Darley's Restaurant - Katoomba, New South Wales

Aiko C.

My husband and I recently had dinner at Darley’s. While the ambience and service were lovely, the food unfortunately didn’t quite live up to the high expectations, especially given the overall cost. It’s a little surprising that this is a "hatted" restaurant.

At $145 per person, you’re offered three courses from their "Ode to Autumn" menu. My husband chose the scallop ravioli, dry-aged steak, and carrot pudding, while I opted for the quail, lamb, and chocolate cake.

The entrees were a little underwhelming. The quail was noticeably underseasoned (another review mentioned this), and the construction of the scallop ravioli was a little puzzling. It featured ossietra caviar — a premium ingredient — but it was placed directly onto a hot scallop ravioli with consommé, which unfortunately made the caviar warm and soft, losing its usual flavour and texture. It felt like a missed opportunity to let such a luxury ingredient shine. To add to that, the scallop inside the ravioli was sadly overcooked and a bit stringy.

Thankfully, the mains were a highlight. The steak was beautifully cooked, full of flavour, and the lamb was delicious — even though it was well done, it remained juicy and tender.

The dessert, however, left my husband a little confused. The carrot pudding felt more like a warm shredded carrot salad than a traditional baked pudding. The texture was uneven, somewhere between crunchy and soft, and wasn’t quite what he was expecting. To add to the slight mix-up, he also received the orange snaps that were meant to be part of my dessert — perhaps a small oversight on the night.

I'm normally not this critical, but given the price point and having experienced other restaurants in a similar range, I do feel there’s some room for refinement, particularly with the menu design and execution.

At this stage, I wouldn’t be rushing back, but if there were a refresh of the menu down the track, I’d be open to giving Darley’s another try.

Jordan G.

Dining at Darley’s Restaurant is like stepping into a refined, late-19th-century Australian version of The French Laundry. The historic house and beautifully appointed dining rooms set the stage for a truly special experience—even sitting on the patio feels like a privilege.

The meal began with an amuse-bouche of pastrami-seasoned beets, which, while not my personal favorite, was well-received by others at the table. From there, the dishes continued to impress. The Manjimup Marron was a standout—the delicate crayfish was elevated by an incredible wasabi panna cotta. The Stracciatella and Wagyu Aburi were both unexpected but delightfully enjoyable.

For mains, the Wagyu Tri-Tip was excellent, but the mushroom purée that accompanied it truly stole the show. The Tathra Place Heritage Lamb was incredibly tender and beautifully complemented by carrots and mung beans.

Desserts were a mixed bag—the Lemon & Rosemary Brûlée Tart had an interesting, almost soapy note, while the Darley’s Lamington was so full of delicious bites that it was hard to decide which one to savor next.

Service was impeccable, making the entire experience seamless and memorable. Darley’s is a must-visit for those who appreciate fine dining in a setting that feels truly special.

Alyssa J.

Beautiful venue, heavenly ambiance, outstanding service and the food, the set up, and everything else in between was amazing!

Its our fourth date here, and its always spot on. Always having the best time here hith the lomf. Truly fine dining.

Tofu T.

Fine dining restaurant at Lilianfels. Attentive service, well executed and technical dishes that came out at a comfortable pace. Serving sizes are what you would expect of this style of dining and we were happy with the "additional" courses that fitted around the "3 course menu" option.

One disconcerting moment was being advised the sides were an additional charge when there is no mention of this in the menu. The wine selection is appropriate and reasonably priced again taking into account this level of dining.

Overall a pleasant dinner service matching the rest of the well appointed stay at Lilianfels.

Hila

Sublime. So many indulgences to poke a fork at! A true experience of fine dining nestled in a tranquil ambience and stylish decor. Our waiter had impeccable customer service etiquette. The set menu was truly appetising and satisfying, catering for various dietary requirements. A delightful experience! I look forward to dining there again soon.

Katrina M.

My partner and I dined here last night, it was last minute booking and my partner wanted to eat somewhere nice but most fine dining venues were closed in the area, but luckily we stumbled across the 5 star reviews on Darley’s!
I’m so glad we came to eat here, the food was impeccable, from the presentation to the complexity of the flavours.

The atmosphere was great, it was quiet but not overly dead silent. It was a very relaxing and serene vibe in the venue and it was perfect and exactly what we needed.

Service was very welcoming, attentive and friendly. The waitstaff were very kind, calm and happy, which added to the relaxing atmosphere.

My partner and I both agreed this is hands down the best fine dining restaurant we have experienced so far. Hidden gem.

Thanks so much we will definitely be back.

Miriam D.

Great for meat-eaters, but vegetarians beware.

Celebrated my bf’s birthday at Darley’s last night. Lovely atmosphere and attentive staff. My meat-eating bf’s food was amazing — pork tenderloin followed by aged Sirloin, cooked to perfection. I’m a vegetarian so I ordered the only vegetarian options available (mushroom entree and lentil main) and was disappointed with both. The mushrooms looked so unappealing I couldn’t eat a bite (they brought me a free side of potatoes instead) and the lentil dish was unimaginative, very dry and lacked flavour. The only part of my meal I truly enjoyed was the lemon meringue dessert, which was divine… but hardly worth the $145 charged per person.

Darley’s is a wonderful spot… for meat eaters. Hopefully they up their vegetarian game soon.

Ang B.

What an amazing dinner! Darley's is so very beautiful, and the 3 course menu was fantastic. Every dish we had was superb. The restaurant itself felt warm and inviting, and the service was great.