17 Bligh St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Contemporary Spanish Restaurant. Rustic and refined dishes from Northern Spain, as well as 500 Spanish Wines.
Second time dining here and a great evening. Excellent service, delicious food and wine. We thoroughly enjoyed our paella, charcoal chicken, lamb cutlets, and those potatoes!
Amazing everything! Perfect for date night and happy hour drinks (or business during less peak service hour). Wine list is great and service is exceptional. They made sure our birthday celebration was extra special, just love this spot for weekdays!
We went for the $98 set menu and there was a lot of food. All tasty but the standout for me was the Basque cheesecake!
All dishes were five stars, but the stand out was the dish of the day - beef tongue in chimichurri sauce.
Our waitress had extensive knowledge of the specials, the entire menu and was also well equipped regarding wine pairings. The food was amazing, the few tapas plates were incredible. My wife’s Sangria was awesome both in rose and the red versions. The Paella was the best we’ve ever tried. The dessert wine suggested to us was divine. I would highly recommend this restaurant to everyone. The ambience was spectacular, watching the guy making all the drinks putting his experience into every single drink he made or poured actually showed he cared and loved his job. An overall great night.
Great atmosphere and service! However the food wasn’t that impressive…… maybe my expectations were too high or my stomach has been spoiled by the tapas in Melb. 😅
Great food in a up market setting. Their donuts are surely the best! Loved their lamb and cabbage salad. Cheese cake recommended by our server didnt disaapoint. The anchovies starter felt a bit clunky to take a bite across ingredients, may be they could be chopped a bit but the flavours were spot on. We were told they plan to offer Paella every night from next week, so gives us exciting reason to be back!
Good atmosphere and service, however the food was a slight let down for the price you pay. Especially for the beef flank , the meat was very dry especially on the sides, and lacked flavor. Probably wasn’t worth the 50+ bucks that we paid for that item. The other dishes were decent.
The set menu for 89pp was excellent! Massive feed. Didn t catch the servers name but he was 10/10. Would definitely come back.
Nice tasting menu and delicious Spanish wine
Will be returning tonight great service great the great is food.
Food was ok, a bit overpriced for what it is, never made to feel comfortable or welcome, rushed us in and out.
We really enjoyed our dining experience here, great atmosphere and the food was delicious, especially the king fish crudo. We also had amazing service, highly recommend
Great food , great service .Love the daily specials and a real European feel about the place I go regularly - love a place that is consistently very good
Jason is fantastic been incredible
Lucas was a a great host and was beyond expectations. Food was amazing. Wine pairings were brilliant.
Great food and service. Good atmosphere and not too loud- you could talk and hear each other.
We hosted a small group here and the food and service was amazing. Especially Lucas the waiter who took great care of us all night. There was a coleslaw dish to die for!!
Ive been here a few times over the years! Once for a decadent birthday lunch with my dad and brother (you guys used to have pork jowl on the menu.. it was incredible!) another time for a catchup with extended family. Fantastic wine selection. Delicious menu offering. Friendly and playful service. Food is on point. I passed by recently and thought must be back soon!
The food was delicious and beautifully presented. The service provided was excellent!!! Our waiter was attentive, friendly and professional (a 40ish slender gentleman, should have grabbed his name). Highly recommend!
All good!!
Excellent service by the the wait staff and sommelier, value for money , been here many times and will keep coming back for the great food and wine.
A pleasant place to celebrate for my birthday, we have awesome meal with friendly service.
Jason & waitress were lovely!
Nice food and service
Everything was SO good But what we really stood up was the service from our waitress Silvia & the help of the great sommelier We had the best time , great food & wine Thank you
Food beautiful. Try the cabbage yes as kids we d never say that. Wine selection fantastic But above all their team is wonderful. To the extent after I complemented a dish they emailed the recipe. Been here a few times and never disappointed
We had a great time here tonigt. Food was great and Jason provided wonderful service to our table.
Jason was great!
Caera was an amazing waitress. she made a birthday celebration so special and just genuinely cares for her customers. Thanks caera and balcon.
Fabulous food and great service. Highly recommend the cheesecake!
Fantastic service with great vegetarian options on the menu Best cheesecake I ve had in such a long time Highly recommended Vegetarian options: All wonderful
Absolutely amazing meal in a great setting. We would highly recommend it. Vegetarian options: Delicious options available Food : 5/5 |
Thanks Jason for the wine recommendations!
