Sea Cow — Restaurant in Sydney

My review and rating is based on: Service - exceptional, friendly service no matter who is serving. (The chef remembered my garlic & Onion allergy as well as my medium-rare preference for salmon)

Cleanliness - as clean as a whistle - everything is clean, all hygiene protocols are followed, staff are neat, hair back, uniforms are clean. It stands out.

Menu options (so far)

Salt & Pepper Squid - is beautiful, fresh, delicious, the batter is light, not stodgy, beautifully cooked, the portion size is generous, served on a massive bed of delicious fries which are not oily; just perfect. I would prefer a little more salt & pepper for extra flavour but I just add my own. The sauce is delicate yet full of flavour and, with the lemon wedge, make this utterly delicious option, sure to please the masses.

Grilled Salmon - The flavour and quality, the way the chef cooks it… I don’t know if I’ll get to review the rest of the food..! It’s heavenly.

chilli & coriander prawns - (2nd party review from my fancies-himself-as-a-chef friend) some of the most beautifully cooked prawns he’s eaten anywhere on his travels. A little more chilli and coriander wouldn’t go amiss.

salads - (green, mixed, tomato)

simple, fresh, well-priced, flavoursome. The tomato and basil salad is lightly dressed in a hint of oil and lemon juice from what I can taste. The tomatoes are the perfect ripeness and the fresh basil make this simple salad, nothing but supreme. So fragrant, so fresh, just like the green salad and mixed salad.

Delicious, flavoursome, fresh food. The loveliest staff and A chef who just has a knack.

Anyone who hasn’t ventured to this pocket of Paddington; walk up Boundary street and from Rushcutters Bay and reward your efforts with something...

This is honestly the worst seafood / restaurant experience I have had in a while. Firstly terrible service. Most restaurants that market themselves as an upper-end seafood restaurant with BYO would normally do table service. After sitting for 10mins and realising no one was coming over despite the staff staring at us, we asked them whether they do table service or order at the counter which they finally let us know no table service (despite no signs saying “order at counter”). Secondly the quality of the food is really poor. The fish was so oily, the chips like cardboard - out of a low quality black and gold bag, and the inability to to purchase potato scallops or crumbed calamari - tragic. Sure I’d get the choice to omit it if it was a fine dining restaurant, but this is worse than a hole in the wall cafe. Thirdly, in this day and age, to only accept cash - well that’s unacceptable, especially in the height of a pandemic where no one carries or exchanges physical money. I wanted to give 0 stars but google...

I walked past Sea Cow a few months ago and was impressed by the dishes on the tables and the enthusiasm of the diners so when it was suggested to me that the Paddington Art by Night event was on this week, I suggested that we try Sea Cow. The helpful staff provided a larger setting for the 6 of us outside and we each ordered our favoured choice from the menu. I was wanting to experience the authentic fish 'n' chips (described accurately on the menu as hake) though my companions variously chose more exotic dishes.

Verdict: Mmm, the chips were fine and the 2 good sized battered fillets looked good too, though the taste wasn't especially memorable and I thought perhaps the fish was a little past its use by date.

I cannot of course attribute it to the fish but the next morning I experienced an explosive bout of diarrhoea - I'm very glad it doesn't happen to...