Fish Face Restaurant

Ok, let me firstly say that I’m quite shocked at some of the earlier reviews about the owner screaming obscenities at patrons … inappropriate and not on !! Came here on a Wednesday night as a last minute suggestion from a friend and we received nothing less than exceptional service, albeit, it was from the waitstaff and not the chef/​owner. They took the time to explain the menu, both food and wine and overall, we were fairly satisfied. The restaurant itself is small and could do with a reshuffle of tables/​chairs — perhaps its the location of this place that didn’t quite gel with me.
Anyhoo, onto the review of the food — my snapper was incredible. It really was. Cooked to absolute perfection. Unfortunately, my girlfriends had less to say about their order. They both ordered the «lightly» battered fish and chips and well lets just say, the batter was almost as think as the fillet itself. For a restaurant to charge the prices they do, I would have expected at the very least the most basic dish to be well above the quality you would find at a local takeaway — batter that is so light, it almost dances on your tongue — shame really.

I came here on the recommendation of a co-​worker and yes, this place can really cook fish. I ordered a fish main that was a special on their board. The fish was perfectly cooked and the portion was just right. I cleaned my plate.
The food is fancy and priced accordingly at almost $ 40 AUD for most mains. The restaurant itself, on the contrary, is simple and small. The tables are tiny. My party of five was seated at a bar table that would normally accommodate a party of 3 comfortably.

When anyone who works in the service business screams F**K OFF to a patron of their establishment they prove that they dont have any regard or value for you or their business.
This is what Owner and Chef Stephen Hodges screamed at me and my party of 4.
As if It wasn’t bad enough that he had forgot to enter our reservation that he himself had confirmed via email! I had to remind him by showing him the reservation on my iphone.
I must admit, I had seen Stephen treat patrons rudely on past visits but it was never directed at me, I thought he’s just a grumpy old man but actually he was out of line and out of control.
To make a long story short, Stephen actually instructed his staff to seat us at a table big enough to accomodate us but his staff wouldn’t. Like a dysfunctional family they began to argue in front of us. They told Stephen that they had it under control. They offered to squeeze us around a table for 2, I refused knowing how uncomfortable it would be. Stephen then flipped and took the rude waitresses position and decided to take it up a notch by telling us to take the f**king table or F**k off. We left and we will never return even though we were loyal frequent diners.

«Take the f*#ckin table or F*#k OFF» was the last thing the chef /​owner said to us. So we did, and we won’t be back.
We had booked online, and for some reason they didn’t have our booking. They looked at our email, and were very accommodating — no worries, we’ll get you a table.
They moved a couple off a table, and then reset it for the four of us. I’ve eaten with a close friend at that table, and it’s fine for two, tight for three, but totally unworkable for four. We asked for a different table, and that’s when chef told us our options «take the f’n table or f’ off.»
I was stunned. There’s no need for that, and no way that I’ll drop the coin required to eat here after that sort of carry on.
I mean, really, the food is good, but not that good!
We’ll head to Garfish next time — better food, better prices, and staff who know good service.
So if you go, just hope chef has taken his med’s!

This place is divine. I think we must have eaten there 4 times a week whilst we were here. How lucky am I?

We had no particular restaurant or cuisine in mind when we wandered into Darlinghurst, we were letting our culinary destiny be dictated by the Unilocal and Urban Spoon mobile apps. The internet comes through once again.
It really doesn’t look like much as you approach, and you might very easily walk right by if you’re not paying attention. Fortunately we were, and we managed to score an available table on the sidewalk. Our waitress informed us that she’d have to move us inside in about 20 minutes, at which time a local ordinance banning outside tables kicked in, but she was happy to let us get started al fresco and wait for a table inside.
We kept it pretty simple, opting for an entrée and glass of wine each, which was sufficient for a late dinner. They had a crispy skin kingfish for a daily special, which sounded too good to pass on, and it was delicious. We followed out waitress’s lead on the wine selection, and it too was delicious. No fault whatsoever with the meal: expertly prepared and reasonably portioned main, excellent wine by the glass with an ample pour, and the price was really quite affordable for the quality and quantity of food.
And then there was the service. Not only was our waitress helpful with the food and wine selections, let us finish our dinner that ran well over the sidewalk dining curfew, then she spent a few minutes chatting with us after we’d settled up. Chalk one up for outstanding hospitality on top of an outstanding meal.
Unless you really don’t like seafood, I honestly can’t think of a single reason you shouldn’t make a point of dining at Fish Face if you haven’t already.