Silvia was extraordinary, she was helpful and a very charming host.From the moment we sat down she doted on us. Her attention to detail was noted and appreciated. Her meal suggestions were on point . Thank you for sharing your experience with us Silvia you are a delight and made our dining experience and anniversary so much more special. We wish you every success and happiness for the future. Jason and Michelle
Cant get a better spanish experience here in Sydney. Sommelier and Jason knew their stuff. Food
Our waiter Jason was superb
Great meal, good value, excellent service by Jason, recommend
Another fabulous lunch - especial thanks to Jason for looking after is so well.
Silvia was amazing
Silvia looked after us all night
Pretty good, amazing food and costumer service, thanks Silvia !!!
The food was amazing and service from Silvia was special, she mad us feel part of the experience.
Amazing. One of Sydney s most consistent venues. Always great service and food. Will come here again and again.
Great bar! Outstanding service, delicious food and lovely wine. A great all rounder, perfect for a date or a group dinner. Thanks for the experience!
Had a great time here- really great ambience and service, and they really went above and beyond to accommodate the vegetarian diner in our party. Would recommend for anyone and especially vegetarians looking for a fancy spanish experience! Vegetarian options: Very good options - equally as good as meat options
Was a beautiful experience with my hubby Amazing food . We got only Tapas and entree But was enough for both of us Serves was amazing !!! Thank you guys
This is the best meal I ve had in this week in Sydney! The steak is so delicious that even picky kids eat it all the time! The fried potatoes as a side dish are very popular among the children, so they ordered another one after finishing one! The steak is really recommended! Super tender and juicy! The other pork chop was also delicious! This meal is really the most impressive meal! Delicious~recommended!
Ok the positives first, my wife and I are big fans of Tapavino and this was our second visit to Balcon. BUT yesterday was our birthdays and we had an early supper before catching a show. First we arrived soaked and no offer of taking our coats..Second, paying $92 for a $22 bottle of wine - we liked it! Third, the food was poor.. not warm enough and the pan du tomatoes was particularly poor.. I think this is my first negative review but it was very disappointing.
Great food and wine.
I used to be a big fan but had a pretty bad experience just now. I was trying to book a table for a group so called to confirm some details about the menu and drinks packages, as it wasnt clear on the website. Unfortunately the person who answered the phone was just not very nice. Wouldnt answer my questions and just told me to look online. I told her that I had done that but it was unclear and was hoping she could just clarify some things for me. She told me it was very loud where she was and that she in the middle of service so again, I should just look at the menu online. I totally get she was busy, but as a guest, thats not really my concern and also, I;m not a dummy, I had actually tried to find my answers online. Anyway, was pretty terrible service so decided not to book the meal and go somewhere else instead. Any time ive been there the service has been great so this was a bit disappointing. Could just have been a bad day - I know what its like to work in hospo - so hopefully an isolated incident.
Reliable Spanish food with outstanding wine list and service.
Lovely food, an awesome wine selection and such smiling friendly staff.
The food service staff were knowledgeable & friendly. Food was nice. Wine as recommended by the sommelier was awful & not what we asked for. He poured & took the bottle away without letting us see it until we asked for it to be left at the table. When I pointed it out that he had told us we were getting a 2018 but delivered a very ordinary 2022 he ignored me & walked away. Lovely lady spoke to the manager & offered us a take away bottle which we refused given we consumed the dreadful table wine.
Make this place a corporate dining hotspot! The Balcon by Tapavino team made our work dinner a flawless experience - from accommodating our booking changes, to wonderful seating arrangement, the delicious menu, the attention to detail regarding dietary requirements and impeccable service on the night *chefs kiss* - thank you!
Our first experience at Balcon by Tapavino was so enjoyable that we didnt hesitate to return for our anniversary dinner again this year! The exceptional food, ambient dining room, and super knowledgeable staff, who will help you to expertly navigate the menu, have never failed to surprise and delight. We opted for the a la carte menu; 2-3 entrees with 1 main and 1 dessert (which will easily satisfy a couple), and the sommelier helped us to select a wonderful bottle of tempranillo to bring it all together.
Awesome service! Big thanks to Sylvia who made our evening after we d had a challenging day. Great food too. The Spanish doughnuts are divine!
