Cyren Restaurant & Bar

We stopped in for a bite between lunch and dinner, the food wasn’t bad and the drinks were good but a very bad time for customer service. The staff was very busy getting ready for dinner service.

Basically a tourist trap where the management doesn’t care about the quality as they know seats will be filled by tourists who don’t return.
Plates and cups were filthy. Waitress told me that management knows there’s a problem, but they hire staff that have little or no experience (travellers). I pointed out that our plates were dirty to a waitress, who took them away, only to bring back the very same plates… now smeared with grease!
I ordered the salmon which was cooked okay, but way too salty.
I agree with other posters who say they have more seats than they deserve.
Avoid.

Great place. Attentive bartenders on a busy Saturday evening. Fireworks outside while we were waiting for a table. We were a group of 11 and they promised us a table in 30 – 40 minutes but where only able to provide us with 2 separate tables after 50 minutes. We accepted as it was already after 8pm and we were all hungry. I had the half slab pork ribs which was awesome! My colleagues liked their choices as well. All in all a very enjoyable dinner. I would come back.

I had the best free range chicken breast, it was a treat to the eyes and the taste was beyond awesome. The ricotta stuffing was spot on. Sea food was excellent too. The view was good and the servers were quick and friendly. Overall, a great lunch. Thanks!

Great location and buzz & food quite good. Service? — awful is being kind. Had to practically crash tackle one of the numerous staff racing round the tables to get drink orders in and same again later for the meal order. Had run out of mussels, so clearly ordered salad as main instead. Salad turned up 15 mins later and we double checked with server that rest was on its way. Yes its coming we were reassured. 10 mins later it had not turned up, clearly the salad was treated as a starter. Took 10 mins to get a waiter again (managed to nab a drinks person in interim only to be told we were complaining to wrong person). Waiter apologised saying it was a kitchen stuff up (we all knew it was his having taken the order). Settled down when food arrived and we all enjoyed it, only to be upset again when table was cleared and they took my glass of beer which was still ¹⁄₃^rd full. Waiter to his credit did get me a replacement. We are locals and brought overseas guests — an embarrassing mistake we will never make again.

Coming from New York City and having dined around the world, this was the first restaurant I dined at in Sydney. I can’t say that I was impressed with Cyren by any means. First of all, the red wine was warm, the bottles were sitting on top of some sort of hot air vent, or the fact that it was a warm day, and there was a lack of air conditioning in the building must have been the reason for its temperature. Regardless, the food was very average. The soft shell crabs was one of the few good dishes on the menu. The server didn’t even ask for the temps on the steak and then it showed up dry, and quite unflavored. Very average food, and experience in general. I do not recommend this restaurant.
Consensus: Quantity over quality, seats far more than they deserve.

Lovely position by the water and a perfect spot to shelter from the rain. The outdoor umbrellas kept the rain away. My friend and I shared a most delicious marguerite pizza which had a delicious crisp crust and provided the perfect accompaniment to our glass of wine. Perfect place for Happy Hour and we must go again!

My only bad experience when visiting Sydney. We came to the restaurant when it was not at all crowded, only 4 – 5 tables taken. The girls at the front discussed for a while amongst themselves and then took us to the absolute back of the restaurant by the restrooms. When we asked why not any of the other tables, they claimed it was all «reserved». We felt slighted and left.
We had a couple kids with us, maybe they wanted to sell the place as a hot singles bar. Or maybe they were just racist. I don’t care, and will never come back.

