Sails on Lavender Bay - McMahons Point, New South Wales

Lorelei C.

House of Sails or known as Sails on Lavender Bay has a very especial place in our hearts as we got married there many years ago when chef Greg Anderson and Partner Patricia Nunes were the owners. We have come a few times since our wedding but this is the first time since the restaurant has changed owners ( Sydney Restaurant Group) and slightly different name with a more casual look and feel type of dining experience. The place looks cosy and I have to say I love the decor - ok I have a thing for shells! The staff are very friendly and accommodating. We were seated at a nice table by the window with the gorgeous view. Although the chairs are a bit too low for the table the staff members immediately looked for a solution to give us with a cushion. There were some minor things like a dirty knife which was replaced immediately but all was good at the end. We had the 3 course menu and we added some extras. We had the scallops which were in a sweet and and slightly citrus sauce very delicious and the little tacos were fabulous. To follow we had the silver fish with grapes - fabulous combination of flavours and the grapes which look like olives were uniquely delicious. But the winner was the octopus tentacle - wow I wish I wasn’t sharing it! It was cooked to perfection with a festival of flavours. We then had the NZ Hapuka fish which was so soft and delicate and the wagu steak just simply melted in our mouths. We closed the experience with the crème brûlée with rhubarb sauce which didn’t disappoint and my favourite was the blood orange cake with Greek yogurt sorbet - simply wow a dessert and a palate cleanser - the best of two worlds, light and delicious! We also had some lovely cocktails ( the sour was fabulous!) and they have a very nice selection of wines. All up a very lovely lunch to celebrate our wedding anniversary back at the place that means a lot to us.

Adventurer

An absolute cracker of an evening at Sails on Lavender Bay, thanks to the LEGENDARY JESS!🙏🏼💕 Scored a scenic window seat for a friendiversary last Thursday, and the service, food, views and vibes were sensational 🤩 I was on a return mission, after inhaling the Moreton bay bug pasta on a previous visit (this pasta had me in tears of joy... twice!) 1000% recommend.

We opted for the a la carte 3 course, plus warm greens, quke salad, and drinks. Everything was executed with care, flavour AND fanciness in mind. Ordered succulent prawns, wagyu bresaola, and their Moreton Bay bug pasta x2 (my buddy loved it, too!). The apple sorbet and hazelnut praline meringue were dessert stand outs... Along with the pasta, all are must-eats when you visit!😋

Service from Jess was exceptional. She was knowledgeable, friendly yet unintrusive, very generous and accommodating. The Legend went above and beyond to make our entire evening fun and hilariously memorable 🤭. Thanks a million, will be returning and recommending for many a cellie in future! 🥰🙏🏼

Whenever you're after a solid venue for a spesh occasion, be sure to book early to get your brilliant bum on one of their pretty seats, and enjoy a ripper of a feast! 😘

Daisy F.

Came here for a special lunch on a sunny day; the perfect kind of day for dinning at this restaurant. The views were stunning as we had lunch overlooking the harbour bridge.

The food was delicious - special mentions to the scallops and the charred octopus which were explosions of unexpected flavours that came together so beautifully. For 2 individuals, we had to order minimum 4 dishes for a la carte which filled us to the brim.

Unfortunately the service was poor for such a fine establishment. As soon as we walked into the door, we were pressured to order drinks despite saying no multiple times. Furthermore, the waiter was argumentative when asked about the menu, insisting that as I had visited before I should already know.

Otherwise, a lovely restaurant with great food and great views.

Alexa L.

We came here for my birthday dinner a while back and the experience was so lacklustre that I feel compelled to review it 4 months later. We had the 5-course set menu (priced at $155 per person) plus wine pairing (an additional $75 per person). It was an expensive meal, but we were happy to pay a bit more for good food and experience. It was a letdown, though.
The whole dinner was meant to last 2 hours (as advertised on their website), and lasted nearly 3.5 hours. The service was shockingly bad - it seemed like we weren’t assigned to any waiter. When we were seated, we waited more than 30 minutes before flagging a waiter down to ask if we needed to place an order; we were a bit confused, assuming that we wouldn’t need to place any orders since we had specified in the reservation that we were doing the set menu and wine pairing. But when we spoke to the waiter, he seemed to not know anything about our reservation.
Each dish took almost half an hour to bring out, and 2 of our wine pairings were forgotten. We were constantly flagging wait staff down, and confused how we could be forgotten when we were sitting in a high-traffic area in front of the kitchen. We suspect maybe they had recently hired new staff, so we tried to be understanding, but it’s really disappointing to have such poor service at such a high price point. Other patrons in the restaurant were less patient and actually got up to speak to the staff (so being forgotten was not unique to our table). Ultimately, most of our dishes were delivered by the wine sommelier, who was lovely and kind and apologetic (even giving us complimentary limoncello); we were grateful for her service and professionalism, but she was clearly doing a lot more than was expected of her.
The food was decent, but I thought it was priced too high for what was received. It wasn’t very memorable - usually with restaurants that have set menus, the food quality is fresher and higher, and it is more innovative/creative with flavours and sauces, but it was neither of those things. I’ve included some pictures (unfortunately I don’t have any of the steak that was prepared, which was definitely the best). Note that these plates include the servings for both me and my partner (so 1 plate of pasta for 2 people). I personally think it would have been a tad nicer to actually divide the food between two plates, but I think that would make it more obvious that the portions aren’t that large.
Based on our experience, I couldn’t recommend this restaurant. If service and food creativity improve, then I think it would be a lovely spot. The location is stunning, with beautiful views of the harbour. So I think there is a lot of promise here! But definitely a lot of room for improvement, and the current price point is definitely not justified.

Monica S.

Love love love the view even on rainy day!
We celebrate Valentine’s Day here. The food was delicious. I love the King Prawns entree & the bay bug spaghettini main. The desserts also divine!
Staff were all polite & attentive. Would love to come back on sunny days.

Una K.

Thank you to the team at Sails for making my birthday so special and for an unforgettable night. Come here every year for my birthday with my best friends and this place never fails to disappoint. Amazing food, amazing service and amazing atmosphere (view is to die for) - hands down one of the best restaurants in Sydney and better than most fine dining restaurants. Food cooked to perfection (especially the Wagyu rump) and prawns were an absolute tender delight. Special thanks to Abdul for his kindness and to the team to cater for all my special needs and requests - you guys are superstars and genuinely made me feel so loved and happy!

Dominique J.

We treated our friend to the tasting menu for her birthday and the experience was special from start to finish. The staff are amazing - especially our waiter, Addy - and the food was incredible. Everything on the tasting menu is designed to be shared which adds a lovely touch. The chef even came out to speak to us after the meal as we loved it so much. The view of the bridge and opera house is also not to be missed! Overall a beautiful experience.

Julia L.

An unforgettable way to spend the afternoon celebrating our birthdays—basking in a stunning harbour view with the iconic bridge as the backdrop! The service was impeccable, with attentive staff always on hand without feeling intrusive. The Margherita cocktail packed a perfect punch, complemented by a thoughtfully curated selection of dishes that were flavorful yet light enough to truly savour. No rush, just —great food, wonderful company, and a setting that makes every moment feel special. Highly recommended for a relaxed yet refined experience. After all, we are posh 🤣 @cafe_snob1