We went there for a friends 60th birthday dinner. We were a big group of 11 people, but the service was flawless and we were very satisfied. All the dishes were delicious and looked gorgeous. It was wonderful Especially kingfish crudo,The sauce on the this was outstandingly delicious. Of course the wine was delicious too
A lovely venue with fantastic food and attentive, friendly, and quick service. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The drinks menu was extensive and well put together, the wait staff were helpful and checked in at the perfect times whenever we needed something, and the food was exquisite. Very glad we stopped in here on our trip to Sydney and I absolutely look forward to coming back.
Amazing food
Outstanding. The food was delicious and Frank our waiter was personable, knowledgeable and incredibly helpful. Each dish was exquisite and we found out that Frank is the owner! Absolute legend!
Service and atmosphere was very good, however it s not a traditional Tapas restaurant (not much Tapas on the menu) but I think this was the intention of the owner!! Just writing to let you know if you re looking for traditional Tapas with an extensive Tapas menu, this place might not be for you, but I d definitely recommend for a nice meal out with some really good contemporary options and lovely service
Went for my birthday and had an amazing time. Food came out in a timely manner, the servers were highly attentive and catering, as well as knowledgeable with the food and drinks menu and provided excellent recommendations for our large group!
The eggplant was not seasoned well. Octopus $34 tasted ok. Cheese was nice but bread slices were not fresh. The fish dish was $48, it consists only 2 small sections of fillets with 2 clams, sauce was not flavoursome and rather bland.
We were here in January 2024 while visiting from Canada and it was fantastic. We ordered à la carte to focus on some personal favourites and the set menu options looked great too. Our server was a great help in answering a few questions and the food was brilliant. From the service to the food and the overall experience this was a hit for us, well come back when were in Sydney again!
Came here mid afternoon for some cocktails and a small bite. Had the croquettes, which were delicious and jamon woth whipped ricotta and melon. High quality and well balanced tapas. Margaritas were also spot on. Service was excellent. Will come back to try a bigger meal soon.
Food was terrible. The worst I have had in the CBD. It was greasy, boring and Lacking any kind of presentation. We opted for the $95 set menu which was way over priced . We were served by a sassy and rude waitress who clearly hated her job. The toilets were abominable. Dirty and messy and looked like a broom cupboard. I am an EA and have a restaurant bible of best places to go to in Sydney and this venue has been deleted. We will never use this venue again or suggest anyone else does.
Superb
Vegetarian options: Great choice for eggplant dishes. Food
We did the Royal set menu. For the price it was nice but steep in price for what you got. We had an early booking so service was attentive for the first couple of dishes, however; the wait continued to get longer and longer between dishes to the point everyone around us had finished and left and we were still waiting for meals. We couldnt enjoy the expensive bottle of wine we selected to pair with our meal because the wait on service meant we finished before the end of service. That was also drinking two bottles of water to try and space out our drinks. By the end we were so ready to leave and annoyed that the quality of food wasnt worth the wait. This was a Tues not a busy Fri either.
Lovely food, friendly service
Food was bit too salty , overall it was good
Very nice food and fit out, sitting out the back though can be really noisy with other patrons
Food was delicious, service was impeccable and to top it off, they gave us a great seat to cater for our one year old where he could crawl around without anyone near by so we could enjoy our meal. Thank you for being so considerate !
Nothing I would change,the staff were lovely and had great knowledge on the food menu. The somellier was also good at pairing the wine for our taste pallet. The octopus and roasted cauliflower were very tasty and very enjoyable.
Friendly catch up dinner, staff were professional and friendly. There was options of set menus but we opted to al la carte if some good choices. The lamb and eggplant dishes were delicious, and the honey comb cheese combo was superb.
Came here for the first time and enjoyed a delicious dinner and outstanding service. Our server Silvia was lovely, attentive and handled everything with professionalism particularly with our allergy notice. Standout dishes were the eggplant with saffron honey glaze and the fish of the day with beurre blanc. Would definitely recommend. Dietary restrictions: Very attentive of the guests that have nut allergies on our table and went through the menu thoroughly, also checking in the kitchen.
Went here tonight with my daughter who wanted to eat Spanish food. Having never eaten it before wasnt sure what to expect. I have a very small appetite and my teen daughter is a fussy eater. We were greeted at the door and waited on very quickly. Our server was lovely and knowledgeable. We had the Gazpacho and the Chicken Breast. It was probably the most tender chicken breast Ive ever had in my life, the sauce was delicious as well. The Gazpacho was lovely. My only negative would be is that there isnt much of a selection for a younger person and the people seated behind us were overly loud and had quite a few choice words spilling out. Will definitely be back next time Im in Sydney but will leave the picky teenage at home and bring the husband.
