Gildas in Surry Hills

Very different style of dining. Casual yet elegant. Interesting selection of courses and wines to match. From starters to dessert all very delicious

First time here and boy, have I been missing out. The service was outstanding and welcoming. The atmosphere was great as the restaurant was busy, cherry on top the playlist. And the food? Come and try for yourself. Cannot wait to go back!

The degustation menu was a lovely way to sample more. Some hidden delights in there I would not have thought to order. The snap peas, crab, mono verde and the king mushrooms with smoked egg yolk were an absolute delight and would order next time for sure. The retired dairy cow tartare is my favourite. Circus in the mouth. Lovely time was had by all. We are already thinking about who to take with us next time

There was a bar at the entrance. When entering and exiting, the staff at the bar just stared at the customers and didnt respond in any way, didnt say hello, and seemed to need training.

I was a little hesitant to book given the recent reviews, but honestly, what a great restaurant! Creative food (the oysters and little skewers were amazing) with such interesting flavours. We thought the portions were more than enough given the full flavours of the dishes. Ive been away from the Sydney food scene for a number of years but this was such a wonderful evening - nice to see Sydney still has some special dining venues.

The service was good, the staff attentive but not overbearing, but the food was just lackluster. Nothing stood out as being delicious, appropriately seasoned, or even above average. Portions were small, inattentively plated, and just (to use the word again) lackluster.

Everything s great. Much love for this restaurant - the food, drinks and service - wonderful. Beautiful fitout, great lighting and lovely dinnerware. Gilda s has been fab since its beginning. Tried the pre-theatre set menu this time - delicious and perfect amount of food.

I had been warned by a friend not to go here as she had a bad experience but we decided to give it a try as it was on our doorstep. Food was extremely disappointing - it lacked flavour and the lamb was chewy and served severely rare/borderline blue (see picture). When i asked the waitress about it she just told me that s how it s meant to be served. Lamb aside, the remaining dishes were bland.

In terms of flavour, the food was okay. Its exceptionally overpriced. The portions are tiny, $42 gets you a miniscule portion of prosciutto. $19 for a sliver of shaved cheese. The waiter was trying to continually upsell us on a set menu. I wish I took photos so everyone could see how poor the value is. Overall, I would not recommend or go here again. There are many high quality restaurants in Sydney, this unfortunately is not one of them.

I loved the Olives and the scallops!

Only a few dishes are up to our expectations for the price. Service from Chichi/Qiqi is highly commendable!

The menu is difficult to follow, and although quite attentive our waitress didnt explain the dishes very well. The portions are very small, but very tasty and well presented. I dont feel it is great value for money. The wine list is quite vast, but again very expensive. Food

Looks good and the food is tasty. However, for the price, small serves. Noisy even though tables are spaced. Service focused on upselling.

All the food was superbly prepared with perfect serving sizes, so many beautiful subtle flavours. I like how the menu was left at the table so we could refer back.Was a bit hard to hear the wait staff as it was a bit loud but not a problem really. Our table was at a window which gave a better experience, to be separate from other diners. Sitting close to strangers along the bench wouldnt have been as nice.

We were lucky enough to get a seat at the bar which was a great way to watch the bar and the kitchen action. Great drinks list. The staff were all excellent. The food was amazing. Definitely try their namesake - the Gilda - a mild chilli, a great anchovy and an olive. They did another couple of varieties that were also great - the Matilda was a great Australian take on the Basque classic. We were just there to snack and they were all delicious. Vegetarian options: Yes. Dietary restrictions: Most people could eat. Parking: Parking didnt seem to be an issue. Kid-friendliness: No. Wheelchair accessibility: Accessible.

One of the best service with a friendly atmosphere but the food always changing the menu We experience great food and the variety of wines and cocktails is worth your money Please of street parking and allowed two hours for the whole experience Won t hesitate to come back shortly as the menu will change to impress

Stunning, we actually had some time to crunch before a dinner booking and went in for happy hour, ended up ordering so many small plates wanting to try everything!

I wanted to love it - I just didn t Octopus grilldawas the stand out apart from that run of the mill Food

Food was beautiful, service, mixed reviews. We were not given water or asked for drinks for about 15 minutes which is a pet peeve. We were looked after in a scattered manner by a few different people some friendly others not, with not one knowing what was going on with our table directly. This definitely made the experience less enjoyable, still asked for a tip at payment which I don t vibe with. For a $200 light taster I would expect the service to be top notch and this restaurant to be flowing perfectly. I wouldn t go back.

The bar I originally wanted to go to was full, so I passed by and went in because it seemed like a nice atmosphere. The staff were really friendly and nice! The atmosphere was great and it was a great place to have a quick glass of wine.

Well priced cute place

Went at the recommendation of friends. Dined at the bar. Food excellent (we ate mostly vegetarian), wine by glass good and, despite being very busy, the service was spot on (we never needed to ask twice, all the very friendly staff were checking on progress very regularly). We even found street parking around the corner. Will return.

