polished and well done, despite the initial too-cool-for-school 'tude at reception.<br/>

While we stayed at the QT in Sydney we received breakfast included in our room rate so dined at Gowings Bar and Grill for 4 mornings.  I had mixed experiences there.  I'll start by saying that the decor is amazing in this restaurant and throughout the hotel.  The restaurant had a large open kitchen, a modern and masculine feel.  Large metallic light shades lining the windows, and fresh flowers placed on tables daily.  Decorative plates lined the walls and ceilings.  Chairs were really comfortable!    We were always led to our table by an attractive hostess (usually wearing a short black dress), and noted the most of the waitresses were french, and friendly.  Coffee's were great but we really loved the good variety of drinks - the vege juice tasted great, as did the chocolate milk, and fresh juices.   We tried quite a few menu items but thought they really excelled at the continental breakfast - PZ loved the muesli and granola.  Both the grilled bananas and grapefruit were amazing. I tr

We hit up head barman Tom at the famously hip, New-York-style Gowings Bar & Grill for his dating insights. Gowings Bar & Grill is located at the QT Hotel in Sydney. Tom takes us behind the scenes to bring us the inside scoop on what makes this not only a great venue but the perfect dating hotspot.

10 very satisfied tummies rolled out of Gowings Bar & Grill that night and though we didn’t kick on downing cocktails in the bar that evening (food coma), I do think that the majority of us will be returning to this shiny new thing as soon as we can.

...I wanted to order pretty much everything on the menu – it really all sounded good. Eventually I ‘settled’ on the Marinade of Blue Eye. Now sorry to sound like your nearest teenager, but Oh-Em-Gee. Divinely fresh and flavoursome. Then onto the half duck from the woodfired rotisserie, beautifully tender, on a bed of low fat Paris mash. I also sampled a companion’s quail – plump, moist and plain delicious. And if you go on a Friday there is a roast suckling

For my main I chose to have something off the grill, partly to be healthy and partly because the waitress recommended it. The meat was lovely and tender and cooked perfectly. As with all more, how shall we say, fine dining(?) restaurants they tend to cook meat a lot pinker than we do at home so I asked for medium which came out to be what I would consider medium-rare, which was exactly what I wanted.

Stately, well-aged architecture from years bygone stand proudly next to their glassy, shiny, and often taller counterparts. It’s not often you see this kind of juxtaposition at this frequency, but Sydney somehow manages to pull it off with aplomb.

This place has been on my 'to dine at' list since it first opened last year. Something about the menu attracted me. Upon reflection the food described in the menu didn't sound fancy, quite down to earth actually. Plus there had been a lot of hype when it first opened in the new and trending QT hotel. So I finally got a chance to dine here with 2 good friends, who I consider to be part of my 'family'. When we got out of the lifts, there was a rather flash reception area (which felt like a hotel reception). We then realised that we had to walk up a flight of stairs to get to The Bar and Grill. As we walked up to the stairs I was quite distracted by the amazingly brightly coloured wall facing us. Quite striking and it did set the mood for what the Gowings Bar and Grill would feel like. I liked it! It felt new and vibrant, it looked like a place which had been heavily invested. It was very much an image driven environment. Why would I say that? I think it will be more obvious as I describe

I had the 'fish of the day' which was mahi mahi, rubbed in fennel seeds, coriander and rosemary and had a side accompaniment of a tomato salad.

The new QT Hotel. Looks a million bucks... Actually it looks more. The fit-out of this place is utterly stunning. As I swanned in, dressed to the nines, channeling a 1940s Eva Peron, I was impressed. The elevator has a sensor in it, and depending on how many people are in it, plays appropriate music, such as All By Myself...

The party continues on the plate, which winds up at the table via a big, open kitchen complete with wood-fired ovens and more shiny brightwork than the A-arm of the Cruising Yacht Club.

This is an amazing place - such great atmosphere and excellent service. They have plenty of customers too which means they are certainly doing some things right! The drinks weren't overly cheap or expensive - which was a pleasant surprise.

...the Bar & Grill has that staged New York Broadway feel to it.

The tuna was sliced far too thin to be put on a grill and in the menu it was described as cooked pink. It was not pink at all – it was overcooked, dry and lacked in any flavour other than the occasional fennel seed – the chopped grape tomato salad was made fresh with a slight sweet dressing and young coriander herbs.

The bar and grill is not obvious from the street but it was only breakfast time. Located on the second floor of the QT hotel and next door to the iconic State Theatre, it can be impressive that Gowings B & G opens its doors as early as 630am, considering that people do party at the same venue rather late the evening before. There is always a smiling young woman or man at the street level entrance to the QT itself - and this person often is a traveller from Canada or Europe with a friendly countenance.  The rooms at the QT are on the high side of pricing, already for a city that asks for much in hotel accommodation. Once you come out of the lift, you are settled into the rather cosy and cocooned world of the Gowings.  This name once referred to a department store but memories of that Australian business is carried on through association in the very building which once housed sales of clothes and accessories. Breakfast can be a sophisticated affair, suggesting of early morning money deal

Gowings Bar and Grill is truly a hidden gem of a place and one of the better steakhouses around in Sydney, with its pulsing atmosphere and wide ranging menu. It won’t be a cheap night out, but it does feel worth it because the decor and vibe of the place feels reminiscent of a restaurant in a more sophisticated city. Except when you glimpse a view of the QVB through the windows to bring you back to reality.<br/>

This dish is a girl named Blossom. Beautiful edible blooms are scattered on crab cakes, finely julienne radish, celeriac, tangy aioli and lemon.

