Oncore by Clare Smyth

Some time into our lunch we still couldn’t work out what was different here. The food was wonderful with a large range of flavour, texture, presentation and themes – the ‘Surf and Turf’ reproduced all the flavours of an Australian BBQ, as promised. The wines perfectly matched. The wait staff are simultaneously everywhere but nowhere, never intrusive and always attentive. The view is unmatched in Sydney. And all that being directed perfectly again by our “table conductor”, Michaela – our new favourite person. So what were we missing? What is so different from other fine dining restaurants? We realised days later that Oncore is an event, it is theatre, a performance, a 4-hour interactive play, an experience. Now it all makes sense. And it was fun!! We’ll be back!!

Sky high expectations coming in this due to restaurants pedigree and price. Had the classic menu with wine pairing.

Starting with the nitpicks – the kingfish first course wasn’t good period, weird earthly marinade – brought out weird fishy flavour of the fish.
Duck with beetroot wasn’t for me – duck too fatty and in my opinion and went weird with the sauces.
The starter nibbles were definitely a level or two below the rest of the menu.

Everything else was excellent – the potato signature dish was exceptional, had to mop up all the sauce with the bread. Core-teaser also another standout – so delicious.

Service was a bit quiet and subtle but still at an extremely high level – they’re always there but no intrusive.

Total price for 2 people came out at almost $1300, so definitely grading on a curve.

Wow, blew us away. Through huge glass panes you see the kitchen behind you while Sydney harbour lays out in front of you. Everything about Oncore is exceptional. The staff are warm and knowledgeable, the chefs even call out welcome when you arrive. We had the vegetarian tasting menu and were blown away. Just amazing.

Dining at Oncore by Clare Smyth was undoubtedly the best food experience we’ve had – and by some distance. It’s easy to understand why. Oncore is ranked one of the top 50 dining experiences in the world in La Liste’s top 1000 restaurants for 2024. This three-hatted fine dining establishment sits on the 26th floor of the Crown in Barangaroo and has sweeping views of the Sydney harbour.

From the second you arrive, you’re made to feel welcome. You’re greeted by a reception team, the manager, the chef’s, and the waitstaff. Michael, the manager, runs a very well-oiled ship.

From start to finish, the experience is flawless. Each dish presented is absolute perfection, from the dishes origin story, the aesthetics, the serving temperature, the textures, and the flavour.

This truly was a very memorable experience. I can’t recommend it enough. We certainly will be visiting Oncore’s three-Michelin-starred sister restaurant ‘Core by Clare Smyth’ in London.

Normally we prefer a dinner booking for a birthday celebration but had to settle for a lunch booking as dinner time wasn’t available, it was the best decision ever. There are many reasons why Clare Smyth is one of the best chefs in the world and one of the biggest is the fact that she is an excellent artist as well as an exceptional chef.

We went for the seasonal menu with the non-alcoholic pairing, every course was beautifully presented, every component on every dish was technically perfect, and every element on each dish was carefully considered in regards to the balance of flavours. The drinks pairing played a great part in the experience as each complimented the dish and acted as a palate cleanser to get the taste buds ready for the next dish.

Comparing Oncore to the likes of Quay and Vue de monde is a bit like comparing apples to oranges to pears, they each have their unique style that is enjoyable in their own way. The dishes at Oncore are complex in aesthetics, yet each element serves a purpose on the plate. My favourite course – the surf and turf showcased quintessentially Australian ingredients taken to the next level. As someone without a sweet tooth, I still rate the desserts thoroughly enjoyable in terms of both looks and taste. The mirror glaze on the ‘other’ carrot was beautifully shiny and the sorbet super refreshing. Nothing was super sweet and even the meringue in the final dessert course was well balanced by the freshness of the strawberries.

While on this particular day, Sydney didn’t put on the greatest weather to enjoy the view outside, however the sight of Clare herself in the kitchen elevated the experience of dining at a world class venue. The service at this establishment was exceptional, the service staff were knowledgeable and were more than happy to hold a conversation with regards to the back stories of the dishes.

Walking out at the end felt like leaving a wonderful art exhibition where the stars of the show left with us in our stomachs.