The food was not good. Octopus skewer was chewy. The potato in the tortilla was undercooked and forget any seasoning for most of the dishes they made . The lamb shank tasted like my heavy smoking grandma made it topped with canned broad beans (suiting to the WW2 era) and was an absolute shocker (she also actually tried vs these cooks) . I m annoyed as I paid good money for the food and for a baby sitter when I could have been eating my can goods at home. Service was very good - kudos to the team they tried hard and did their jobs with effort. They easily could explain the menu and knew it well but I was fooled thinking their description translated into the food made here is respected. The gilda s martini was so bad..only saving grace was that it had alcohol in it. But forget about going here for any claim of signature cocktails not good - stick with the wine. In fact anything that was tasty was clearly not made by them (olives, anchovies and iberico) The chefs are having a laugh but to their own detriment - an embarrassment. what a shame and do not recommend.

The food was absolutely amazing we tried a few dishes and there wasnt one we could find fault with. The flavors were so good. The cheesecake, smokey butter, tartare and scallops were our most favorite dishes (we couldnt pick one :P). The staff were super friendly and very helpful we even had a little sherry tasting before deciding which Sherry we wanted to have that night. 10/10 would recommend to anyone. Vegetarian options: There was a good choice of vegetarian options

Spectacular food. The service from the salon seemed a little disorganized/not very personalized. We sat at the bar and the chefs were very friendly and helpful. We will definitely return, the food and wine selection is very good. We pair all the dishes with Sherry and it has been wonderful. Thank you

Gildas is far from the cheek by jowl, noisy bar. The elegant space is bathed in a warm glow. There are more to Gildas than a few gildas. One of the best martinis in town if you could pass up a sherry. The food from a concise menu is amazing. Polished service from the wait staff.

Gildas serves excellent food and a very well considered selection of wine. The menu is both interesting and approachable. The dining space has high and low options, and is finished well. Lighting is low and staff attentive and informative.

I had an epic dinner here last week, within 30 seconds of walking in the front door I knew I was going to write a positive review. Firstly service staff 10 out of 10 Greeted by a warm hostess they explained the menu. I sat at the bar next to the kitchen watching my food being prepared in front of me. The staff were great from chefs to service staff they were lovely and engaged with me asking how my day was, if I needed anything and took the time to explain the dish and its origins, I find it s places that are passionate about their food and where it comes from do this and it makes for a very cosy, relaxing atmosphere And the food incredible !!! The Matilda skewers I decided to try one, I often find Kangaroo gamy but it was so good I ordered two more. I ll be back sure it was the perfect way to end my trip in Sydney Thank you for a wonderful experience

10/10

Absolutely superb food with a great dining vibe.

Phenomenal meal, incredible service and a good wine list to boot. Must visit

Great food but seriously not Spanish hospitality. Got there at 8 first drink at 8.45 after a few reminders and then told last orders from the kitchen were 9.20. Heading home now for an early night and very disappointed.

We ve been following Gilda s on social media for a while, and having experience with Basque cuisine through many visits there (though by no means claiming expert status), we were looking forward very much to our first visit. And wow! What an experience! Some of the best food we ve ever eaten, from the Gilda itself (I ve not been a particular fan of the Gilda on location, but this one was a grenade of flavours that exploded in the mouth; perhaps it was the way it was presented here, as an intertwined ball of ingredients, anchovy, pepper, and olive/olive oil There seemed to be a sour citrus tang to it, too) through to the Basque cheesecake. The kitchen seems to have taken dishes from the Basque Country and done a few things to them so that they are at once authentic and innovative. A little different from the streets of San Sebastián, say, without losing sight of the tradition. Imaginative dishes with elegant flavours, seasoned with the odd frill at unexpected points. The sharing menu left us satisfied but not taxidermed. Space was a little noisy (boisterous crowd bouncing off hard surfaces), and I would have expected a few more Basque wines on offer, but that is nothing compared with the experience overall. So much fun. And the staff all seem to enjoy it, too. That makes a difference, as well. A whimsical highlight: Maggie Beer was dining at the corner window! Can t wait to go back. Thank you, Gilda s, for the experience.

great food, great atmosphere and great service. Couple of small criticism. I found the drinks service was a bit slow. Youd order something to go with a dish and often had to sit on the food to wait for the drink to arrive. Not too long, but slightly frustrating. The other criticism was it added up by the end of the night to a solid amount. I wouldnt say it was overpriced, but it was more than I would have thought for the food and style of restaurant. Ill be back. But Id be back sooner if the price was slightly more reasonable

Beautiful - food, setting, staff. Highly recommend. Dietary restrictions: The staff were more than happy and able to cater to our dietary requirements. Superb. Food : 5/5 |

If you enjoyed your valentine dinner at Gilda s on 14/2/24 you have legendary TASTE bud. For those who didn t enjoy it like we do. Please write a review down how your valentine dinner went. I m curious.

Went to Gildas with an open mind ( drinks? Dinner? Both?) And it seemed like they really didnt want us in prior to dinner service! The service was slow on a Friday circa 4pm and the host needed us to make a decision *NOW* on staying for dinner - it certainly didnt lend to a welcoming environment. Despite being the only ones in the restaurant, the service was a miss and the staff were engrossed in dinner preparation. Perhaps dont open earlier if youre not quite set for it?