My partner and I come to Balcon once or twice a year for big celebrations - this time was for our engagement! Our server Silvia was wonderful; very welcoming, attentive, gave us great recommendations when we were a bit indecisive. The food is always exceptional, and we were really touched by the chefs extra congrats in our dessert. Thank you as always Balcon team!
Hotel restaurant. Well attended and modest culinary offering.
The food was amazingly delicious, and the service was incredible. Will definitely come back in the future
Gr8t food, just got the coffee order wrong
Food was pretty good although more with a Spanish twist than really Spanish. We found the service pushy with lots of up-sell which made the experience less relaxing than it could have been.
Delicious food and fun vibes
I celebrated my birthday here at lunch, and I found this restaurant to be excellent for this occasion. The drinks were wonderful (I recommend the rosé sangria), along with the Spanish red wine that our waiter selected for us. The food was excellent, and reflected Spanish cuisine very well. The waiter we had today was incredibly patient, friendly and engaging. For dessert, we even got a surprise free dessert wine (I think a port or tawny?) to pair with the mini donuts. Even better, they even prepared a lit candle for me, wrote Happy Birthday immaculately on our dessert plate with chocolate sauce, and even sang me the Happy Birthday song! I was impressed with how the staff went above and beyond to make my experience exceptional, and so I would highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for Spanish cuisine in Sydney. Thank you so much for the wonderful experience!
Food excellent. Nice decor/atmosphere. Great service from Sylvia. We will all be back.
Great place for Spanish food! Generous portions without compromising on quality. The staff were very attentive and friendly. I will be back soon.
Lovely meal, nice room, Steven looked after us very well.
Great dinner Saturday afternoon a show. Top marks.
Waitress was efficient and friendly . Good atmosphere and great service.
Beautiful restaurant in Sydney offering elevated Spanish food. The decor, ambiance and friendliness of staff were great. The wine list was extremely impressive, with so much detail about the wines and it s regions. The food was excellent and well priced. We had several Para Picar , Entrees, Cheeses and Charcuterie. From all the dishes the highlight was the Grilled WA Octopus. The service could be much improved, it felt a bit too casual for a restaurant like this. This is why I have given this restaurant a 4/5.
A must try! What an incredible place. I took my husband here last night for his birthday and from the minute we walked in they said happy birthday, made him feel special with dessert wine, cookies and a candle at the end. Thanks to Luca and the rest of the team for making his day. The food is next level, we had the grilled octopus and it will blow your mind. We also had the croquettes and highly recommend that too! Super tasty. The ambience is awesome and the outside area looks gorgeous. We will be back!!
I booked for my husband and I for our Spanish night date before a flamenco show. The staff, food, drinks, atmosphere is fabulous. The portions are really generous, we definitely over ordered(octopus, olives, anchovies, charcuterie, steak in salsa verde, chicken) it was absolutely amazing. The music that night was a complete VIBE, the best. Highly recommend this place
First rate waiting staff. Very nice entre: dates wrapped in Serano jamón. Enjoyed the pork cutlet and steak. Cabbage salad unusual and fresh. Good to get a decent cup of tea with dessert.
Good food, but not worth the money. Some well oiled technics in place to increase the bill. Paid 28 dollars for sparkling water for 4 people. This is the only place in Sydney where I was charged for sparkling water. Better get a bottle of wine... Also, staff attitude was rude when we had to split the bill. Left there with regret, never going back.
Go here, you wont be disappointed.
Incredible service! We had the most professional & welcoming waiter, which really enhanced our dining experience. The food was delicious with a generous serving. Nice wine. Good atmosphere. Dietary restrictions: DF GF available, even dessert.
Service staff was very good Food is share plates. Big servings so dont over order as the octopus was nice. Food : 3/5
So much to choose from. Waiter was very helpful in recommending from the menu. Nice place to spend time with a friend or in a group. Food
I had a very quick dinner served by friendly and efficient wait staff. The highlight of the meal was the octopus - that ajada oil was so flavoursome and appetising! The flan had some distinctive bitterness from the burnt caramel, which balanced out the sweetness and added depth to the dish.
Really enjoyed the dinner here, with every dish full of flavour and larger portion sides than usual. Service was attentive and efficient and the ambiance is great. Will certainly come back to try more. Highlight was the mushroom caparccio!
Great wine and food. A bit high on the expense but well worth it.
Meh. It was ok but I wont rush back.
