Aria What’s your opinion on how to handle this

[Dyslexic traveler]

Last weekend I had dinner at Aria with some friends from New York, When I was visiting them last year we all went out to Per Sa and had a wonderful 8 course degustation dinner with matching wines, the wines where a selection of wine from the USA I recall that out of the eight, six where from US vineyards , at the end of the dinner we where invited to take a tour of their kitchen an amazing place and the cleanest kitchen I have ever been in if you ever get the chance do it.

So when I was asked what would be an a great place to eat in Sydney, I suggested Aria, I have been before and felt it would be a good refection of great Australian food and wine, and the view is terrific.

I had Booked it with the Amex Centurion , as part of their deal you receive complement Champagne on arrival, a good table and it was, so we were taken to our table and my wife removed her jacket held it for a moment and no one asked if we would like it hung, in the end she hung it over her chair and that’s where it stayed, we waited for someone to arrive with our drinks and after 10 minutes or so a waiter arrive and asked if we wanted a drink, I then had to ask for or complimentary drink.

We decided to have the degustation menu with matched wine, the food was in my opinion not up to standard of our last visit , the matched wine( And this is the big thing ) all wines other than 1 Australian wine was from Italy, Spain and Japan yes Japan .

At the end of dinner I asked if we could take a look at the kitchen, they said yes and we walked in to a mess on a wall there were photos of all the well known food and wine critics, who I imagine they have so they can make their dinning experience special, perhaps I should send them a photo of me and next time they can do their best to impress me.

My question is should I send a letter to Matt Moran or just shut up and never go back and tell everyone not to go.
I try to be positive, but you would think that in an Australian icon restaurant they would showcase Australian wine, I would think that a lot of the people who dine there are tourists from OS.

So I’m sorry if this is a long post, and I do hope I put it in the correct place.

 

[haydensydney]

Aria has had its time in the sun i'm sorry to say: although it wouldn't do much harm to send something through to them - I don't think much would come of it.

I haven't been back for ages (admittedly we had a great meal last time we were there) but from reports from friends who have gone there since, the general consensus is that the quality has gone backwards.

Perhaps Matt should spend more time off TV and get back into the kitchen to whip it back into shape? :mrgreen:

 

[rechoboam]

I like Aussie wines but they are a small selection of the world's best. Nevertheless I'm sure you are right and another iconic restaurant was disappointing for me too. Hate those critic photos too.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Aria has had its time in the sun i'm sorry to say: although it wouldn't do much harm to send something through to them - I don't think much would come of it.I haven't been back for ages (admittedly we had a great meal last time we were there) but from reports from friends who have gone there since, the general consensus is that the quality has gone backwards. Perhaps Matt should spend more time off TV and get back into the kitchen to whip it back into shape? :mrgreen:

Agree Hayden. the real world has well and truly caught up. Your name, your problem your challenge!!!!Matt.........chop chop......

 

[pauly7]

Aria has had its time in the sun i'm sorry to say: although it wouldn't do much harm to send something through to them - I don't think much would come of it.

I haven't been back for ages (admittedly we had a great meal last time we were there) but from reports from friends who have gone there since, the general consensus is that the quality has gone backwards.

Perhaps Matt should spend more time off TV and get back into the kitchen to whip it back into shape? :mrgreen:

Totally agree. At the risk of sounding like a it's not hot right now teenager, Aria is SO yesterday

 

[Dyslexic traveler]

I also like Australian wines and agree with you rechoboam that there are a lots of great wines from around the world and maybe if they had server Grand Cru Burgundys I may have felt a little different lol My feeling is if I go to a French resturant I will try French wine a Spanish wine at a spanish resturant and in Australian resturant at least some of our wine. Or at least a mix of AUS and NZ

 

[rechoboam]

Agreed Exploring premier cru Chablis, and the new Zealand pinots seem to be tastier and better value than ever.

 

[Dyslexic traveler]

Now we are talking had a wonderful month last year in Chablis and Burgundy with some great wine makers vat tasting the 08 wines and boy there good I just received an offer from Randal Pollard for some of the 08 wines looking forward to opening some soon.