I’ve been here before and there were no problems — but my most recent visit left a sour taste in my mouth and soul.
First of all a compliment to the manager on duty — he was polite and friendly and the bar staff were great, also one of the older gentlemen in the dining area was polite. I did want to speak to the manager on duty before I left about the bad service and hospitality received from certain staff members but he was busy looking after customers which I though was great that he was stepping in to keep customers happy.
Now for the review and note of where they can improve. As my two friends and me approached there were four girls/​women at the front of the restaurant. This is front of house so first impressions last. Not one of them greeted me or my friends and we were unsure if we just walk in. When I finally asked — she told me all annoyed — no enthusiasm and not even engaging that I go to the left for the bar and that was it.
Bar staff were great and we ordered our drinks. (Could however note that bar staff need to pay attention to who was at the counter first as a young girl pushed in front of me and was served before myself who had been waiting before her) but none the less another bar staff got my order and he was great.
We went to find a seat and it was a little busy — we sat outside on the deck on the left side of the bar. Not long after enjoying our drinks we were told to move from that table as it was for guests who were eating. Mind you there were other guests sitting with only drinks at these same tables.
The staff was nice enough to grab a table from inside and promised to find us some chairs — but she didn’t — she forgot about us.
We moved spots several times due to some light rain — upon moving we were talking to some other guests who mentioned they too were told to move.
I just think if you’re going to tell your guests to move — have a clear area in where people ordering from the bar can sit. Also if front of house (girls at the door) greeted us correctly and asked what we were there for would of been able to inform us of how the place works and where is good to sit.
Poor form, they need some work in friendly hospitality. Especially front of house. As again there were four of them and not even one greeted or spoke to us unless we spoke to them first.
Good luck guys — I won’t be going back there in a hurry — also if it hadn’t been for the bad service my friends and myself would’ve stayed for more drinks and some food.
Thank you to the staff that were actually pleasant.

We were there for our 23^rd wedding anniversary and it was fine good serve, food and wine as expected.
We visited the restaurant again October 3. the serve was average when they brought the starters out they had forgotten my wife’s meal she thought maybe the waiter didn’t hear her. When a waitress came to pick up the main course plats it was as if she didn’t want to be there or this really isn’t my job.
we were charged for the starter that was not delivered and it was a big thing to get it off the bill. I can understand it the restaurant was very busy but that was not the case.
Maybe we have been spoilt by our experience in Hawaii over 5 years of travel there. Unfortunately this restaurant is now of our list of places to eat.

We ate dinner at Cyren on Oct 14, 2015. Service was good, since we were early. The barramundi was good too, but I have to take points off for what I believe is a deceptive practice. We asked for water (not mineral water). We were served cold water in an open bottle; it might have been mineral water, but it could just as easily have been tap water, since there was no carbonation. When I got the bill, it included $ 9.50 AUD for mineral water. I should have questioned it; my mistake. Even if it was mineral water, that’s not what we asked for. If they don’t offer ordinary tap water they should have asked if we wanted something else, instead of giving us whatever it was.

We loved this place! The service was friendly and prompt. Great view! The food was delicious! My husband got the kangaroo which he enjoyed and I had the barramundi which was delicious! We also got the chocolate fondant which we thought was good but not mind blowing.

Loved the honey chili bread! Watermelon martini was very refreshing not too sweet, had two! Seafood platter looked amazing but too much food. The seared scallops had a savory taste! Atmosphere is relaxing. Not the hustle bustle of many tourists. King prawns were huge! Never saw them that big!

Had an area booked from 3 –11pm manager was so rude and asked us to move tables around with 2 inside and 2 outside to accommodate a 50^th which they’d also booked. They weren’t flexible and cannot believe the service I’m appalled and will not be returning. DO NOT GO HERE!

Cyren is in a fantastic spot. It is under the Hard Rock Café at Darling Harbour. It is right beside the water and there is a continual passing crowd. The restaurant is busy and although I have been lucky (New Years Eve) to get a table I would recommend booking if a large group. Last night I booked and the table was ready, no waiting. The restaurant itself spans a large area inside and out. Inside if you are near the bar area it is noisy.
There is a large range of food. It is a seafood restaurant and although it has numerous seafood dishes it does have pizzas, chicken and beef. The food is expensive but the meals are very large. Both times I have not finished the whole meal. House wine at $ 36 a bottle was a little expensive.
Then again you are paying for location, tasty food and fantastic service. The waiter, Gill, was very attentive and helpful. He was very patient as we took a long time to order as we were chatting.

Food is much better than a tourist trap in Darling Harbour. The meals tasted fresh and were of a high quality. The serves are generous in size. The noise of the music can be off putting but still a nice way to spend a late lunch early dinner.