Fabulous meal and really lovely staff. We went for dinner with friends and had a great evening. The staff were very friendly, welcoming helpful and attentive and the food was delicious. It wasn t cheap but, given the quality of the dishes and overall experience, it was money well spent.
Excellent Tapas and Sangria. Stephen did a great job recommending courses and looked after us very well. Great evening and we ll be returning. Thanks Stephen.
The service was amazing! Steven looked after us well. While some recommendations didnt quite hit the mark, we enjoyed most dishes, especially the lamb shank and the bunuelo . Would gladly come again.
Astonishingly disappointed for the service. Plus, unfriendly to people dont understand Spanish. The menu is updated recently with 80% Spanish (really confusing especially when the waiter dont explain much) We dont have much experience to Spanish food but wondering to have a try on my birthday. However, the Asian middle-aged waiter with glasses was being rude all the time. He kept the annoying arrogant attitude started when we asked for water. please let me repeat here with his impatient tune, we could even see he slightly rolled eyes. The vibe was great and most seats already full when we arrived. We thought the waiter cannot hear us in the beginning but turned out simply rude. Food is at medium level, flank steak is abit old to chew, Pescado del Diaa souce tastes better than fish. Moreover, I ordered dessert but no birthday words on the plate or any words from the waiter (I know the system would highlight since the reception lady confirmed its my birthday booking) We absolutely would not come again.
Been here a few times over the years and it never disappoints. Consistently great food, drinks and service each time. Extensive wine list and staff are very happy to assist with suggesting wine and food pairings.
The food was good, but the wine, man, you can get a muuuuch better wine at $92 aka 10 euros. The cheap wine is really cheap!!
The food is bad. The croquetas del día 7aud each and theyre the size of my pinky, tasteful bite though. We ordered jamón de bellota and its borderline scam, bad quality with dry parts. The pulpo a la gallega Im not sure what its supposed to be floating on, tiny potatoes and a few tips of the legs. Chorizo a la sidra was dry and bad quality chorizo, very similar to the one you can buy in woollies. The roasted cauliflower was nice. Overall very overpriced for what you get both quantity and quality wise. The beer is good. The place has a nice half covered outdoor terrace which is nice too.
Great night out with the wife, great service and amazing food. Highly recommend, will be back .
Trying to find a restaurant that gives service rable side rather than having to order and prepay. I realize this is most likely due to staff shortages because of covid 19. But there are travelers that are accustomed to service especially at our home countries. Food was done nicely especially the starter courses. They only complaint that started things downhill was being pushed. Due to the restaurant closing at 9pm. We arrived at 8pm. We ordered main courses at the same time we ordered our starters. All good so far. When the mains came out my wifes main and vegetable side came out. My main was nowhere to be found. I was immediately asked if I wanted to order. Presumably dessert. I said no thank you and asked about my meal. Approximately 7 minutes later it arrived. Again I was asked to order any more foods now because the kitchen closes at 9pm. I was getting annoyed at this point. My main was disappointing due to the overall plate. The vegetable sides were old and over done. Baby peeled carrots with tops were so over done and old. Side order of two I am guessing as some type of fingerling potatoes were cold and grey. The lamb was was enjoyable as the meat was cooked to a nice mid rare. As a traveler, there are times when visitors are spending hundreds of dollars, attention to detail is very much needed. This main dish for me was what was left over vegetable with a nice piece of meat. Server did a fine job until the pushing began. Not his fault. He is doing what he is instructed to do.
Food is great, wine selection is outstanding, service is great and the crowd is great. My preferred Spanish restaurant in Sydney (from a Spaniard) Dietary restrictions: One in our party is celiac and the staff beautifully rearranged part of the menu accordingly. 10/10
Dietary restrictions: Did a great job with gluten and dairy free options, including active checking in :) Food
Located in the CBD this restaurant has an indoor and outdoor dining area. The food was reasonable and the service was good, that said a little expensive for what it is.
Very pushing since the beginning. Nothing to do with tapas or Spanish tradicional food. Lamb didn t have any flavour and Brussel sprouts were with soy sauce,? very wrong and didn t go together at all . Unfortunately cannot recommended if you looking for a Spanish restaurant with good food.
Only one staff handle many tables, looks busy. The food was ok. Recommend brussel sprout dish!
We have come here numerous times because of the great outdoor/indoor space and the delicious food and drinks. A standout for us was the peppers filled with almond tapenade and the watermelon Margherita. A must visit in Sydney!