Stylish and welcoming spot with an absolutely gorgeous menu for a relaxing vibe night out

Beautiful thoughtful service and really delicious food - some really different, unique things on the menu that made it such a fun experience! Will definitely be back!

Our experience was truly incredible, it is worth every dollar invested, and Marías attention was more than excellent. I would definitely recommend it and return.

Walked in for dinner last night, staff were attentive and helpful, fit out is amazing. Food was great, got to try quite a bit off the menu and everything was beautiful. Have already rebooked to go back.

Excellent service and inventive dishes. The kangaroo Pinxto was incredible! Great place for a light meal and some delicious drinks

Loved it..... for what its worth, by the reviews, it seems people are missing that this is more of a wine bar/small plates place.

I visited Gildas with my girlfriend after hearing great things. It definitely exceeded my expectations. Smaller portions but with exceptional quality, a very unique and memorable Spanish experience.

Our first visit to this place was mostly very satisfying. Excellent attentive service. We opted for the set meal. Highlights were the Retired Dairy Cow, squid and the chorizo with lentils. The basque cheesecake is worth ordering if it s on the menu. The bread is sensational by the way. A few misses on the night included the leeks which we were told were poached until super tender (they were way undercooked and stringy) and the soft serve at the end which we found underwhelming. Like many places of this quality in Sydney, the wine prices push the final bill into the stratosphere but it s still good value for the quality.

Definitely surprised by the reviews as we had an exceptional night and felt the prices were reasonable for the quality of food and given how expensive everywhere seems to be recently with cost of produce rising so much. San Sebastian is one of our favourite places to visit and we were not disappointed at Gildas with the Spanish authenticity. Wines we re excellent, staff were all friendly and really knew the menu. Couldn t fault this place.

Been to Firedoor a few times and was immensely impressed. I know Gildas is its own restaurant, but I was quite let down. The food was OK, but nothing mind-blowing. The service was mixed, from friendly to quite average. It just didnt seem like a well-oiled machine. Its still a relatively new place, and I went a few months ago; Im not sure Ill come back. I know theyre also now two hats, which is quite surprising. Love the business cards, though.

Been to many fine restaurants, this really was one of the best. Start to finish, everything was awesome, from choosing a few starters (omg the taste explosion of the Gildas !) through many delights including amazing dessert, really well cocktails and a digestive to finish. . Traditional flavours yet enhanced and perfected across every single phase of the dining experience, so good I don t want to spoil the surprise for anyone. Really quite sensational. The experience was great, all the staff were so knowledgeable, so attentive to detail, great wine advice, great menus descriptions. Sally is simply amazing - special thank you to sally. Definitely going back.

Service overall, exceptional. Food was hit and miss. Some things super yummy, some ordinary. Nothing exceptional. If going I would recommend the Grilda, the Jamon, the skate croquetta and the frittata (it was a special) and the pipis - the standout. Everything else we had was average. Unfortunately we were unlucky with the wine. Had a glass of the house albarino to start, lovely, then the som recommended a wine that smelt and tasted overwhelmingly of acetone and we couldn t drink it. Disgusting is being generous. They we re okay about it and only charged us half the bottle for the tiny bit we drank but it wasn t a great experience. Add to that we were in a window seat as the sun went down and I was sweating profusely from the oppressive heat, aircon ineffective as verified by staff. Overall not bad but not great. Won t go again.

We booked for a Saturday night as a group of 4. Overall loved the food, and the design of the place is beautiful. However the portion sizing was small and the dishes came out very slowly, so don t arrive hungry. Additionally our table was set up as a semi circle, so instead of our group facing in at each other as normal, we were facing out at the rest of the restaurant, like a bridal table from an 80 s wedding. It was awkward and for that reason probably would not go back as a group.

Fabulous addition to the neighbourhood. Amazing decor, service, cocktails and food. Loved it.

I love foods here so pretty decorations and rich flavours I strongly recommend this place Thanks a lot

I was so happy with meals. Thanks for all the dishes and services. It was so nice memory Highly recommend

I dont think I have ever been to a place where the staff have acted so warm and friendly before. They had smiles on their faces the whole time. Very relaxing environment to be in.

My only complaint is that the share menu is too much food for two people.

We had a lovely experience last night at this beautiful place. Food was to die for, service was wonderful and wine was beautiful. Will be back for sure.

I really liked my experience at Gilda s. The food is basque inspired, small plates meant to be shared. You must try Gilda! Octopus and kangaroo tartar were amazing too! The wines are mostly Spanish which was a pleasant surprise for me. Decor is simple but classy. I would go back there.

Had the best night with my girlfriends. The food was tasty. My favourite was the Matilda. Loved the wine list and the knowledgable sommelier. Benoit was great. Will be coming back!

The food was delicious, the decor is beautiful, the wine was beautiful, the service was attentive.... But it was just so expensive. Well be back for a special occasion. Its supposed to be inspired by San Sebastian pintxos bars, but the ones Ive been to were simple, unpretentious and not so pricey. I think theyd faint if you chucked your napkin on the floor here!

Small serving sizes. I give 3 stars just for our waitress from Valencia, she was amazing, the only good thing about this restaurant.