What a fantastic place to have our last dinner in Australia. Chef Steve Hodges has got to be the hardest working chef I’ve seen. He is constantly moving… supporting every activity in the restaurant.
For dinner we had the deluxe sashimi (rivals what he have in the SF bay area), crab consume (beautifully deep flavor), crisp skin wild barramundi (perfectly executed), the oven roasted spanner crab (an adventure in itself), and the fig and macadamia tart (eye-​opening deliciousness).
I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Sydney. It is certainly a treasure for this city.

A Sydney institution, This lovely little restaurant will blow you away. Don’t let it’s size or unassuming nature fool you, this award winning restaurant consistently serves up top quality seafood, which is always super fresh and tasty.
The high wooden tables are filled to capacity every night, and are testament to how good it is. Make sure you book ahead, or you’ll need to add your name to the waiting list.
You’re spolit for choices with local bars while you wait for a table, I prefer the Darlo Bar which is just across the road and always pulls a good crowd.
My picks are the fried sardines with saffron aoili, watercress and fennel (which is a beautiful combination), the Sashimi, and of course you can’t visit without sampling the Fish Face specialty, chunky, potato chips — yum!

I’m probably sometimes far too prolific with the word ‘unassuming,’ but I think in this one instance the word is so very appropriate. Fish Face has all the look of a tiny little fish and chip shop, but look again and you’ll see a top class chef manning the kitchen and some proper (if somewhat crammed) seating within.
The exotic fish, although flown in from all parts of the country, is as fresh as can be thanks to a special airless fridge. This freshness is brought to the fore with delicate and perfectionist cooking and some exciting accompanying dishes such as fennel and watercress salad. Even their fried flathead and chips is crisp and light, served in a smart cone.
Given the fantastic food and modest surroundings, there’s a fantastically warm vibe in this restaurant. Everyone talks and laughs a lot. What more could you want?

Fish Face on Darlinghurst road in Darlinghurt is a fantastic little restaurant. It’s only tiny so it might be worth booking ahead because you won’t want to miss out. Luckily me and my companion did have a booking and we squeezed a spot on the window looking out to the streets. It was a touch squashy but good fun none the less.
The menu is pretty good and needless to say dosed with seafood and the scallop and pork belly entrée was a highlight and lowlight. Highlight because it was so good, lowlight because it was gone so quickly.
The staff were really friendly and we didn’t want to leave after our main so thought it was only common sense that we got a dessert each and we still had some wine left too. It’s BYO wine and certainly worth stopping in to for a meal!

Surprised one day to see this tiny canteen like restaurant opened we grabbed the only table avaliable which was outside, parked the pram up with the kid beside us and without looking at the menu ordered the Oysters and Sashimi immediately.
Having walked past Fish Face so many times during the day as it opens daily for dinner we had read the menu on the tiled walll so many times we had memorised what we would order if it was ever open one day.
Anyway this restaurant sits 34 maximum and though tiny the food they serve up is big… in flavour, in quality and in presentation. The oysters served on ice were plumb and flavoursome with a beautiful vinegar salsa.
The sashimi platter was colourful with a big fillet of wild kingfish, pickled seaweed, cucumber and mushrooms. And being BYO with only $ 5 corkage was an extra delight.
Wonderful seafood executed with precision, we shall be back for more