Had a great time celebrating a friends birthday the staff were really thorough and food was excellent.
What a great all-round spot! We will be back.
Really happy with the food ordered.
Spacious sibling of the original Tapavino more suited to team lunches and dinners.
After the place I originally wanted to go to for a birthday celebration was unavailable, I discovered this place via Google. I m happy the other place fell through now as Balcon is a hidden gem on the Wynyard side of the CBD. All the staff were welcoming and our waiter for the evening was exceptional - great advice for food pairings and appetisers, which made the meal very cohesive from start to finish. No pressure, no upselling. As this was a birthday occasion, I quietly slipped away after mains to ask if there was even the possibility of a candle on the cake - not only did they deliver they wrote a lovely message on the plate to, and even a humble rendition of happy birthday. Can t wait to come back again for a special occasion
A tasty and reliable contemporary Spanish restaurant. Great location for team lunches (which I have enjoyed on multiple locations). We have enjoyed the banquet menu on a number of occasions and we are never bored of the excellent quality and tasty food. And the service is just lovely! Not overwhelming but we re never found wanted for anything as someone always appeared. Fantastic location for a simple modern Spanish lunch. Also has a great little semi private space for team lunches!
From booking to arrival on the day everything went smoothly. Jennifer made the process really easy! The waitress that served our table was great. I didnt catch her name but we had the booking in the PDR today for dinner and enjoyed the evening very much. The amount of food for the deluxe package was good. Nobody left hungry and everyone enjoyed themselves. The atmosphere was nice and the venue itself is very pretty. There are many options in the area to go to afterwards. They let us enjoy our evening despite overstaying the booking time window. I only noticed afterwards! The majority of the food was great. They also had good options for vegetarians. The attention to detail for the dietary requirements by the waitress was great. I hope her hard work is appreciated. :) We will be back! Dietary restrictions: Great attention to dietary restrictions
Staff are fantastic, they suggested the special which was bone marrow and brisket, it was the best thing I have eaten in so long. Loved every bite and still crave it days later!
This is a great spot to catch-up with friends. Service is sometimes a little over attentive but no complaints about that. Beware the fish dishes though we did get the fish of the day and were not well. Need to check the quality before it goes out.
Attended the Spanish Chamber of Commerce event too only get there and see everyone crammed into a corner, I couldnt even fit so I left. Waste of time and money. Bad form on behalf of the restaurant to setup a space not fit for purpose.
Beautiful food, duplicitous advertising. Offered 30% off on the fork app and then refused to honor it. Food
Ordered the pork cutlet with a side of the crispy Brussel sprouts. The pork was so tough I could barely cut it and had to leave half behind. The brussel sprouts tasted good but were over cooked so they were mushy and were brought out 15 minutes before the main course so were cold by the time the mains arrived. The anchovy entree was 1 anchovy with 1 piece of pimento draped on a soft half sliced baguette. It was terrible. The wine list was unintelligible but we re helped to choose a lovely bottle of white wine. Unfortunately it was appallingly over priced. Overall it was a disappointing experience.
Great service and I enjoy my meal here. The only problem is the dishes are a bit too salty tho. The waitress is super friendly. Restroom is downstairs in a bar which is kinda cool. Food
Beautiful venue with a large menu great for sharing with others. Extensive wine list too. Found some dishes to be lacking somewhat, and service not as attentive as would have expected, but it was a busy lunch service.
We shared a few entrees, wine and dessert. The entrees were all very good but with somehow strange twists you would not find in Spain, i.e. pimientos del piquillo on hummus? Also, Spanish food in Spain always comes with a bottomless basket of white bread. Dessert, petit fours of the house, was excellent. Not particularly Spanish but I am willing to give leeway with sweets. Although we received special treatment, much welcome, service was truly fantastic! That s much better than anyone would expect in Spain, and a good thing too. Atmosphere is ok, decor is nice but the place is way too loud for my taste.
Really delicious food and great customer service. We all really enjoyed the set menu. Our waitress and the rest of the staff were really friendly and accommodating.
Delicious food and the atmosphere is very pleasant. My favourite was the Brussell Sprouts...wow! The drinks are good. Loved the martini.
Great food and service You have to try the Brussel Sprouts Food
Had an amazing dinner at Balcon last night! The food was fantastic, and Luca, our waiter, made us feel like we were back in Spain. A truly memorable experience! Cant wait to go back. Highly recommend it!