The most fantastic food, and our service from Simon was impeccable. Highly recommend Gilda s for your next special dinner

Great food and service. But the volume of the food on the plate is very small..... The squid dish had only 4 tiny squares of squid in it. Of the dishes we had there were no main size dishes. We shared each dish but I wont recommend that. The cheese cake saved the day and was a good size. Oh to be back in Spain where you get a really good serve and the price is not expensive.....

Busting out the best Basque cheesecake ($19) I ve tried after a not inconsiderable amount of lockdown sampling shows chef Lennox Hastie (Firedoor) knows how to wrap up an excellent dining proposition. Gildas unites the Fink Group s (Bennelong, Quay and Otto) restaurant expertise and Hastie s culinary vision in a buzzy Surry Hills corner store. While less formal than Firedoor, Gildas isn t quite casual, but it let let you rock up unannounced to sip sherry and sup on Basque Country snacks. The namesake gilda ($6/each), with its anchovy, green olive and Basque green pepper, is a given to neatly strip the workday from your palate. Also in the pintxos, juicy pickle-topped skate brandade croquetas ($18/2) (that we accidentally managed to double) when we ordered two serves of excellent orange pimento bread served with a generous smear of smoked butter ($8/2 slices). It s good for mopping up squid ink, which dominates cuttlefish, fennel and beans ($27) tucked under radicchio leaves. It ll also work on the rock oyster cream underlying tasty retired dairy cow tartare ($28) not that we ran out of potato chips. For the sips, we picked the 2021 Serra i Barceló Aucalá Garnatxa Blanca ($99) (a white Grenache) after a chat with the floor team who all boasted wine knowledge. Service ranged from friendly and highly personalised to snooty, with one server presenting an analysis of 12 degree Celsius bottle temperature and a bowl of ice cubes to a lady one table over who told him her rosé was served too warm. By the glass the Corucho Roble Garnacha ($18) light jammy and tea leaf tannins stands up to the standout sausage: txistorra ($29). Think of it as chorizo light, coiled over baby blue lentils with piquillo peppers for contrast. Less smoke and more raw yolk made the oyster mushrooms and buckwheat ($25) a bit of a miss for me. And if you decide (at your peril) to ignore my best of Basque cheesecake opener, the ricotta soft serve ($17) splattered with cherry juice at the table, is almost as delicious.

Overpriced, stingy portions, wait staff constantly interrupted our conversation. Broken glass, wine spilt on leg. Really HOT and uncomfortable atmosphere. LOUD, not pleasant for conversation. Nothing to do with Basque hospitality whatever.

We had a nice meal with great company. Service was outstanding and the drinks were delicious. The food was not quite as good as I was hoping. For example, the chorizo dish was bland - tricky to do with a spiced sausage!

Tapa s type food. Mostly tasty but somewhat overpriced.

Gildas is an exceptional basque experience in Surry Hills. The service was friendly and attentive, food was delectable and drinks were delicious. Highly, highly recommend getting the following: - pan, sobrasada with warm honey - the Matilda (a Gilda dish I ll remember for days it was that great) - the ricotta soft serve - the basque cheesecake Great as a date night or in a group to share with friends, worth coming back again and again.

Great Service Great Wine Selection Beautiful decor Portion sizes are very small, some dishes bland

I had a fantastic dinner last night (not sure who would give this place a bad review, but you certainly have little to no idea about food)... Each dish was incredibly rich in flavour, the recommended wine was perfect and the service was flawless. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening!

Exquisite. Best restaurant in Sydney - flawless food, drinks and service

Food is just ok, ordinary service, very over priced. How it got a hat is beyond me!

We were really looking forward to trying this place, but unfortunately it was abit of a miss. Portion size was very small and the dishes were lacking in flavour. The staff were amazing and the atmosphere was great. Probably will not be back.

Sally and her amazing, slick crew; made my two visits in two days truly amongst the best I had in Sydney. I spent a week dining from fine dining to groovy wine bar and this was one of the standouts. I love the space, the close to cbd location and the food comes fast and fresh. I sat at the bar and watched the chef and his amazing team do the dance and plate up an amazing array of tasty Spanish inspired yum! Which is why I had to come back for a second night.. i saw the whole menu and had to try more! If your in Sydney and not wandering Surry Hills your not doing Sydney and if your in Surry Hills Gildas is a must!

We booked and arrived on time but still needed to wait awkwardly near the door for 10 minutes before being seated. When ordering wine, we were advised that the bottle we initially wanted was unavailable as it was near the end of the month . Overall, the wine we had was good but over priced. We had the tasting menu, which I can best describe as meh . The star was The Gilda and the clear low-point was the charred leeks that were stringy, oily, and undercooked. Additionally, the Txistorra (Chistorra) was tasty but had several pieces of cartilage throughout. The overall aesthetic and feel of the restaurant was outstanding. It was not overcrowded, it was not too loud and the temperature was ideal. The service was apt. I will not return to this restaurant and I will not recommend it to friends but I did have an OK dinner.

Had dinner here a few nights ago, and my friend and I both loved the experience. Beautiful food, excellent service, elegant yet buzzing atmosphere - will definitely be back!

