Parlour — Restaurant in Sydney

We love the restaurant food but the lady served us had unfriendly attitude towards us. She seems to speak English acceptably but she has problem understanding English well as every time we asked her a question, she often answered something else, even though most of us were either born here or have been here for over 40 years except my mom. Anyway, my son has nuts allergy, we specified couple times to reinforce the importance of nuts free meal for him. She got a bit agitated, not sure whether she has no sense of severity of nuts allergy or it is just her. Anyway she said their kitchen doesn’t serve any nut so we don’t need to tell her again. Then the entree porc terrine came, we can see lots of pistachio inside the terrine, the gentleman that brought the dish to us wasn’t informed by the lady but later on realised after we told him, he offered us to change. I told him I will simply swap my snapper crudo with my son’s terrine as long as it doesn’t contain any nuts, so no big deal. Later on, out of goodwill to prevent similar incident happening again under her care, my son tried to informed her that the terrine has nut in it, but we were shocked when we called her. She wasn’t apologetic but blamed us not specifying what kind of nuts my son is allergic. But we told her when people say nuts allergy, it includes all sorts of nuts and we did say no nuts at all and she did say they don’t serve any nut in their kitchen. She wasn’t happy we told her and acted defensive, then all the way she gave us unfriendly look and attitude. At the end my mom needed to compliment her to cheer her up. Funny thing is that she understood my mom’s basic English. However it can be problematic if some diners with medical conditions need to request dietary requirements, I don’t think she can grasp the information correctly, it...

Parlour is a charming French restaurant perfectly tucked between Sydney Theatre and the QT Hotel—an effortlessly stylish spot that feels both refined and inviting. Whether you're after a pre-show bite or a leisurely meal, it delivers on every level.

The menu is a love letter to French classics, executed with precision. The steak tartare is a standout—fresh, perfectly seasoned, and served just the way it should be. The steak frites with béarnaise is hands-down the best I’ve had in Australia—the sauce is pure buttered perfection, rich and velvety, elevating every bite.

The drinks are just as well-considered. The Kir Royale is everything you want it to be—elegant, slightly decadent, and straight out of a French film. Whether you're sipping it as an aperitif or pairing it with your meal, it sets the tone beautifully.

Service is polished yet relaxed, with staff who genuinely know their menu and offer thoughtful recommendations. Whether it’s wine pairings or the daily specials, they’re happy to guide you without any pretense.

The ambiance is intimate and atmospheric, with soft lighting, cozy tables, and just the right amount of Parisian charm. It’s a place that feels special without trying too hard—somewhere to linger over good food, great wine, and even better company.

Whether you're stopping in before a show, on a date night, or just craving top-tier French fare, Parlour is a must-visit. A little slice of Paris in the...

Update from March 2025 visit: I’ve visited Parlour before but it was my first time ordering the steak and frites and the cheese souffle. Both were really good. The steak is filet mignon and the medium rare was cooked to perfection and the wine jus was perfect with both the steak and the shoestring frites. The cheese souffle was light and fluffy and almost just melted away in the mouth, I really enjoyed it. The restuarant has quick service for patrons dining pre show. The server was so busy run of his feet but didn’t miss a beat with delivering meals and taking orders.

Update from May 2025

Service was fantastic, really enjoyed how the servers engage and chat throughout the service. Cocktails definitely a winner, the apricot sour was phenom. The steak was a perfect medium rare and just on the cool side, and I enjoy my food really hot. Overall a really great venue to enjoy pre-show dinner when visiting the State Theatre. 🎭

Little gem of a places located on the street level of QT Hotel and next to the State Theatre. Fantastic Art Deco atmosphere, really nicely fitted out and the bar is well stocked. The ‘ladies legs’ barstools are a hoot! I had the braised lamb pappardelle and it was super tasty. Maybe a bit much for lunch but I went light for dinner. Service is quick, efficient and friendly. This is the perfect place to enjoy a coffee while shopping or pre-show drinks at the...