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Guest reviewer - Veronica Wells
My Rocks experience - Summer 2010
Guest reviewer Veronica Wells discovered that you don't always have to travel far to go on holiday.
Our weekend in The Rocks began with a casual walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was a glorious summer afternoon and my partner and I had the enviable task ahead of us of indulging ourselves for the weekend in the eclectic mix of experiences that is unique to The Rocks in Sydney. We promptly checked in to the Harbour Rocks Hotel - a favourite of mine from way back - and again it did not disappoint.
Our mission was lunch and the destination was the beer garden at Phillip's Foote. Small groups sat in little pockets around the outdoor area lazily enjoying the mild weather and the relaxed pace. This pub is a gem in the heart of The Rocks with its cobbled stone pathways and quaint old-world feel.
One of my girlfriends joined us for lunch and we began with a glass of wine to set the mood. We'd missed the peak lunch crowd so there was no rush to order. After much deliberation it was decided we would all have the fish. A very large piece of barramundi was presented to each of us, neatly pre-wrapped in foil ready for us to barbecue. Precise directions on how long to cook the fillet were given to us by the friendly waiter - and he was correct -right down to the minute. The fish was perfectly cooked, beautifully moist and was a great match with the wine, weather and company. We had access to a comprehensive salad buffet to which we couldn't do justice due to the generous fish portion.
We were now ready to take on the shopping mission! Wandering up Argyle Street there was plenty to look at. We browsed The Rocks Markets stall by stall till we ended up at the far end of George Street, and ended up in The Candle Factory. We spent a lot of time admiring the array of shapes, sizes and scents of the candles. In this store it is clear that wax is indeed an art form. I found a wonderful candleholder which I bought without hesitation, even though I had no idea where it was going to go. I was not leaving without it!
My girlfriend and I managed to buy some earrings at the markets as we wandered back, and then it was time for a break. The three of us settled at a nice outdoor table at the Guylian Belgian Chocolate Café. My partner and my friend had hot chocolate which looked rich and smooth and tasted even better. I couldn't go past the Guylian affogato. Served in a glass with a delicious scoop of vanilla ice cream, perfectly extracted shot of espresso and a shot of heavenly Belgian chocolate liqueur, it was a show-stopper. I would definitely recommend the affogato, but the hot chocolate was a close second! This cafe, on the corner of George and Argyle streets, sits in an historical building which has been many things over the decades. Thankfully it is now a chocolate lover's dream. Finely crafted individual chocolates sit invitingly behind the glass display like miniature sculptures. We just had to sample a few to take away as a parting gesture, and there wasn't one I didn't like.
My friend headed home and we retired to the hotel to prepare for dinner. We had a reservation at Fish at the Rocks which was a casual stroll up Argyle Street. Fish at the Rocks has been around for years. It is a quaint little two-storey terrace brimming with atmosphere. It was a cool night and we were given a cozy window table. We kicked the evening off with a glass of bubbly.
The menu proved a challenge as we realised there was no way on earth we were going to be able to eat all the things we wanted to try. We figured we could trial a bit of each others so that would effectively double the number of dishes we could both sample. For entree I ordered the Atlantic salmon gravalax stack with potato rosti and zucchini pancake. My partner ordered the salt and pepper calamari with lime and chili dipping sauce.
To go with dinner we decided to try Incognito, a 2009 New Zealand pinot gris. It was an excellent choice that we stayed with for the remainder of the meal.
For his main, my partner ordered the seafood broth which was a rich bouillabaisse-style broth brimming with fresh seafood. I wanted to swap, that is until I tasted my prawn and scallop ravioli! Bonus was there was so much seafood in the seafood broth I got to have a fair taste of that as well. I don't think there is a dish on the menu at Fish at the Rocks that could disappoint. We have decided to return there very soon to work our way through the menu.
Our last stop for the night was Wine Odyssey. Here I fulfilled a dream of sampling some Penfolds Grange Hermitage. The 'taste' size was barely enough to coat my tongue, however it was definitely worth it. The wine list in this place is amazing, and with the unique self-serve dispensing mechanism you feel comfortable to browse at your own pace. We settled in a cushion-filled corner in the back room where we were able to get very comfortable indeed. We decided on a Super Ruby Prosecco cocktail which provided a refreshing end to the night.
Back at the Harbour Rocks Hotel we crawled into the comfortable king-size bed and finished those Guylian truffles. The hotel room was fabulous. The architecture and decor is in keeping with the old-world feel of the precinct. Our wood-framed windows created a perfect picture frame around the Opera House. The service was personal and nothing was too much trouble.
fWe escaped the bustle of busy George Street with an upstairs table at The Rocks Café for lunch. We had a fabulous English waiter who made us feel so welcome-especially on a day when it was so busy a bit of attitude would have been expected. Not at this place. The Rocks Café consistently turns out good quality basics that always hit the mark. The beer battered fish and chips were simple but perfect. The fish was of excellent quality-the delicate, sweet flesh was not oily or overcooked. My vegetarian sandwich was fresh and a perfect bite after all that coffee.
After lunch we wandered into Ariel Booksellers. The place was full of people browsing the diverse collection of books. Young children sat in corners on the floor flipping pages, and people of all ages leisurely browsed the displays. Staff readily encouraged people to linger as long as they like-seemingly in the name of appreciation of fine books. It took me more than an hour-and-a-half of browsing to decide upon my purchase of a black and white photography book. I have a whole new list of books which now sit on my desired list!
The weekend was now coming to a close. We felt sad as we climbed the steps up from Arglyle Street towards the Harbour Bridge. The weekend had felt like a holiday. There is a certain magic about The Rocks. After over-nighting there, and being part of the precinct for the weekend, it remains my favourite Sydney destination.
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