I was told to wait a second for the staff to come and they didnt call me. 5 minutes later I went to listen and was told I couldnt because they were full and would you like me to call you? I was told that they were full. We left.

Food was nothing special at all. Little morsels of very mediocre cuisine. Service was reasonable but overall nothing special about this experience. Restaurant was busy, vibrant but Lennox Hastie could do much better in terms of food for those obviously flocking there.

Great place! Good food, excellent wine (Sherry and Rioja) and fabulous Spanish service! I loved it!

Food and service was top notch. Wagyu was really well cooked and melted in your mouth

I really enjoyed Gildas. We did the less expensive tasting menu at $89, and thought it was imaginative and well paced. Obviously with a tasting menu, you take a chance and hope that everything is amazing. If I came again, I would try the a la carte menu. Overall a good experience.

Nice room. Brilliant staff. Excellent Spanish-style tapas. Been here many times and it s always good. Excellent for a date.

Fantastic all round. These negative reviewers are clearly sour and have no idea. A fantastic experience that I would travel for any day of the week.

Lovely atmosphere, Great service, wine and food were amazing.

Absolutely delicious food! My friend and I had the set menu and everything that was brought to our table was just divine. The Gildas of course are a must try. Heaven in a skewer!

We were there for Wednesday night golden hour. Delicious cocktails and snacks!

Loved it! Excellent food and a very nice vibe. The service was very attentive, friendly and relaxed and it enhanced the experience. We will definitely return.

Don t be deceived by the outside. The inside of the restaurant is impressive & the ambience is absolutely wonderful. This restaurant is great for date nights & dinner with friends. Must try if you like Spanish food. The hazelnut ice cream is so so so good!

I recently dined at a restaurant that left me with mixed feelings. While the quality of the food was undeniably excellent, I was disappointed by the portion sizes and overall quantity of the dishes. Lets start with the positive aspects. The food itself was delicious, prepared with care, and presented beautifully. The flavors were rich, the ingredients were fresh, and the dishes were bursting with culinary expertise. Each bite was a delightful combination of textures and tastes, showcasing the skill of the chefs. However, the disappointment arose when it came to the quantity of food provided. The portion sizes were notably small, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and wanting more. It seemed as though the emphasis was solely on creating artful plates without considering the hunger and satiation of the customers. Moreover, the price of the dishes did not align with the portion sizes. Given the premium price tag, I had expected more generous servings. The lack of quantity left me questioning the value for money and considering if it was worth the investment. While I understand that some restaurants focus on offering smaller, more refined portions, it is crucial to strike a balance between quality and quantity. In this case, the exceptional quality of the food was overshadowed by the insufficient amount served. In conclusion, if you are looking for a culinary experience that prioritizes quality over quantity, this restaurant might be worth considering. However, if you prefer to leave a dining establishment feeling truly satisfied, both in terms of taste and portion size, you might want to explore other options. Its a shame that the impressive food quality couldnt compensate for the lack of quantity in this particular dining experience.

Superlatives are splashed around all too easily these days and not everywhere is as described. Gildas lives up to everything you hope for. From a moment before you step across the threshold, the fairytale brass and stone door swings open and a big smile and warm welcome gives an indication of what s to come. World class decor and smooth tunes, candle light and warm hues. The polished service of London s top restaurants springs to mind with the way we were so graciously guided through our evening. I genuinely put it to you to just lay back and enjoy what s suggested to you here. We had quite possibly the best Martini of or lives and a white Sangria that you would fight a bull for. The pintxos we sampled, so different and mouth-wateringly moorish (isn t this why we go out to eat?). The crab churros, light and crisply fresh, balanced with creaminess and a sprinkle of fresh herbs, the grilled vegetables, so fine and light, warm from the grill and absolutely the best of the season! I could go on and on but it s best if you make sure and try it yourself, you can t go wrong!

Food was tasty but portions are on the small side. Service was terrible, they are either invasive of personal space or cant be found at all. Food

This is where share plates and nouvelle cuisine are combined. Whilst the food was exceptionally pretty it mostly came on plates the size of a saucer. The ham portion was ridiculous for the price and not that good. Everything was small except the wine glasses! Tables are tiny and close together so you engage in your neighbours dinner and conversation as much as they share yours. Whilst there is an abundance of staff they seem to be falling over each other to serve without cohesion. The water refilling was relentless (the only value in the meal was the unlimited sparkling water) and I felt hurried. They did accommodate an allergy at our table very well and was considerate to all parties so well done on that. The dishes are tasty but not all not hit the mark. Drinks are of high quality but come prepared to pay a weeks rent for a couple of bottles. I was underwhelmed and left feeling disappointed because it could be better. The formula is wrong somehow. Dietary restrictions: Catered very week to an unusual allergy.

Average, bland, boring, expensive. 2 hats??? Your joking!

Great Jerez. Make sure you match your food!

We popped in for the Golden Hour to get a feel for the place. Gotta say, some of the staff seemed irritated by something. Except our server, who was lovely. The food was super tasty, especially the Gildas, but the mood felt weird.

