Above Par reviews . (Restaurant) in Sydney (New South Wales).

Above Par

142 Reviews

112 Comments

Restaurant

Middle Eastern restaurant

215 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Description

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Situation

Service hours of Above Par

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Comments of Above Par

S. &. S.

Food was very traditional and relaxed. Casual venue with a solid wine list. Enjoyed the food that reminded me of traditional style Egyptian cuisine. Stand outs for me were the Kofta, chicken skewers and pide.

C. C.

Lovely little hidden gem with some delicious food - the halloumi, pide, chicken and octopus were our favourites.

A. S.

Food and service was quite excellent and had an authentic Turkish selection of food and drinks. They have a lovely ambiance with a live DJ. We opted for the set menu which gave us a nice taste of most items on offer. They also have quite a few vegan options so this is definitely an eatery that caters to all sorts of dietary requirements. Service was a bit slower than anticipated though and we did have to chase up some items that were ordered but still recommend and would go again.

S. Y.

Got the set menu, and it didn't disappoint. Food portions were just nice (not too much or too little). Enjoyed the salads and entrees more than the mains. Highlights were the hot bread, haloumi, cauliflower and beetroot dip. Shish kebab and falafel were a bit dry, and the lamb dish was too wet (shouldn't serve with the broth). Service was friendly and attentive.

S. c. (.

Above Par is a modern Middle Eastern Restaurant in the heart of the city. It is a boutique space offering a cosy chic indoor dining experience, as well as an alfreso dining space. Located in the CBD, Above Par is only a short walk from the QVB. Make your way up the stairs and take in the airy glass walled space, showcasing their huge wine selection. If you’d like to sit alfresco, there’s tables outside with some great lighting on the cherry blossom trees, complemented by a DJ's spinning lounge tracks (which is on from 6 pm every Thursday Friday and Saturday evenings). Inside, the restaurant has dark interiors, mood lighting and candle lit tables. As you walk in, the exotic aromas grab your attention. The crowd is vibrant, with a number of groups enjoying a shared meal and a couple of drinks in the intimate setting. A good way to kick things off is with a drink, and the venue were great in catering to a pregnant diner as they have a range of mocktails to choose from, still providing the feel of having a cocktail with other diners. The Virgin Mojito was particularly good. For the heavier stuff, from the cocktail list, the Sultan's old fashioned, made with a spiced boubon, aphrodisiac, bitters and garnished with an orange peel and a smouldering cinnamon stick, arriving at the table with smoke from the cinnamon, really awakens the senses. Their drinks list is extensive, with over 150 wines and other beverages from regions of the world you are unlikely to have sampled, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon and more, ideal if you are feeling adventurous. There are also plenty of beverages from regions you will be familiar with Australia, France, Italy, Austria and Portugal to name a few. The wine is showcased well, lined up around the venue's walls. As you peruse the menu, also take note of the stunning tableware, which is in cohesion with the dining space, with charcoal grey napkins and array of diffent ceramic plates and bowls to pique your interest, whilst contributing to the presentation of each menu item. For the food, the Middle Eastern food; specifically Turkish, it is recommended as mezze-style, with sharing dishes to be key. We recommended going in a group so you can sample plenty together, because it is all sophisticated in taste and presentation. Be sure to begin with the “puffy bread”, served warm, and perfect to have with one or more of their delicious dips – hummus, baba ganoush, or atom – a popular thickened Turkish style yogurt with sundried chilies, sesame, and pine nuts. Then, take your fancy of the entrees. We order the stunning grilled calamari, perfectly cooked with a chilli tomato ezme salsa. Probably our favourite dish, healthy, intricate and refreshing. We followed this with the incredible roasted cauliflower, nice and soft with an outer char, served with raisin puree, almonds, warm hummus, zaatar, and chili oil. Everything about this was banging with flavour and textures. It’s also a gluten free and vegan option. As there were two of us in the dining party, we ordered one main and a salad between us. The Chicken shish skewers (2) were served with bulghur pilaf, sumac onion parsley salad, toum and pita was amazing. Combined with a beetroot salad a feast for the senses. Everything was delicious, perfectly cooked and well presented. Honestly we’d happily order anything on that menu. To give you a heads up of their other choices, there’s flamed kofte, slow-cooked lamb with parsley, triple cheese Shakshuka, kibbeh, manti (Turkish beef ravioli) and lahmacun (Turkish pizza) to name a few. Unfortunately we were simply too full to get dessert, but it does give us further impetus to return! We’d opt for the home made walnut baklava served with clotted cream and a Turkish coffee and rose tea. Owners Efe Topuzlu and Ozgur Sefkatli have created an A class restaurant and full credit to them, the chefs and staff for a great experience all