Very pleasant service and atmosphere especially early in the evening before it gets a bit busier. Food is above average but unfortunately did not wow. This in itself is not a bad thing and overall Balcon is a fantastic location for a dinner or lunch with a feeling of class but still in a casual setting.
The food is veru authentic and delicious. The winelist is unmatched and i can only encourage everyone to try some whites from Spain. Overall great experience.
Best for tapas and a drink. The entrees were both very nice but the mains (fish of the day and chicken) both tasted like they were boiled and then put in a pan or on grill for a minute before serving. The fish was overcooked and the chicken was undercooked. Also, I am expecting a light and unpretentious wine when sometimes I go for the house wine, but the one we had on 18 Aug was easily the worst I ever had in any restaurant in Australia. It was cloudy, undetermined red-ish colour and tasted sour, felt likely a combination of various leftover wines mixed together. Response to owner: thank you for taking the time to reply, regarding the chicken, the meat was just not coming off the bones which suggests undercooking; regarding the wine, this was too cloudy and the colour was off too, not just the taste so it might be worth checking what might be causing this. Dietary restrictions: We initially booked the degustation menu for two about a week before via their website and we were prompted to enter dietary restrictions which we did (pescatarian). We were called the day before the booking to be told that the they can make no changes to the degustation menu. One is wondering why is there a prompt on the website to enter dietary restrictions after booking this menu and why would they not contact before
Excellent Spanish restaurant and wines
The service & food was exceptional!!! Such a vibe for a Tuesday evening after work. Tapas style with small bites to start & sharing plates as main. The croquets, lamb shoulder main & brussel sprouts were my fav
Food was fantastic. Entrees of kingfish, peppers and mushrooms were unique and flavoursome. Pork chop with jus was the stand out for me. Service was just ok. Our waiter had no clue about the food ingredients and could not answer basic questions about what each dish was (some dishes have spanish naming making it difficult to know what it consists of). He at least made the effort to ask the chef but I would expect the wait staff to have basic knowledge of the food they are serving. Overall a pleasant night out.
Only went once on our last night in Sydney so unfair to make sweeping statements, but I have no complaints.
Rarely write reviews but this one earned it. Blown away by the food. Wine was excellent. Service was exceptional - actual career/professional waiters, relaxing atmosphere. Made me feel very classy. Will be back.
Good
Food is good but rather expensive for what you get. $7 per croquette and they were quite little. Ambiance is vibrant and classic. Service is attentive and friendly.
Actually so lovely!! This becomes my fav restaurant in Sydney ! Foods are great! And services are just as excellent.
Price range: 40-80 Value for money: Good (with Fork promotion), decent without Quality/taste: 9/10 Overall rating: 9/10 Checked out Balcon courtesy of a Fork promotion, and glad I did! Great selection of tapas (and an almost intimidating selection of wines). The options provided were classic in flavour yet with a modern feel. The iberico was top-notch, and loved the tender octopus. The lamb special was something else, a cross between a sausage roll and classic braised lamb, with a delicate buttery foam-dressing. Thanks for the fine meal and service, Balcon!
Ate here before going to a show at the Opera House. Nothing not to like. Food great, service great.
Delicious food here
Good atmosphere and excellent service. Food was soso. Jamon was good, lamb cutlets was disappointing, too much fat and the meat was served in cold. Also found that the cabbage salad had too much dressing and was really salty.
Amazing food and they were extremely attentive. On the expensive side but worth it if is a special treat.
The service was outstanding. So very refreshing to have such professional staff. The wine list is to die for. Food was delicious and the portions perfect. Make sure you get dessert. thanks for a great night we will be back.
Service was very good. Food was quite good but some of the flavour pairings weird.
Great vibe!! The food is amazing
Nice little Tapas restaurant with good service!
Great restaurant
Had a fantastic meal here on Friday for five of us. All of the food was delicious and had decent portion sizes. Id recommend ordering as though its tapas - we made the mistake of ordering as though we had a main each and it was too much food. That cabbage salad was absolutely incredible! They also have a happy hour deal here which was great. The Sangria was awesome!
We had a wonderful birthday gathering last night for 13 of us. Everyone loved the premium menu and we were grateful for accommodating the various dietary requirements. Food, drinks, service and atmosphere were fabulous. Thanks for a memorable night
Great food, wine and atmosphere
Food was amazing. Service was excellent! Their beef is to die for! Food : 5/5
Superb! If you like Mediterranean fare, decerning or not, then this place is for you. Everything was finely balanced and delicate yet robust! The wine menu, although convoluted, is very extensive. Go !