Love sherry? Then head to this casually glam bar with awesome Sherries and Spanish wines, delicious Basque-inspired snacks, fab service and ambience. Must have dishes include all 3 of the pintxo: the classic gilda (with olive, chilli and anchovy), the seafood grillda, and the quirky matilda (with kangaroo), plus the bread and soft-serve dessert. The rest of the menu is pretty desirable too. Vegetarian options: Plenty to accommodate vegetarians and pescatarians

A pleasant experience. Service was good and food was tasty. Dishes were small like appetisers which seems to be the a common review amongst other diners. This included the dishes considered more substantial/mains on the menu. For reference, the grilled octopus dish was 4 grilled baby octopus served with chickpeas and a couple wilted leaves. Gildas should be considered if youre looking for bite sized food and drinks. Highlight- a specials goat cheese served with drizzled honey and wafer thin crackers, matilda (kangaroo) skewer.

Gilda s is amazing... After a long wait, Gildas finally opened tonight. Ive been anticipating this for months. I booked as soon as bookings opened. Its always nice to be the first through the door; you can photograph the venue without anyone else present. The restaurant is warm and inviting. I knew the food would be amazing, but it was so much more than I expected. The service is always first-class. Gildas is a San Sebastián-inspired 60-seater wine bar. Its part of the Fink Group. Prior to his return to Sydney, Lennox lived and worked in Northern Spains Basque Country for five years. I remember eating his food at The Bridge Room and waiting with anticipation for the Firedoor to open. I am expecting lines out the door on Friday and Saturday nights. They accept both walk-ins and bookings, I will be booking as I dont like to wait for a seat so I can enjoy Chef Lennoxs food. I can see Gildas being my go-to local even though I dont live near the restaurant. Its hard to stop at one Gilda, but one must as the rest of the menu beckons. Gilda is Spanish olive, preserved lemon, and the most amazing anchovy threaded through a toothpick and drizzled with olive oil. For someone like me who loves anchovies and olives, this is a match made in heaven. The Australian version is Kangaroo. I am returning soon to try a few more dishes. I spied a lardo/leek dish. Will be ordered next time. Mushrooms and squid will be re-ordered. Lennox will be changing the menu frequently. Thank you to Lennox, Zach, Zoe, Sally and Nick. If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me.. See you soon!

Food is absolutely delicious

An incredible Spanish experience

Gildas is outstanding. Truly fantastic experience here last night - the food, the drinks, the service and the decor/atmosphere were all perfect. Go with the set menus, you won t be disappointed!

What a wonderful place ! Explosion of flavours, decor, people - all of this creates magic in Surry Hills. Don t forget to order the hazelnut soft serve with spiced churros - king of the night. Will be back.

Gildas is a fantastic place with exceptional food, wine and service. Atmosphere is spot on too. Do not listen to the reviews about portion size (this is tapas people - it s like complaining that they serve you rice at an Asian restaurant ). I love Gildas.

Lovely fit out, buzzy atmosphere, knowledgeable staff and sommelier, delicious food. What s not to love about this place?! Been a few times, always delivers a great night!

Spectacular pintxos & tapas! We went on day 3 and service and food is already top notch. Mackerel with pickled carrot and finger limes were great, as was the dairy cow tartare. Vego is well catered for with charred leeks with romesco sauce. Mushrooms with smoked eggs are also excellent. Top wine list and tight service for so early on. Instant classic!

Wonderful atmosphere, snacks and drinks selection. Amazing attention to detail and service - big thank you to Sally who took care of us last night and also another waitress who had long brown hair and glasses (we didn t get her name sadly). We will be back when we are back in Sydney. Thank you Gildas team!

A surprise visit on the second night of opening ....the staff were exceptional with their friendliness and menu knowledge . A very cosy and intimate ambiance with good food and wine. Lennox was very personable and made this couple from Crookwell feel very welcome ...we have made good freinds and will be coming back again .... Gildas is sure to be a success...

Wow. Incredible food, uber cool space. You ll love Gildas. Lennox has nailed it with this one.

So Deliciously Divine. Food, wine, cocktails and service - all of it. If I could give more than 5 stars I would!

Disappointed beyond belief. On one hand, the spanner crab churros were salty, however the gilda and matilda skewers weren t seasoned at all. Steak tartare was highway robbery at $28 for two teaspoons full. To add insult to injury, the staff were rude across the board by throwing dishes down on the table without an explanation of what we were eating. Pretentious and arrogant without the food nor service to match the price tag. Would not recommend.

Extremely disappointing. Riding the coattails of Firedoor - without the service, quality or execution.

A sublime experience from start to finish. The attention to detail in everything from decor to service, food and drink was astounding. The high quality of the produce was apparent in every dish. The manzanilla sour (cocktail) was delicious. My favourite dishes (how many can I pick?), the Matilda, the Iberian ham, retired dairy cow tartare with oyster cream, mushrooms with smoked egg yolk, escalivada (roast veggies with fresh and pickled veg on top) - healthy yet scrumptious. The soft serve is Mr Whippy but for grown ups! Lightly smoked buffalo milk ice cream, drizzled with olive oil and dulce de leche; yummmmm. Delightful to be able to sample so much on the menu without feeling over full. Have just a few dishes for snacks or try most of the menu for a meal. Just like at Firedoor you can sit at the kitchen counter and watch the magic.

