But having left Steel Bar & Grill in Martin Place on Saturday night, I swore it was so good it was definitely worth writing about. We actually mentioned to each other that night that if our expectations were met or exceeded by the end of the evening that we would rate Steel five out of five stars:

I can confidently say this newly opened restaurant more than earned it’s stripes.

But as I went to my computer to follow through on my promise, I was surprised to find a terribly mediocre review that Steel Bar & Grill had received from Simon Thompson in Monday’s edition of the Sydney Morning Herald.

I can tell you it all but surpassed even my most idealistic expectations. From the time we entered until the time that we left, we had a great time.

We arrived early and were graciously seated at the bar and offered drinks. The bread came out almost seconds after we ordered it. The staff were gracious and polite, without being pretentious. The music was lovely too – ambient and energetic without being overwhelming or loud.

Our food was cooked to perfection. My boyfriend had the wood fire grilled sirloin with hand cut chips, Bearnaise sauce and watercress. It’s nice to find a restaurant that doesn’t snub well-done meat.

I had the baked lamb rump with fondant potato, baby carrots, peas and mint. It was tender, “succulent”, perfectly accompanied by the Shiraz wine which was recommended by their staff. It was dry without being too light, apparently made by an Italian Australian wine-maker and therefore employed some apparently “old-school” elements. Enthusiasm aside, there really is something to be said for simple food, done nicely.

For dessert I had the berry pavlova which is to die for. Crunchy meringue on the outside, smooth sweetened cream on the inside.
It’s so great to finally find a restaurant that cooks great food and isn’t afraid of simplicity

The restaurant itself was immaculate. Their kitchen is on display and you can see all the fresh product kept in immaculate transparent fridges – the order and coordination was admirable, and their food hygiene is at once reassuring and impressive.

The bathrooms were amazing – tiled completely in steel, and mirrors. The cubicles are lit from the ground giving it an almost artistic feel.

The ladies bathroom had television screens above the sinks where Moulin Rouge was playing.
I didn’t notice these screens on the way in though, so I imagine that after a couple of drinks you too might at first think you are hearing voices while you’re trying to go, but nonetheless it was an impressive touch.

The bar area and balcony was lovely, soft cushioned stools around gas lit log fires for warmth.
I couldn’t help but notice the patrons around me – everyone was relaxed and smiling. No one sent their food back (at least not in the area I could see). It all contributed to the enjoyable evening had by all on Saturday night. We had a great time from beginning to end.

We mentioned that night that if our expectations were met or exceeded by the end of the evening that we would rate Steel five out of five stars. I can confidently say this newly opened restaurant more than earned it’s stripes.
It’s a joy to finally have a great dining experience in Sydney city which is lacking in good food places.

They really do deserve a better location though, stuck behind Bar 333 in Martin Place. Steel Bar & Grill beats Bar 333 hands down.
Stick it next to The Hilton – then Steel will have some real competition. This is the kind of impressiveness I’m talking about, except that Steel is the relaxed and affordable alternative to Glass.

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