The breakfast menu that's included in the hotel package is slightly different to the a la carte breakfast menu, but it nonetheless provides a good spread of delicious food.

I really liked trying the beer-battered sage, it’s an usual element that I’ve not seen on a menu before.

Situated in Sydney CBD within the boutique QT Hotel is Gowings Bar and Grill which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I don’t normally get up early on a weekday without snoozing my alarm multiple times but I was up and ready for breakfast at 7:30am. This stylishly designed bar and grill has a huge breakfast menu selection with some delectable choices like blueberry spelt flour pancakes, free range egg white omelette, and even lemon crepes.  Eggs Rockefeller - 64 degrees biodynamic egg, warm brioche, farmed black caviar, steamed warragul greens, tarragon, hollandaise sauce $21 When you’re looking for that indulgent reward to start your day, the Eggs Rockefeller is a hearty meal.

‘The Mother’ and I shared the Gowings classic profiteroles – filled with crème patisserie and vanilla ice cream drowned in Valrhona dark chocolate sauce – oh my! 3 decent size profiteroles, they were sinful but absolutely fantastic and the chocolate sauce was a wonderful complement.

While my Xmas mantras are ‘buy local’ and ‘buy artisan’, if you are determined to brave the CBD madness, you’d best do it well fortified.<br/><br/>Right in the thick of things, Gowings Bar & Grill offers up an extensive breakfast menu that caters for all tastes and proclivities, including those healthy types who like taking the yolks out of their Super Food Omelette ($21).

There's an interesting dynamic at Gowings Bar, being a hotel bar of course, but also catering to the large restaurant in the same space. The new, boutique QT Hotel made quite the splash when it opened in the historic Gowings Building last year. While I'll probably never be staying in the creative, designer rooms, the lobby and restaurant fitouts alone have me impressed.<br/>

We loved the desserts and the snapper, and although we enjoyed the starters too, we wished that they had a little bit more spark. But in the round this was a resoundingly satisfying lunch with solid service. However make sure you check the bill as we found two mistakes on ours. - See more at: http://agirlhastoeat.com/gowings-bar-and-grill-review/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+agirlhastoeat%2Ffeedburner+%28A+Girl+Has+to+Eat+-+Restaurant+Reviews+%26+Food+Guide%29#sthash.YQUYQdFm.dpuf

My favourite dish was probably the tangy yellowfin tuna tartare ($18) which I had to order after seeing the giant tuna fish hanging in the kitchen. Rib eye steaks ($31) are served unadorned but it is top quality meat treated with respect and cooked to a perfect state of medium rare. Special mention should go to the onion rings ($7) which my friend Hugh described as "exactly like Hungry Jack's and I mean that in a good way" and the German doughnuts ($12) served hot and minus holes for dessert. In spite of the slightly pretentious setup I couldn't help but like the place.

The decor is very "Great Gatsby"!! A group of us enjoyed a fabulous lunch on the weekend, the service took a little time to warm up but was acceptable. We all loved the food and found it reasonable for what we had, which was a lunchtime feast! I'm going for the a la carte breakfast this weekend, can't wait!

Professional yet warm service. Very accomodating with special requests for a farewell party for 17 adults and 1 baby. Amazing food, good portions. Definitely recommended.

Fantastic service, great menu in stylish surroundings. I've been here a couple of times and it has always been excellent

Big Disappointment. QT was highly recommended and a booking made for 15, including international travellers. Not sure how we wound up with a set menu, however it was a major disappointment. The entrees were tasty, however when the main arrived, in various plates in the middle of the table, the problems started. Some tolerated the food, yet others found it inedible. The steak was too full of sinews to cut, let alone chew, the chicken was so dry you needed a mouthful of water to swallow it. No sauces at all. Wine was ordered, however the splash provided in the bottom of the glass didn't last long and locating a waiter to get a refill was a major task in itself. Then we are informed the bottle is empty and a new one is required, when the few of us actually drinking wine have hardly had any.<br/>The level of noise was so high we couldn't talk without yelling.<br/>The icing on the cake was the bill. Aside from the expense ($65 each), a 10% tip is automatically added of $145.50. Total $1600 for what can only be described as a major disappointment (and embarrassment for Sydney).

Floyd's Food review. Went for lunch with wife. Good food and reasonable initial service at bar. Came to pay bill and new waiter was a smug arrogant fool. Bad aftertaste

Came here for a work lunch with six colleagues. Food was incredible, service excellent. All in all was a superb place and everyone had a great time. Will be back.

Mehhhh~~~. Can't rave too much about the lemon crepe, unattentive services, I wonder where are all the hype from?!