Taste on the Rocks — Restaurant in Sydney

Hmmm, well, Chinese food in Sydney usually falls into one of two camps. Most likely, you'll find some good, old school 50s Chinese local..with luck, it's been updated to 80s Chinese...you know, still with Mongolian lamb, but also with the salt and pepper squid. You'll hope their msg habit has gone into rehab, and you'll get as healthy or unhealthy a feed as you wish, pretty cheap. Second is the Chinese upscale resto. Great ingredients, talented with respect, bold and subtle flavour profiles, endorsing ingredients in ways that leave you feeling Bono proud. That's what taste aspires to. That's what taste fails to achieve. With the exception of the tasty Szechuan scallops, taste misses the mark on every test, in a way that leaves the umpires in no need for the video replay. Braised spicy veg hotpot arrives first with pork and cabbage. Upon explaining to the wonderful waiter that pork is not a vegetable, the dish returns with more cabbage. Some is the original, but now cooked to oblivion. The meat replaced with that elusive vegetable, more cabbage. Lets hope the pork was removed with something other than hands. The rice noodles were not even the creditable commercial Dick Ap (real name), but lesser and undercooked...with as much flavour as a big Mac, hold the two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, pickles, onion on a sesame seed bun. The braised eggplant swam in more oil than a seal next to the Exxon valdize. Lets not even discuss the first ever watered down glass of polish Hill Riesling. A 30 year restaurateur, it was something I'd only ever heard about, and assumed as real as Donald trumps uni degree. And yet, the wine was as if jesus had attempted to convert water to wine, and given up half way. Not sure about the 20 impressed people who wrote before this review. I wanted to like this place. It has a charm that even injecting proof blue lighting couldn't...

Taste on the Rocks is a Chinese restaurant that I had the pleasure of visiting recently with some family friends. The lack of available parking was a bit of a challenge, but once inside, the restaurant's warm atmosphere made up for it. The food at Taste on the Rocks was mostly good, with some dishes being standouts and others falling a bit short of expectations. While not all dishes were amazing, it was clear that the kitchen team was trying to push the boundaries and offer unique dishes to its customers. The duck blood soup, for example, was a standout dish with its rich, savory broth and unique texture. I also liked the fried crab dish which was interesting and flavourful. One thing to note is that my family friends, local to China, were disappointed with the quality of some dishes. Lots of head shaking when asked about how the food was in comparison to what it’s like for them at home. I was just happy to have some semblance of some Chinese dishes that I assumed were only available to my home country, one that I have not been able to visit for some time now due to COVID 19. Overall, Taste on the Rocks is worth a try for those looking for a taste of Chinese cuisine in the area. The lack of parking options can be a challenge, but the unique flavors and textures of some dishes, like the duck blood soup, are sure to leave a lasting impression. Just be prepared for the occasional dish that doesn't quite...

After seeing so many positive reviews on the Chinese app Xiaohongshu, as a native Shanghainese, I decided to try this restaurant, which is praised as the “ceiling of Shanghainese cuisine in Sydney” by many users on Xiaohongshu. Unfortunately, my experience turned out to be a huge disappointment! The drunken shrimp was unbearably salty, the crispy yellow croaker with seaweed had a strong fishy smell and looked unappetising ; the glutinous rice balls in sweet fermented rice which should have been soft and chewy, were instead hard in the centre. The rest of the dishes were not even as good as simple home-cooked meals by traditional Shanghainese families. The only thing that truly reached the “ceiling” was the price — outrageously expensive with no value for money at all. I definitely won’t be coming back! Strongly recommend everyone to think twice before visiting. In comparison, the Shanghainese restaurants in Eastwood...