D. “. A.

Very warm and inviting atmosphere, its dark and cosy. The service was excellent. Timing between dishes was executed so well, nothing more frustrating than delays between one persons meal to another persons. The food was outstanding, i really couldn’t fault any of the food it was delicious. i would give this place 5 stars however.. i could not get past the fact they are charging $10 for one bread…it almost feels criminal… especially considering if you are ordering dips then bread is something you are going to want… Don’t get me wrong, the bread was delicious, but $10 for ONE is very greedy of the restaurant especially knowing people will very likely be ordering it.. i guess people are willing to pay for it but it’s definitely sad to see… besides the very expensive bread i think this place is fantastic and would recommend.

A. W.

We were celebrating a few birthdays from our friend group and the staff went above and beyond to write a cute birthday card for them! Such a nice gesture. We tried a lot of dishes and shared them between the group and they were all wonderful, a good variety of vegetarian dishes, and wine selection from the middle east. Cosy and intimate atmosphere.

S.

Good food, nice atmosphere and friendly staff. I wish there was a picture of the menu and better description. Hard to picture it. Good place to share plates!

M. P.

Great Turkish and middle eastern dishes with a great low key vibe. Our waitress Sydney has been super friendly and amazing on both our visits and the owner also is great at making sure everyone is happy. Both times we have been had either a musician or DJ and both were just perfect for the setting. Favourites to try are the delicious and soft grilled Halloumi, Eggplant Shashouka, Kofte balls, hot fluffy bread with dips, the broccolini with a Romesco type sauce. Wine list has great price points and the restaurant is located on Clarence Street in downtown Sydney City where the food and bar scene is thriving. A great night out.

A. R.

The food here was definitely above par. We had the calamari (so tender), puffy bread, babaganoush (so smoky), lamb kofta and fatoush. Everything was sensational, fresh and flavourful. My only feedback would be that the fatoush was a bit boring 😴

F. (.

This newly opened bistro is located in CBD, walking distance from Town Hall station. The venue looks inviting with great decor and sleek design throughout. On top of classic cafe dishes they also serve Middle Eastern dishes. We were recommended to try the flamed kofte and homemade gozleme with side cacik. Clean, healthy and delicious dishes! Coffee was amazing too (from Deluca Coffee). Highly recommend.

K. ..

Went there for a casual dine with friends. Very limited number of items on the menu, but they are making it good and fresh for the order. Wait staffs were so attentive. Most suitable for small dinners and lunch.

L. H.

The food, service and vibe of this restaurant is exceptional. Perfect for any night of the week, for lunch or dinner. Oh and the cocktails are fantastic. I can't wait to go back.

M. T.

Authentic Turkish and Middle Eastern flavours with modern twist, really really loved it, very reasonable prices as well so we tried couple of things and they we all spot on. Really good coffee as well!! Well done 👍🏻

G. M.

Lovely ambience. The food was delicious. Slightly overpriced on some menu items like $10 for a piece of puffed bread (delicious) we will definitely return.

O. M.

Beautiful cafe by day and great restaurant by night. The vibe is good, food is delicious and staff are very friendly. Food comes out in a timely manner and quality everytime.

F. N.

Really good and well-balanced flavours. We ordered almost everything on their menu. Highly recommend their manti, kofte, Ali Nazik and warm hummus. Almost all of their mains come with some sort of a dip/sauce, so make sure to not overfill yourselves with too much entree/bread. Would go back again!

H. T.

Lovely restaurant serving delicious filling food. Staff were really attentive. A good selection of dishes in a cute setting. Would definitely come back.

D. F.

Amazing friendly and attentive service. Fantastic delicious and innovative food. Especially rated the calamari which was cooked to perfection. Highly recommend for any occasion

B. N.

Lovely ambience and personal service. Loved their freshly baked bread with babaganoush and kofta was a real flavour explosion. Definitely recommended.