Food and service were amazingggg!!!

As Spaniard, having spent few summers in the pay basque and enjoyed the Pintxos gastronomy culture what Mr. Lenox has recreated with Gildas is the vibe of the pintxos bars in the heart of Sydney Harbour, with local touches , love the Matilda (Australian icon) pintxo with desert lime and Paroo kangaroo, the citric touch in the Gildas, the Sydney escalibada , the wines, including the Txacoli to pair with Pintxos, the walk-in access (rare for Anglo Saxon restaurants) but typical of our culture, and overall the customer service and seeing Lenox Hastie at the helm of a very simple , humble an straightforward whilst undoubtedly complex transposition of a Pintxos bar in Sydney. Don t miss it, just to enjoy few wines and Pintxos in a nice atmosphere without further expectations. 10 out of 10.

Very small servings and very high price tag. . Not that tasty

Staff really need an attitude check after that appalling experience. After spending $200pp, budget another $15 to stop by maccas to satisfy your hunger you ll probably get better service too.

i just had dinner with two other friends I was either expecting something fantastic or a complete fail From the moment we arrived to the end when lennox hastie came up to our table we could not have had a better experience The gilda skewers excellent The mackerel superb But what was great was the positive service . so clearly from our experience completely diifferent from some other reviewers not cheap but then again life short Enjoy

Food 10. Service 10.

Over-priced and underwhelming. For the extravagant platings you d expect far more flavour. The decor is lovely and wait staff attentive. The wine is not your saviour here either. Cue generic response by the restaurant as per each of the previous negative reviews

Felt lucky to snag a table at Gildas early in the evening. Arriving at 5, I was told we could have the table until 7. This suited us perfectly, as we were after a bottle of wine and some snacks before heading somewhere else for dinner. The skewers, grilled squid and charred leeks with romesco were wonderful, while the churros stuffed with spanner crab was bland and doughy; definitely a misfire in an otherwise decent lineup. One server was gregarious, while I d describe the other staff and the service in general as aggressive . Even though we were relaxed and understood we were leaving by 7, we were repeatedly reminded we had to be leaving soon, and would we like to order more from the menu? Another wine? It felt like an interrogation rather than a relaxing pre-dinner graze. Overall, a svelte fit-out, excellent location and interesting tapas (save for the churros). Unfortunately, the wine list felt a little small and the French/Spanish options we tried were bretty and a bit too funky for our taste. The biggest downer though was the aggressive service without soul.

The service and surroundings do not match the price tag. My girlfriend took me there for my birthday and it made her so sad for us to spend that much money and receive a bad experience. I wouldnt bother returning

Exceptional. Delicate and perfectly executed dishes. Anyone complaining about the price does not understand the quality in front of them, the on point service, stunning space and the special dining experience that is Gildas. Thank you.

EXPENSIVE... Way too much for what you get

Food was good but pricey for the portion size. Wine was good.

I was really hoping that the lower ratings weren t going to be reflective of my experience, but unfortunately it was. The food was good but underwhelming, and yes, overpriced for what it was. The staff and decor were lovely though!

I was looking forward to trying this restaurant given the hype and buzz about it but also given that on its first week, it was awarded a 16 out of 20 score by Good Food. The equivalent of 2 chefs hats which for a very casual eatery is unusual. My experience was very disappointing. To put it on par with the likes of Bennelong, Rockpool, Vue de Monde, Tetsuyas, Freds or LuMi Dining is a travesty and to put it ahead of places such as Hubert, Bistecca or Saint Peter is just plain absurd. The score for this specific restaurant made me lose confidence with the Good Food guide hats rating. The service we experienced was subpar. The waitress serving us had no knowledge of the food and didnt explain the menu or go over any specials for us. We saw plates of food coming out of the kitchen throughout our meal that werent on the menu and when we asked our waitress what they were, she said they were specials of the day which unfortunately at the time or ordering we were not privy to. The wine list although small was interesting and did justice to the concept and the food. it was the highlight of the place for us. The sommelier didnt interact much with us at all and our waitress had less knowledge of the wine as she did with the food. We picked our wine on a whim and it was stellar. The food was ok. It was something youd expect in any little bar serving ok food. It is expensive but not atrociously expensive. They are definitely riding the Lennox Netflix wave to maximise on revenue but thats only fair. My poor rating relates to the experience their marketing, their chef and Good Food have sold me prior to going versus the reality of our experience on the night which was nowhere near the experience you should expect from a 2 hats restaurant. Overall, a disappointing experience. I hope that Good Food will come to their senses and downgrade their rating for that specific venue as it lowered the standards of Australian food offering overall.

Food is quite tasty , it s just the sitting is a bit crowded and quite noisy, sometimes I can t even hear myself speaking.

Not worth the price tag especially for those who have been to san seb, you will likely be disappointed unfortunately! I got charged almost $40 for a tiny portion of tortilla. Food was okay and mostly too highly overpriced compared to many similar or higher quality food / restaurants in the same area.

Great service, good food, incorrect pricing. Service: Great, attentive, knowledgeable Food: good, small portions, some lovely dishes but left wanting and expecting more. Eg. The tartare between two is 2 bites each (and that s being generous). Even if I ate the whole menu, I d leave hungry. Price: the prices do not equate to the ingredients / quantity of food. Don t go expecting firedoor.