Not my first time here but most definitely my last. This place is a rancid tourist trap. It’s glorified pub food with Darling Harbour pricing slicked on top. Although past experience should’ve made me give this place a wide berth, but if we hadn’t been desperate, hungry and looking for convenience we’d never gone here.
Firstly we ordered diet cokes, they served us Pepsi max. Most places, I mean most decent places, normally tell you first whether they serve Coke or Pepsi but this place well… it makes a difference if you are preferential, also usually if a place has no diet coke we’ll order something else that’ll suffice. But receiving a below standard substitute without notifying the customer is pure laziness.
We ordered calamari rings for entrée which came out pretty quickly and we soon discovered why. To mask the very very slow entrance of the mains. What high turnover restaurant takes 45 mins to serve a main? This one.
The entrée was average so we’d hoped the mains would be the kicker, hoped.
We ordered chicken schnitzel and fisherman’s basket for mains. They advertise the «fish» in the fisherman’s basket to be the «catch of the day». In reality it was probably the catch of the day 18 months ago before undergoing cryogenic freezing only to be deep fried back to life and dumped on my plate.
If I hadn’t read the food description on the menu I would’ve never worked out what all the oddly shaped deep fried bits and pieces were in front of me. Because they sure as hell didn’t taste like what they were described. At $ 34 per «basket» you’d expect something a little less deep fried and more gourmet.
My partners chicken schnitzel was like they found easy frying receipes online and followed that. With all the disappointments so far there was noway we were venturing into dessert territory. Especially considering they’d already overcharged us enough. To top the night off this entire meal made me very ill afterwards.
It’s terrible that tourists come here and see this restaurant and think this is what Australian cuisine has to offer… it’s not! touristy folk and everyone else alike, check out the other many dining options around Darling Harbour before you’d want to waste your money, calories and breath on this shack.

Nice location, energy is good, with relaxing views. I had the lunch special and started with spring rolls with lobster, duck and pork. For my main dish I added a $ 20.00 surcharge to upgrade my pasta dish to include lobster. The spring rolls were just ok. They were missing flavor and could have been way better if they had added some sweetness to it. Presentation was good but thats about all there was to it. My lobster with pasta dish was good but they only gave me two very small pieces of lobster inside small cut shells and charged me $ 20.00 for that. I have a photo which I will hope to post soon showing the sizes. A huge JOKE!
The service was HORRIBLE! I had to wait over 20 minutes for someone to come over and serve me some water — Yep, 20 minutes and counting. Had I not got up to make myself known, who knows how much longer I would have waited. After my water, I never saw my waitress return. I had to go up to the counter to ask for my bill. That also took some time to get together.
All in all, this was not worth the $ 49.99 I paid for lunch. I would give them 3 stars for the food taste (sauce on pasta was good) and minus 2 stars for the lack of service and added fee for the two small pieces of lobster & shell.
I would only recommend this place for a drink and the view.

Gorgeous view and breeze. What a stunning vista. The big breakfast was tasty and generous portions. I only managed to eat half.
The coffee was perfect.
If it weren’t for the underwhelming customer service I would have easily have give 4 stars. There was no cutlery on our table, no sugar, no salt and pepper. When I nicely asked for a bottle of water the waiter returned and placed the bottle and glasses aggressively and poured the drinks like it was a huge inconvenience.

I haven’t dined frequently at Darling Harbour for yonks, but revisiting it every now’n’then kind of keeps it fresh and feeling like less of the tourist entertainment district it kinda sorta is. And then it’s Mother’s Day and mater and I are at Cyren on a sunny autumn day that makes it feel good to be near the water.
The place is huge, and it’s packed to the gunnels. There was a special MD menu running that had some cracking dishes representing — the normal menu is large with standard steak/​seafood fare, and, the position being what it is, well, the prices are up there. But hey, you’re on the water, so cough up and enjoy the view, pal.
We had:
— Honey Chilli Cheese toast (Win, so much win. Sounds like a weird combo, works like a charm, tastes like the devil. Which is good.)
— Grilled scallops with pork belly and fried capers (Winner winner chicken dinner, this was dish if the day by a long way, three giant hunks of crisp, chewy, rich pork belly and three colossal scallops, all drizzled with some sauce jus and sprinkled with the charred saltiness of fried capers — hey Cyren management, get this dish in the main menu, stat.)
— Prime fillet steak with red wine jus and mash. .. perfectly cooked, charred and juicy as bro when cut open.
— Swordfish steak with white anchovies, olive tapenade and prosciutto (a little tough, but the generous helping of tasty white anchovies more than made up for it).