C. L.

Classy vibes all round here but the food stays humble. Loved loved loved the hummus and the slow cooked lamb. Looking forward to revisiting! If you'd like to see more of my photos, follow @cynthiaeats_ on Instagram!

D. Q.

Food not very flavorful. Had the beetroot dip, cauliflower, calamari, all of which were pretty average. The only nice dish was the chicken shish. Not likely to return. I’m used to middle eastern food with much more flavor.

M. W.

Had a fantastic date night with my husband... Delicious Food, Perfect Cocktails & Great Atmosphere! 10/10

E. A.

Absolutely amazing experience at Above Par!! The food is incredible. I highly recommend the slow cooker lamb, grilled calamari and you MUST have the puffy bread!!! The staff are wonderful and really make you feel right at home. Would give more stars if I could!

J. W.

Great service and good food broadly. Not my plate but 2 in the group had stale falafels.

P. H.

Work nearby so drop in here a fair bit. Yes you can have a full service sit down meal, but if you're looking for a quick bite, drop in and grab a takeaway slow cooked lamb or chicken shish wrap. Some of the best I've ever had. And the coffee is great too!

F. M.

Delicious mediterranen & middleeastern couisine with an aussie twist. Excellent service and convenient location. We will be definitely back.

B. O.

Great food, great drinks, excellent service and especially I love the way they decorated the restaurant. Therefore, It has a quite classy vibe. I would highly recommend to everyone who'd like to be served by enthusiastic wait staffs.

C. S.

The name speaks for itself - it was above par. Great atmosphere but the food was about average.

M. P.

We had the most fabulous dinner at Above Par last night. A friend and I visited Sydney this week and were pleasantly surprised to find this beautiful middle eastern restaurant. The food, drinks and service were all outstanding and I highly recommend it to everyone.

J. G.

Great place for food and close by drink options, great place to start your night out. Booked for 7.30 got in at 7.50. Food was amazing and was able to arrange a dip that wasn't even on the menu! Only issue was no sink or wet towels to wash or hands when finishing with the food. Great service!

U. S.

The food was mediocre, the chicken was little burnt and dry but the mezes were really good.

k. r.

Unreal Turkish and Middle Eastern food!! The Manti (little ravioli on steroids) is unreal and the Turkish coffee is fantastic!!!

N. D.

The service and decor are outstanding. The food is expensive and quantity is small. One person can easily have two entrees and a main. The mocktail is fine. The live music in the small space is inconvenient. Two of us could barely hear each other as we were seated right next to the singer. Would recommend a table outside.

B. W.

Pretty decent restaurant that serves Turkish food and is worth checking out. Wait staff were attentive and polite. There was a good selection of food to choose from. As with fine establishments, portions were a bit small for the price. Top recommendations are the slow cooked lamb and the puffy bread. I liked the look and feel of the restaurant interiors. Music was just a touch too loud but because guests weren't too packed in, you could still hold conversations.

W. A.

Stumbled upon this place one Saturday night and we can see why it was heaving. We could only get a table for two at 530 but don’t let that stop you from attending. Food and service is top notch. The hung yoghurt is a delight.

H. S.

The atmosphere is great. The staff are great. The food is awesome...BUT the serves are really small and not "mains" in the sense of what would be expected in any restaurant, let alone one of Middle Eastern origin.

W. W.

The best chips I've ever had. The warm hummus with mushrooms and the chicken kebabs are quite good. The kibbeh was chewy and disappointing. The staff members are really nice and check on your comfort and experience

K. P.

Hands down the best Middle Eastern restaurant in Sydney! Food is consistently top-notch, and I love the ambience and the world-class service. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for exciting, flavourful middle-eastern food!

R. R.

My husband and I had our lunch here today WOW! the food was spectacular not a single bit left on our plates from flavour to portion size to presention nothing could be faulted we thoroughly enjoyed it thank you so much... will definitely be coming back 😊😊

e. m.

