The Summit - high cuisine
There are two occasions in particular that go hand in hand with a visit to The Summit. It’s one of those places that will never fail to leave newcomers to the city gobsmacked. If you’ve got visitors coming to Sydney for the first time, take them here. And equally, if you’re about to leave the city for a lengthy period of time, The Summit is the ultimate last hurrah. Gaze through the 360 degree wraparound windows at the gracious arch of the Harbour Bridge, the elegant sails of the Opera House, the city lights reflected in the black sheen of the harbour and weep. Still want to leave?
There’s no question that the views at The Summit are phenomenal. It’s Sydney’s oldest revolving restaurant at a venerable 42 years of age, perched on the 47th floor of the Australia Square building, gently spinning above the city at a rate of one metre per minute.
The Summit’s always been a fashionable, dress-to-impress kind of place, but it was the introduction of heavyweight chef Michael Moore in 2007 that lifted the restaurant to far greater heights.
As you’d expect, on the plate Moore’s food is deliberately showy, but at its heart the menu is remarkably accessible, unfussy and flavour-focused. The signature dish is both contemporary and comforting – a perfectly unctuous slice of twice-cooked pork belly with glossy ‘glass’ crackling beside a pretty little heap of vanilla-tinged apple and radish salad and a lick of toffee balsamic. The favourite entree is cold smoked petunia ocean trout, served with quail eggs, butter brioche, black pepper vegetables and cream fennel broth.
Moore’s a huge red meat fan so the Summit’s an exceptional steak place too, provided you’ve got a ample budget (anything from their ‘beef on the bone’ selection adds a hefty supplement to the set menu price). Choose from a selection of aged, grain fed cuts served with shiraz jus and café de paris butter. It’s hearty stuff, but don’t overlook the desserts – the hot chocolate soufflé with hazelnut praline cream is arguably the star of the menu.
The fit-out is slick and formal – the same goes for the service. For a more casual affair, the Orbit Lounge Bar lets you enjoy the same well-crafted flavours in tapas form – there’s an extensive international wine list to match.
Posted by Fiona Davies