 

[Homer]

I ate at Per Se in New York last week - a 13 course degustation. I’m not sure when the OP dined there but they don’t do a “wine match” as such. They told me that it was too predictable and even boring for everyone to be drinking the same thing; because they have a whole-of-restaurant degustation - everyone eats the same courses with the only option being a vegetarian degustation. Instead, the sommelier will make some suggestions and you can taste and ultimately make your own choices. In my case they served a couple of new world and a couple of old world wines to me.

<ASIDE>
Per Se is apparently the second best restaurant in the world depending on which list you read but I think it was over-rated. In my opinion, Quay in Sydney is as good and arguably better in parts and, as others have noted, Aria is a little past its prime but I think it still works well for pre-Opera/theatre dining and it’s also a very good business lunch choice.
</ASIDE>

On the wine list issue, I’ve dined many times with a sommelier friend of mine both in Australia and in Europe and he likes to mix the old and the new world wines. There’s certainly nothing wrong, in my opinion, with wines from Italy or Spain or even, as the OP queries, Japan. In fact just about a month ago I was served two Japanese wines (one a Sake) at Quay as part of the degustation and they worked brilliantly.

 

[JayGreenstein]

I haven’t much knowledge about Aria. But before going to any Australian restaurant I always try to know about its status. I am not that you should have to write a letter Matt Moran or not. But hope form you that you will try to aware Matt Moran to improvement in Aria. But your approach should be positive.

 

[eosphoros]

I have only been to Aria once and it was horrible. A better choice would have been Guillaume at Bennelong. Or if you booked far enough in advance, Quay.

 

[UP4014]

When I have friends from o/s, I take them to a pub usually and one of a few of the 'old' style ones around the back of Erskinville, eat with the locals and down a good Aussie wine and beer chaser!

Forget the letter, give Aria the chop.

 

[simongr]

I have only been to Aria once and it was horrible. A better choice would have been Guillaume at Bennelong. Or if you booked far enough in advance, Quay.

Ugh Bennelong... My wife's meal was a sloppy mess on the plate and barely edible...

I went to Aria for my 40th birthday a little while ago - booked the Kitchen table for a private dining experience and it was great.

I have had one bad meal there - I ordered a battered fish which was a mistake.

I liked the fact that the matching wines were from around the world - trying the japanese wine was very interesting.

I actually enjoyed that meal more than Tetsuyas...

If you thought the meal was that bad I would write to Matt Moran - how will they know to improve if they don't get feedback?

 

[UP4014]

When I have friends from o/s, I take them to a pub usually and one of a few of the 'old' style ones around the back of Erskinville, eat with the locals and down a good Aussie wine and beer chaser!

Forget the letter, give Aria the chop.

Oh, and if they want a view, they can wander down to the Opera House/Rocks/insert your location themselves.

 

[drron]

Well I've decided what I am going to do about it.Gather together All my food pics,start a food blog,tweet it to all the celeb chefs I find and so get my picture in the kitchen.No problems.

 

[NM]

Well I've decided what I am going to do about it.Gather together All my food pics,start a food blog,tweet it to all the celeb chefs I find and so get my picture in the kitchen.No problems.

And note that the famous food critics all have a "signature" item that identifies them (e.g. Matt Preston's Cravats). So you will need to ensure all your photos and appearances feature your golf shorts :shock:

 

[drron]

And note that the famous food critics all have a "signature" item that identifies them (e.g. Matt Preston's Cravats). So you will need to ensure all your photos and appearances feature your golf shorts :shock:

And a bow tie.I will be unmistakeable!

 

[BVT]

When I have friends from o/s, I take them to a pub usually and one of a few of the 'old' style ones around the back of Erskinville, eat with the locals and down a good Aussie wine and beer chaser!

Forget the letter, give Aria the chop.

+1 here.

So called fine dining is spretty much the same everywhere, with, hopefully local special touches.

For an authentic experience, I like to take overseas vsitiors to some local place I know well and can be confident of a good food and wine and lots of "real" local flavour.

 

[Taezar]

I would advise AMEX Centurian of your disappointment in that they didn't provide the service guaranteed by the card.
That and tell everyone you know and meet how disappointed you were with the experience.

As for going out - you can't go past Sizzler when trying to impress or just that special night with someone you love

 

[Dyslexic traveler]

Taezer you are the man I bet you get a lot of women happy with a night at Sizzler and iif she is lucky you will not ask here to pay for half the petrol