We had a brilliant dining experience at this Clarence Street Turkish Restaurant. The space is modern but cosy. There is dining available outdoors but definitely more a dine in for us tonight as it was rainy. The service is impeccable and couldn’t ask the staff to do any more for us. Eddie and the team were brilliant and definitely steered us in the right direction on what to select to eat. The dinner menu is simple but jams in all the classic turkish dishes with a contemporary flair. I think the dishes are best shared so you don’t get a case of fomo. We started off with Pan Fried Honey Haloumi. This dish is a classic for a reason and did not disappoint on flavour. Served with walnuts and currants so had a lot of texture to it. We then had two dips (one off the regular menu and the other was a special). Tried and true Hummus is great with a lovely creamy texture. The special of Beetroot Muhammara is brightly coloured and very tasty. Make sure to get your bread and butter to spoon up all this goodness. The Falafel was crunchy and coated in sesame seeds. Vibrant green interior was delicious. This is served with the aforementioned hummus and topped with a green tahini sauce. Vegetarian Gozleme was filled with spinach and feta. Nice golden exterior with nice savoury filling. Our main plate was the Chicken Shish Kebab. Fantastic pieces of flavourful chicken are paired with bulghur pilaf, pickles, and chili labne. Excellent dish to round off our savoury meals. We couldn’t forget about dessert and neither should you! The highlight is their Katmer which is to be shared between two (but you can eat it by yourself if you have a huge sweet tooth). Crunchy pancakes envelope a creamy dairy kaymak and are topped with ice cream and pistachios. The home made Baklava is equally good too. Served with a decadent clotted cream. The crunchy parcels of goodness are filled with a great filling of nuts. The coffee is nice and they used Deluca Coffee. Well worth a visit and highly recommend if you’re looking for a night out with friends of family.

T. P.

Amazing! Going to Above Par felt like going to the house of a friend who wants to share with you the food that they loved in childhood. The staff were naturally friendly and charming. I tried for the first time ali nazik kebab. I can't wait to have it again, it was like nothing I had eaten before. I cannot recommend this place highly enough and will be back soon. Well done team.

E. S.

Loved the food, service and cool music whilst dining. The falafels and roasted cauliflower were absolutely delicious and the service is excellent, polite and makes you feel very welcome.

T. M.

We went to Above Par last night for dinner with 6 people, had a blast, their made to order bread was so fresh and I don't think it gets any better than that. Loved it.

S. E.

Absolutely amazing food. Stopped by for brekkie and we got the shakshuka and cilbir, both awesome. We wanted the recipe! 😉 The homemade baklava was also on point and the cherry on top are the guys that work there. Couldn't ask for better service or food! Highly recommend!! Thank you!!

P. S.

Food is always great- I’ve been a few times during the day and once for dinner at night. The food has always been great and the presentation is great. The place is cozy without being too small and the staff extremely attentive and nice.

D. S.

This place is right in the middle of the CBD and it has authentic Turkish food, excellent service and the best middle eastern dessert you’ll have in the city ! Try their pancakes they’re delicious !! The venue itself looks elegant and it has a cozy vibe to it at the same time. I will come back.

M. D.

Lovely intimate and ambient 10 month old Lebanese city restaurant. Delicious food served by lovely friendly people. Will recommend and return.

R. L.

I went there with a group of 12 last night. Great food and excellent customer service. The staff went out of their way to serve us. Highly recommend! Thanks.

C. L.

I absolutely love their dishes, especially their way of presenting each dishes is just astonishing. All the flavours were great in each dish and of course service was excellent :) Definitely looking to go back sometime.

P. O.

Went to Above Par Clarance St Sydney today for lunch. Amazing food, great vibe and attentive service. Must try the cauliflower and zaatar. To die for. Also the Katmer- Turkish Crunchy Pancakes with Kaymak, pistachio and ice cream YUM 🥰🥰 Highly recommend 👍

S. C. -. F. V. C. R.

The staff provided a great introduction to Turkish food with a nice variety of dishes. A great place for a casual get together in the evening with fantastic staff and service.

A. H.

Was recommended by a mate to try out Above Par Middle Eastern restaurant. Turned out to be a small little Cafe that serves middle eastern food in the evenings. Food was good. Mutabal was great but most other dishes were quite ordinary. We ordered the Roasted Cauliflour that was served a a massive chunk of Cauliflour. Took some time to cut it up and made a mess of the plate in the process. Kofta was ok and the chicken was quite dry. Overall was not overly impressed with the food and the atmosphere was quite dull as the restaurant was quite empty and quiet especially for a nice Saturday night.

