Le Foote — Restaurant in Sydney

A great meal in a labyrinthine restaurant, full of cozy nooks and crannies. So happy we were able to be squeezed in without a reservation.

My only disappointment is that I wish they had wine pairings. The wines that were on the list were a good representation, but it would’ve been nice if there was an opportunity for half pours or flights. So many exquisite items on the menu, and so many ways to pair them with wines. We ordered the cheese pie as an app, and I would’ve loved to have had some sort of half poor of a white that would’ve stood up to it, and then later with my meat, a half pour of some red, and maybe even wine with a little sweetness to pair with my cabbage. I know it’s a lot of glasses to wash when you start getting into the wine pairing business, but the menu really lends itself to opportunities for flights. This is still a five star review! It’s just a suggestion of something that would make the restaurant experience over the top.

On to the food. We were told that the cheese pie and the duck sausage and the octopus were standouts. I eat a lot of octopus, and so I felt a bit saturated with it lately and did not order that. But I did order the cheese pie and the duck sausage. Both Delicious. My husband said that he was tasting a little bit of spice off the cheese pie, but I did not. The flavors were excellent. The honey paired beautifully, but was not saccharine. The duck sausage was also excellent. My husband had the schnitzel, and it was very tender, but he was coveting my duck sausage! I gave him a bite, because that’s just the type of partner I am. He asked for a second bite, and I thought that was a bridge too far, but since he was paying for it, I let him have it. ;) The duck sausage is clearly the winner. The schnitzel was good, but the duck sausage was packed with flavor! I took a piece home, to mix with eggs for breakfast.

For sides, we had the potato en croute, which was good, and I had the cabbage, and the cabbage was good, but perhaps a bit vinegary or sour. And the pepitas were a bit overwhelming as well. I couldn’t put my finger on it. For me, a skordalia features a lot of garlic, so I suppose I was expecting more of a garlic flavor. It was very good, but perhaps dial back a bit on pepitas. Maybe a little bit more garlic forward? I’m not sure. It was good, but in some ways it was just strong. I guess that’s the only word to describe it. The cabbage was not coming through.

The service was excellent. We were never looking around for our server. We had a couple of different people servicing the table, and they were all very efficient and pleasant.

The atmosphere is gorgeous. We actually took a little photoshoot later, because some of the tables were empty, and so we took the opportunity to stage some photos.

As we were leaving, the place was really filling up.

Le Foote is Labyrinthine, in a wonderful way. it reminds me of those wonderful Greek towns where special places are tucked around the corner or up a flight of steps or down a few steps. Lots of different seating areas with intimate candles. Truly, the atmosphere was so very Mediterranean and so beautiful! Even the bathroom was special, with fabulous artwork...

My recent dining experience at this restaurant was by far the worst in a long time, with major issues in both service and food quality—especially the abysmal attitude of the short-haired female staff member, which left me utterly frustrated.

First, the service was unacceptable. After being seated, we noticed the menu didn’t list the "cheese pie" (a dish we’d seen recommended online), so we politely asked if it was available. Instead of a helpful response, the staff member snapped at us, "You must read the menu before ordering," and walked away immediately—even though we had already decided on all other dishes. When serving the food later, she slammed the plates onto the table roughly, with no regard for whether the placement made it easy for us to eat.

The checkout process was even more infuriating. The restaurant’s reservation policy (clearly stated when booking) specifies an $80 per person no-show fee. However, the staff member never confirmed our reservation details when we arrived. To avoid accidental charges, we asked her to verify our reservation status. Her reply was dismissive and rude: "I don't know about the policy, no one is charging you now, so why are you in a hurry?" She even snapped, "What exactly do you want me to do?" After we repeatedly explained we only needed a quick confirmation, she reluctantly went to check, then returned with a lazy response: "All reservation details have been canceled." She never addressed our concerns, showing zero professionalism.

Second, the food itself was mediocre and far below expectations—matching the terrible service to create a "double disappointment."

In summary, neither the staff’s work ethic nor the food quality meets even basic standards. I strongly advise against visiting this restaurant and will also warn friends and family...

During our recent visit to Le Foote for lunch, we encountered a series of disappointments that marred our dining experience.

Firstly, the service was less than welcoming. Upon our arrival, we were hastily informed in a rather abrupt tone that the kitchen would close in half an hour, pressing us to order quickly. This rushed greeting set a rather uncomfortable tone for our meal.

While the food's taste met our expectations, the portion sizes were a letdown, especially considering the price. The salad was minimalistic, offering just two leaves. The Potato en croûte was a misnomer, being merely pastry without any hint of potato. The dish featuring octopus, potatoes, and macadamia, sprinkled with Aleppo pepper, was also underwhelming in portion, with the octopus barely extending to the size of a finger.

Another point of contention was the wine list. It was shockingly overpriced. Rieslings, typically found at bottle shops for under $20, were marked up to over $100. Similarly, a Pinot Noir I regularly purchase for $60 was listed at an exorbitant $300. Such pricing seems unjustifiable and detracted significantly from the overall dining experience.

Fortunately, the company of great friends salvaged the outing. Their presence turned what could have been a wholly disappointing experience into a bearable one. Nonetheless, based on the rushed service, poor value for money, and prohibitively expensive wine list, I cannot recommend Le Foote for those seeking a fulfilling...