Watergrill, Sydney Rowing Club — Restaurant in Sydney

Watergrill Restaurant, located at the Sydney Rowers Club in Abbotsford, offers a picturesque setting with lovely views of the water that set a charming backdrop for any meal. However, the experience falls short in several areas that diminish its overall appeal.

The $50 reservation guarantee initially promises a more refined experience, but this does not quite align with the level of service provided. The staff, while well-meaning, seem noticeably overworked and their interactions can come across as abrupt. This affects the overall dining experience, making it feel less welcoming than anticipated.

Furthermore, there appears to be a disconnect between the bar and restaurant staff, which results in a lack of coherent communication. This issue is compounded by a service model that requires patrons to do a fair amount of walking to place orders and then again to retrieve items when they are ready. This can be quite inconvenient, especially if you’re expecting a more seamless dining experience.

The sign-in process at the venue can also be cumbersome, particularly if your identification does not conform to NSW standards, which can be an added hassle for guests.

The food, while prepared quickly, feels rushed. This haste often detracts from the enjoyment of the meal, as dishes seem to lack the care and attention typically associated with fine dining.

Overall, while Watergrill Restaurant boasts excellent views and the potential for a great experience, the current service issues and the rushed preparation of food overshadow its strengths. For the price and promise, there’s room for significant improvement in the service and overall...

Lovely spot but that’s as far as it goes. Place started slow just prior Sunday lunch and was packed by 1:30pm Chi-Ching. Painfully expensive for what you get on a plate. Now let’s talk food. Atrocious, horrendous, dreadful & expensive are words that suit here. We had the Barramundi, kilpatrick oysters, fish n chips, calamari, truffle arancini balls (nil taste of truffle which is normally overpowering) & steak amongst kids meals of the same. Not 1 person on the table of 10 was happy with their meal. We all eat with our eyes but not here. It’s unfair to Chefs around the world to say there are Chefs at this establishment. Food was bland & tasteless (see pic of oysters🤮), barramundi (farmed not fresh) overcooked and dry with menu items missing. “Potato Purée” that tasted and texturally was Deb, S&P calamari did not have 1 spec of black pepper in the batter and tasted too salty, oysters inedible. Beer battered fish my a*se. Batter tasted like undercooked flour. Side salads on your plate are advertised as salad but it’s just mesculin mix plonked on the plate with no dressing or salad veges. You are paying for the views here and this is not a cheap trip out over the water. Do yourself a favour and seek refuge elsewhere. Sorry couldn’t get photos of all dishes before they were eaten but what is supplied should be sufficient. Barra looks nice...

We recently organized a lunch outing for our residents at Watergrill, and I have to express how absolutely delighted we were with the entire experience. Our booking was on August 29th at 11:30 am, and from the moment we arrived, everything was impeccable.

The staff who served our table deserves special recognition. Managing a group of 18 residents is no small feat, yet our server was nothing short of amazing. She was attentive, efficient, and went out of her way to ensure that everyone's individual needs were met.

Our residents couldn't stop talking about how much they enjoyed their time at Watergrill. They were particularly pleased with the food, and the view added an extra layer of enjoyment to the outing. Several have specifically asked that we extend their heartfelt gratitude to our wonderful server for making their day so special.

Thank you, Watergrill, for turning our lunch outing into a memorable experience. We are looking forward to our next visit and would highly recommend your establishment for anyone in search of an exceptional dining experience.

P.S. - A special thank you to Josephine, the Reservations Manager, for her outstanding service. Your prompt communication and generous discounts greatly contributed to making our outing a seamless and...