Rene and I haven’t been to ARIA together for around a year, so it was about time to get back there. Part of the attraction of dining at Matt Moran’s Aria is the incredible views overlooking both the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, especially as the sunsets.

View of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
View of Sydney Opera House

We booked for the pre theatre seating, which meant we had to be out by 8pm, but it allowed us plenty of time to enjoy a three course meal without feeling rushed. Drinks first: A glass of champagne to start and a bottle of Chateau des Graviers Cru Artisan, Margaux 2005 to enjoy with our meal.

Chateau des Graviers Cru Artisan Margaux 2005

For entrees, I decided on the Kurobuta pork belly with pork croquette and caramelised apple, while Rene chose Peking duck consommé with duck dumplings, shaved abalone and mushrooms. We both enjoyed our entrees, we have had these on a previous visit but it was great to be able to sample them again. It is good to be able to go back to a restaurant and have something you enjoyed still be on the menu.

Slow cooked Kurobuta pork belly
Peking duck consomme

For mains  Rene decided to have the Bass Grouper steamed fillet with jamon, samphire, currant grapes and rosemary, while I went for the roasted ballotine of chicken with crushed peas, wilted cos lettuce and sorrel sauce. Of course we couldn’t pass up the fabulous truffled potato mash. Both were delicious and the mash sublime. Still trying to work out which I would prefer to take with me to a desert island, Aria’s truffle mash or Glass’s parmesan and truffle chips. Hard choice that would be!

Ballotine of chicken , wilted lettuce and peas
Bass Grouper

Desserts can not be missed when dining at Aria. I selected Milk chocolate and passionfruit dumplings with yuzu curd and passionfruit sorbet as a last nod to summer, and as Rene had a little wine left he decided to opt for the cheese selection that comprised Australian and international cheeses.

Milk chocolate and passionfruit dumplings
Cheese board

Not long after we watched the sun set, the rain came down, adding another dimension to the view out the window. The light sparkled off the wet cobblestones in the Opera House forecourt. Conveniently for us, the taxi stand is right outside the front door of Aria. After another wonderful meal at Aria we headed home to relax and watch a good movie

Thanks for dropping by!.