Whether or not it’s a girl's night, a special #date with your significant other, or even a family reunion, I would definitely suggest a’Mare at Crown Casino, Sydney. Located in the outskirts of the city at #Barangaroo, it is easily accessible via public transport, or, if heels are too hard to walk in from #Wynyard Station, parking is available on site as well. My friends and I went at night time to celebrate my birthday, and the location was absolutely perfect for our #BeReals which ever so conveniently went off as we were about to step in. The lit- up tower in the background also reflected in the water, posing a nice change of scenery for us.
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a’Mare is located on the first floor, so it was fairly easy to access. It was dimly lit, creating an intimate yet glamorous atmosphere though I would assume that during lunch times the room is lit up with natural light. We had made a booking, and thus were promptly led to our table, with the service remaining impeccable the whole night. Just as a fyi, the minimum order per person is $120. Though, we soon came to realize that our $360 total was not nearly enough for us to experience all the unique flavours, eventually accepting that our budgets for the night would be overly exceeded. However, this high price tag was justified, as we had a lovely night filled with elegance, and was certainly the Italian experience we never knew we needed.
Drinks
We started off with some cocktails - an a’Mare Punch and a Blue Light, while my other friend decided to order some red wine to set the mood for the night. The cocktails we ordered were nothing like the drunkenly downed drinks we would get at clubs or whilst hitting the bars to pre with our friends. The vibes were different- and most definitely more sophisticated, so it would depend which atmosphere tickles your fancy. Instead, they were sweet, and fizzy and even came with a light at the bottom of the glass to add extra colour to our obligatory food and drink pics.
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Entrees
I would be doing these dishes injustice if I failed to mention how the entree was my absolute favourite part of the night. I was beyond delighted to see that my two go-to snacks, Buratta and Capsanta, a type of scallop, were on the menu. The Burrata was cut open for us, with waiters garnishing it with olive oil and pesto. We ordered Foccacia to go with our cheese, and it certainly was a great way to kick off the night. I have tried countless times to make my own burrata, but it can never match this creamy texture and perfectly salted flavour. The fluffy focaccia bread soaked up the olive oil and remaining burrata, leaving us extremely satisfied. The scallops were perfectly cooked and served on a bed of ice to keep them cool. They were tender and fresh, with a zesty garnishing- and were unmatched by any other scallop I have ever eaten. Our other entrees were various types of Italian bread, filled either with mozzarella cheese or topped with prosciutto. Both types were extremely flavourful and slightly crispy.
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Mains
For the mains, we ordered the tender Galletto (young male chicken), which was seasoned beautifully with the meat falling right off the bone. The Pappardelle Bolognaise intrigued us, as it wasn’t served like what we were used to, and had a bite to its crispy exterior. However, the sauce was rich and flavourful, perfectly balanced with the grated cheese. The last but most interesting was the Tofie Pesto which was curated tableside, with several ingredients being combined by the waiters to create the creamy and flavourful sauce.
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Desserts
Since it was my birthday, they offered us complimentary cookies, all of which were decadently soft, chewy and of a perfect sweetness. We also ordered the Tiramisu, which was a perfect balance from the bitterness of the coffee beans and the light sweetness from the sprinkled chocolates. These were scooped straight from the tray onto plates in front of us, and were absolutely rich and delightful in flavour. These desserts were sweet and decadent, and were a perfect way to end our meal.
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Overall
Eating here truly raised my expectations for fine dining, and brought Italy right to the convenient location of Sydney’s CBD. My friends know I’m all for never repeating restaurants until I have explored all other fine dining’s, but I am certain we will be returning to a’Mare again in the near future.
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