The chicken schnitzel is lightly crumbed and perfectly cooked. The meat was very tender with no dryness at all. I ordered takeaway so I don't know about the customer service but I can definitely say the schnitzels are great. I got an extra side of the plain gravy and I loved it.

FOOD TYPE
In addition to schnitzels, you can also get fish, steaks and pastas. There’s something for everyone.

FOOD QUALITY
Four of us dined on a Saturday night and it was unanimously agreed that the food was premium quality. Fresh, tasty and served in huge portions: so much of it that we had even had enough to take home and eat the next day. We started off with a serve of garlic bread – four crunchy slices neatly presented in a little basket. Then we went straight into the schnitzels, three Viennas ($20 ea.) and one Jagerschnitzel ($22) which didn’t seem much different to the Viennas, but came with a little tureen of rich, gravy-like sauce. Schnitzels are served with potato rosti, cabbage salad and lemon. My JAGERSCHNITZEL was perfectly cooked. The meat was tender, succulent and flavoursome, with a crispy outer coating of batter. It was well constructed so the batter stayed on until the last mouthful. We also ordered a side of potato salad ($6), sauerkraut ($5), a garden salad ($9) and chips ($5) but that was a bit excessive as the schnitzels come with a generous salad anyway. We washed it all down with a couple of refreshing glasses of Bitburger Ale. We were all so full after that, that no-one was game to order dessert which was a pity as judging by the quality of everything else, I’m sure it would have been scrumptious. Something to look forward to next time.

ATMOSPHERE
Surprisingly for a Saturday night, the place was only about half full. It has a slightly dated look and feel with wooden floors, white walls with a few hanging decorations, plain wooden furniture and green plastic 1980s style booth-type seating as well. There are two sections, a front and a back. We started off sitting in the back, but found it to be rather cold and drafty. So we quickly upped stumps and moved to the front of the restaurant, which was a big improvement. The large windows there give you a pleasant view onto busy New South Head Rd outside. Overall though, it does present as a tad dreary with most of the other diners being rather aged folk of Eastern European descent enjoying a night of nostalgia perhaps?

SERVICE
Service was first class. All wait staff were helpful and polite. Orders were promptly taken and dishes came out quickly and in the correct order. And full marks to the pretty Indian lass who served us. She was patient and calm as we chopped and changed our seating. The maître d’ with his trendy Mohican-style hairdo, was professional and efficient.

COMFORT
I found the table too small and cramped and we struggled to fit everything, but then perhaps that was because we ordered too much. The seating is fairly utilitarian and simple, but at least the laminated tabletops without table cloths means that you can make as much mess as you like.

MENU
Fairly clearly set out on durable plastic laminate and easy to read in the strong lighting.

TOILETS
Dodgy. They’re right at the back of the restaurant, meaning that if you’re sitting in the front you’ll have quite a trek to get to them. You need to actually step outside the restaurant and into a small outdoors dining area where you’ll find two aircraft-sized toilets, one for males and one for females. So if the one you want is occupied you’ll have to wait it out in the cold, or go back to your seat and try again later. Not ideal. And there’s only a tiny sign just above the back door, indicating their location.

ACOUSTICS
We had no problems conversing but that was because of the small turnout rather than any miracle of sound engineering or design. But I guess noise could be a problem if it ever got full, with the wooden floors and furniture and no carpets.

VALUE
We booked via YUMTABLE, which gave us a generous 30% discount up to a max of $30. That kept our bill for four down to a reasonable $113. For that we got four schnitzels, four side serves, a serve of garlic bread and four drinks, but no dessert. That’s solid value in these austere times.

BOOKING
If the place wasn’t busy on a Saturday night, chances it never is, but still, if you want to visit here, my suggestion is to book via YUMTABLE, to get your discount.

PARKING/ACCESS
You’ll find SHDB across the road from the famous Sheaf Hotel on New South Head Rd. Perhaps because it was a Saturday night we struggled to find parking nearby, eventually settling for a spot in Ocean Street, about 12-15 minute walk to the restaurant. Generally on weeknights, parking around here is a breeze and restrictions end at 6.00pm.

SUMMARY
Despite the lack of atmosphere, I would still recommend SHDB for its outstanding food, generous helpings, efficient service and solid value for money. Parking generally isn’t a problem if you don’t mind a little walk. And I always enjoy the smart, upmarket elegance of Double Bay. So we’ll be back soon enough.

RECOMMENDATION
Try the Bitburger Ale, a perfect accompaniment to the schnitzel.