Love this place! Such amazing food, comes so quickly, staff are all super friendly.
We had a really good time last night. The food was delicious and the team was amazing. I highly recommend this place.
Last Saturday, my friends, my partner, and I enjoyed a delightful dinner at Balcon by Tapavino. It was our first time, and we opted for their set menu at $75/pp. The Croqueta and Charcoal Grilled Chicken were group favourites, but the standout was the dessert, Balcon Mess, which we all loved. However, we found the portion a bit too small to share comfortably among four people, especially for a set menu where we anticipated individual servings for the dessert. Although we didnt catch the name of our main server, he was outstanding friendly, adept at his job, and easy to talk to with a welcoming attitude. The romantic atmosphere, accentuated by fairy lights, added to the nights charm. Our seating in The Boardroom dining area provided a cozy setting.
Got charged $42 for 6 small half sized glass of sparkling water but we got 5 as Mine was still water. Asked if we can order Margarita or Sangria by jugs but was told we had to order by glass only. Happy Hour price for 5 glasses of Sangria $65. But the glass is full of ICE. We had 3 different types of cocktails and can honestly say it was very average at best. Sangria was the worst I had. The food was very average. We stayed there for 1 hour and spent $450. Went somewhere else to finish our dinner. Wont be going back.
Food was ok, but the service is terrible. They decided to close early and the waiter Benson proceeded to give us a countdown telling us we had precisely 7 minutes, then 5 minutes to scull our drinks even though they had just made us a new round of drinks. When we were leaving I politely gave feedback that they probably should have told us prior to us ordering the last drink that they were shutting so we could go elsewhere. The waiter Benson has zero customer service skills and proceeded to tell us they didnt want people like us visiting again. Im pretty sure you get better service at Karens diner. Edit: Hey Frank, thanks for the reply but you are misinformed. The restaurant did close early, we were rushed out at 10:45. I actually toned down how rude Benson was and by defending him you either accept poor service as being fine or you are oblivious to how he is treating your customers.
Waiter called Benson was rude AF. Dined here for my birthday and ordered two cocktails (received two fortifieds at the same time complimentary for my birthday which was very nice of them). Old mate Benson started a countdown telling us we had precisely 7 minutes, then 5 minutes and telling us to hurry up with our drinks. When we questioned why take our Cocktail order if you were closing soon he said 20mins was more than enough time to finish our drinks. No one advised us they were closing soon upon taking our order! Benson then went on to say that 20min was enough time and that the fortifieds were complimentary and that we didnt have to drink them. When we told Benson that the food was great but his service was disappointing, he replied with we dont need you to come back. We dont need you Benson!!!!
Potato croquettes are unbelievably good! Incredible selection of wines, knowledgeable and accommodating staff. Great menu
Everything was just perfect!
The food is amazing, we love the roasted pork and cauliflower so much. Octopus was lovely too. The donuts are a a must order! The waitress was so friendly and welcoming. We will definitely comeback.
Great ambience and service
The produce was a let down, for some reason the jamón ibérico had a strong smoked flavor, the sangría was average, based on my experience it deserved a lower score but they might have had a bad day, the service was good though.
PROS: Balcon is the best Spanish restaurant in Sydney. It may also be the most expensive, but worth it. Small menu with excellent dishes and an equally fine wine list--all from Spain. We ordered a series of appetizers and main dishes suggested by our server. The server and sommelier performed well on a very busy Friday night visit. CONS: I found none during our visit. SUMMARY: Balcon is as authentic,classical Spanish dining location. Truly a special occasion place to enjoy again and again. Vegetarian options: The menu had some excellent vegetarian dishes.
Unfortunately the service has started to push continuous ordering of drinks! It became uncomfortable! Stop the expensive drinks hustling - this is different to the vibe a few months ago. Are the waiters on drinks commission?
Had the lamb and pork cutlet. Meat is phenomenal, but not as much flavour as youd expect. Service is phenomenal, we had a lovely chat with Benson who made us very comfortable Food
Best as in BEST lunch out for 2 years wines out of this world good
What a place to visit for great food and amazing drinks , great atmosphere would definitely visit again. The portions were big, the food was delicious, the service was second to none and the drinks we very refreshing, the serving staff are pleasant and great at doing their job
CAERA, you wonderful human! The SERVICE WAS PERFECT! had the best time, best wines, get the rib eye. Honestl can t fault our evening. Caera knows how to butter up a rib eye