Sydney has the best food in the world. So it's a h...

Sydney has the best food in the world. So it's a high bar, but nonetheless, Claires Kitchen's three-course menu badly underwhelmed. The martini was ordered dry and not dirty, but came with oodles of vermouth and a film of brine. The French Onion Soup was not cooked long enough so the red wine remained acidic, the flavour was all wrong - not rich at all, and the Gruyere was all but invisible. I had literally one spoonful and returned it (but was still charged - the delightful manager did offer an alternative which I declined). The main course chicken was overcooked, the mushroom stuffing hard and dry and the taste was, well, tasteless. By the time dessert arrived, I wasn't game anymore and didn't touch it for fear of more disappointment (but was also still charged). On the positive side, the espresso coffee was good. And the service was faultless. So in the end I paid $125 for a martini, coffee and a dry chicken leg. Ouch! Although there was a cabaret which was a hoot.

The place is lovely, the service was good, the entertainment was entertaining.

Just a pity the food was the wrong side of ordinary.