M. C.

Loved the food here. The portion is on the small side and can be quite pricey. The cauliflower and eggplant were outstanding

J. T.

Must order their puffy bread and their dips. It also goes well with their newly released baby snapper dish which has cultured chive butter 😋😋😋😋😋

K. K.

Great adaptation of traditional Turkish flavours/recipes with a modern twist. Bored of your usual desserts, then you have to try Katmer!!

J. Y.

Amazing food, fantastic service and great ambiance!!! Been there twice now and I love it. The new chef is fantastic by the way.. cant wait to go back!!

H. J.

Absolutely amazing food and service! The ambience is also fantastic! Highly recommend trying the Turkish ravioli, and the pancakes!

A. M.

Food, wine and cocktails all amazing. The service was next level and Truc was lovely, my friends and I got so well looked after. Will be back.

S. S.

I visited there for the Katmer and it was just perfect. Generous portion, I can say it was enough for 2 person. Clean place, with lovely service. Will difinitely be back for meals 🥰

J. P.

Lovely quaint restaurant. Food was delicious and the staff were friendly and attentive. Would recommend this restaurant to family and friends.

R. d.

Nice food and service. Finally found a place for good Turkish breakfast. Their Menenan was better than what I had in Turkey.

B. D.

Welcoming atmosphere, great service and excellent food. Make sure the Manti and chicken shish kebab are part of your choices!

M. K.

Best Ali Nazik Kebab in city. it's a must try!!! Delicious food. lovely place and friendly staff. What else can you expect!

F. T.

Delish food. But too noisy, many people and loud music. Otherwise very nice place.

A. Y. K.

This place is amazing, Oscar and Eddy are amazing!! Also delicious food! Sish kebab is my favorite.

j. f.

Great food and great atmosphere with Live DJ set on Friday Night. we will definitely back.

A. L.

Fanrastic Hi quality mid eastern with a difference

n. l.

First time having Middle Eastern food and really enjoyed it. Highly recommended!

A. Z.

A wonderful gem in the heart of the CBD. Fantastic food and reasonable prices.

S. P.

Good food, great for sharing and good cocktails as well.

S.

Nice coffee and delicious foods. Especially melt cheesy gozleme with sausage was extremely yummy!

S. Y.

Stellar food and service. Everything was perfect. The eggplant was the standout.

M. S.

Absolutely beautiful food servings could have been more generous

A. T.

Once you start eating here you will definitely come back! Thanks Eddy and Oscar, you guys are amazing

M. W.

It was my first time eating here. Wonderful food, staff and atmosphere.

G. Ö.

Excellent food, service and location. Highly recommended.

H.

Their home made baklava and ice cream is simply amazing!

P. M.

Just amazing! Loved everything that came out. Highly recommended!

L. C.

Delicious food, friendly service, beautiful decor. Well worth it.

L. T.

The food was delicious and the service was great. No complaints!

O. R.

Amazing guys, great food and coffee. I would recommend to anyone to pop in!

P. M.

Very tasty, wonderful food and drink

P.

Great food that’s also super affordable.

M. M.

Beautiful place and such amazing food staff are so professional

R. M.

Great food and excellent service for Saturday lunch.

C. W.

Fantastic experience amazing food and atmosphere

M. J.

Excellent coffee, they remember your coffee.

D. K.

Food and service is amazing! Love it!

D. S.

Bit congested. Food was ok.

S. P.

Best kofta wrap in CBD

B. G.

Small venue with amazing food!!! Must try!!!!

G. B.

Good food , nice service

I. E.

Sweat,nice, cute, excellent

E. K.

Top food.

J. M.

Phenomenal gozleme

M. R.

WOW. That’s probably the best word to describe this place. The food was impeccable and the service was beyond what you normally experience in Sydney. Every dish had 10/10 wow factor. Flavoursome and cooked perfectly, we felt like we were transported to Middle East. They perfectly space out time between dishes and Attendance was spot on honestly - the young man who was our waiter was polite, attentive basically the perfect balance. Could not fault the experience from start to finish. HIGHLY RECOMEND

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