Average food at extortionate prices.

Great service and amazing food. Seated right at the kitchen with the best view in the house. Zac or Zach was awesome when explaining the effort that goes into the dishes. Dessert was awesome. We will be back! Not entirely sure how there are any poor reviews on here .

Everything about this place was well thought out and welcoming from the beginning. I arrived as a walk-in on a busy Friday evening and was greeted by the very attentive and passionate GM, Nick. Even though they were full he placed me on the waitlist and gave me an accurate prediction of when a table would be ready, and boy was it worth the wait! Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, and no question was unanswered. The Sommelier s knowledge of the wine list was true to order and a delightful experience. The food was brilliant quality and not to be missed. This is a must-go, I will definitely be back.

High quality food and friendly service

Amazing experience, would recommend 5/5. Great atmosphere, staff, drinks list and food.

Amazing spot, great food, drinks and service. Would definitely go again!

First. Nice fit out and cosy atmosphere. I know it s hard for any restaurant right now so I don t want to over bash. Just throughly underwhelmed. Sorry chef. I ve just got back from Spain and for 20 euros I would of had a great feed. Surely you can do better !

Awful service, not sure if is because they are new it s messy and the staff are unqualified, people on the phone are rude, they are busy Now and they think because they are busy now they can be rude to clients, good luck with your 6 months success, next restaurant in that corner please !

Very accommodating staff and unique food with a good selection of wines.

This place has undoubtedly amazing level of service and food. All the staff were aware of what the food is composed of, they are very alert on taking empty plates from the table and making sure that the petite tables isnt over crowded. The time and manner of when and how they serve the food is 5 star. The food was presented cleanly and beautifully. Some flavors such as the Gildas were really strong which might be really good with some pairings. its great if you want some wonderful nibbles before or after your event. Cocktails were great, too! Chefs were very calm and collected. great intimate vibe, overall! Favorite: Beef Tartare. 100% the best one Ive tried in Sydney. You will be well taken care of in this place! <3

Beautiful venue with the offering and service to complement it as well. Even though we didn t have a booking, we were looked after nicely by Simon and Nick, top service and knowledge! Thank You

There is no fault of this place. Came here on a very busy Saturday night for a small group girls catch up dinner and we were all very happy and satisfied. Delicious food and great cocktails, the wait staff were very accommodating and extended our stay so we could finish our food and dessert.

I usually find google reviews pretty accurate but it is way off the mark for Gildas. I m glad we went ahead since we are huge fans of firedoor that has been almost impossible to get reservations at. Such a lovely experience - amazing food, great service and we would definitely visit again. The food is not cheap, but then again, where can you find cheap restaurants in Sydney? Food is definitely worth the price. We tried many dishes and loved all of them. In particular, the must-try will be grilled squid (amazing Nero sauce with squid ink), pipis with alubias (so fresh and flavourful!), oyster mushrooms (so much umami flavor and delicious smoked egg yolk), soft serve (drizzled with olive oil, pistachios and cherry juice - reminds me of the best ice cream in Seattle salt and straw s olive sundae) and Grillda (bonito fish skewer). The skate croquetas is also worth a mention, the bread with butter is amazing too. We would probably pass on the Matilda (kangaroo skewer) and Jamon iberico (just salty, not as sweet as I ve had in Barcelona). Definitely get a seat at the counter, the chefs create art with every dish, and give such detailed descriptions when they serve the dish!

Booked Gildas prior to the restaurant opening and was very excited having had an amazing experience at Firedoor. Based on the reviews I would have cancelled, however the cancellation fee was $50 a person so we went through with the evening. Small portions, pinchos style you need to order more than one of the same dish for each person. The maitre d was not knowledgeable and specifically said they had no idea about the wine list and couldn t pronounce the wines. The final straw was the fact we wanted to book for 6 but the max. booking was for 4 people. The table of 3 next to us spoke to the waiter and they were allowed to have 4 friends walk-in who were noisy, drunk swearing which disrupting our evening. Gildas doesn t deserve the two hats awarded by good food guide. Who was paid off.

I could not rate Gildas any less than 10/10! It was a fabulous dining experience. We were fortunate enough to be seated at the bar to view all the action in the kitchen and see each plate being put together with such thoughtfulness and with the highest level of attention to detail. The dishes were very generous, not to mention delicious, and we left more than satisfied, without having to spend a fortune. Thank you for such an enjoyable experience!

Amazing dining experience! Staff are incredibly attentive and knowledgeable particularly when it comes to wine offerings Loved it

Impressive display of Spanish food and delicacies in Sydney

nothing special...

I thought I d give it a crack a couple weeks back seeing as others I know may not have given it a fair go Undersized, overpriced and bland. Service what service? I ve received better at Karen s Diner! While I appreciate concept, the delivery and execution left a lot to be desired

Comically small serving sizes and dishes that are either bland, or extremely salty? Waiters are not welcoming and have an air of arrogance about them made to feel like it s a privilege to set foot in the door. 2 Hats from the Good Food Guide? Don t know what they were smoking