The Dining Room at The Park Hyatt

The hotel itself was listed on the Condé Nast Traveler 2013 Hot List after a $70m refurbishment in 2012. The restaurant was also updated to emphasise its premier position, which is obvious from the floor to ceiling windows which show off the stunning Opera House and harbour views. For an entrée, I chose the Local Cow’s Milk Burrata (extremely yummy and creamy) with Cherry Tomatoes, whereas my friend chose the Crisp Pressed Pork Shoulder with Rhubarb and Apple Compote (cooked spot on and full of flavour). For the main, I chose the Goats Curd Gnocchi with Butternut Pumpkin and Beurre Noisette (the best gnocchi I have ever tasted) and my friend chose the Chatham Island Blue Cod with Leek and Smokey Potato (cooked perfectly with crispy skin and the perfect portion size). The food so far was delicious, but dessert was definitely my personal favourite. Luckily, we both chose the Beurre Noisette and Hazelnut Cake with Salted Caramel and Vanilla Icecream, as I am sure the other would have had food envy if only one had chosen this option. Please note, the mains do not come with any vegetables, but they can be ordered as extras ($9 each). To be honest, I am not sure they were needed as I was certainly full when I left. Having just looked at the menu again, I am kicking myself for not ordering the Goose Fat Fried Potatoes though! In summary, the food was delicious and presented in the high standard you would expect from a five-star hotel, the ambience was sophisticated and romantic (most tables seemed to be couples), the staff went above and beyond – they intuitively seemed to know if you wanted anything without hassling you (always a thin line I think) and the wine list was very extensive (a little on the pricey side though).