I love a good steak. My favourite cut is rib eye on the bone, because you get the tenderness and marbling of the eye and all of that flavour from cooking the meat on the bone.

I’ve heard lots of good things about the steak at Rockpool Bar and Grill so decided to try it for myself for my birthday this year.

The restaurant is nestled inside an unassuming office building on Hunter Street in the CBD. Walk through the doors past the lifts and you’ll find yourself in a grand, palatial space that exudes an air of sophistication. The restaurant tables sit in this area, with the more casual bar located off to one side.

It’s a classy restaurant, with waiters dressed in white suits and bow ties and food delivered on handheld trays. Complimentary bread comes in the form of a warm, crusty piece of baguette – delicious slathered with a bit of butter.

The unconventional flavour pairings in this dish work really well. Rather than more traditional Japanese flavours, the raw tuna is paired with silky soft eggplant. The eggplant doesn’t overpower the fish, and the middle eastern touch is echoed by the cumin mayo and harissa oil.

Ok so maybe it’s not the most photogenic entrée, but this is the best prawn I’ve ever had. There’s usually three to a serving, but we ordered a couple more so that we could have one each. The prawns are sweet, juicy and have the most amazing chargrilled flavour.

I’m a sucker for grilled octopus. This is another winning entrée – the tentacles are tender and bouncy and go really well with the smoky pepper and creamy, fishy taramasalata. Mmm so good.

This is a delicious snapper crab pasta. There is a pungent seafood flavour from the prawn oil and sweetness from the caramelised cherry tomatoes. The semolina noodles have a nice bouncy texture and carry the sauce well.

This is a little different to a standard pasta ragu and is a lot richer than it looks. The meat is super soft and melts in the mouth. The homemade pappardelle forms delicate ribbons that fold gently into the ragu.

The steak truly lives up to our expectations. It’s cooked to our requested medium and has the perfect amount of char on the outside. The marbling of the meat lends rich, luscious flavour and each piece cuts like butter. Although I’m no beef connoisseur and can’t really tell the difference between the two types of rib eye we ordered, I really appreciate the quality of the meat and the way it’s been cooked. It’s absolutely delicious.

The meat is the star of the show, but the condiments and sauces that come with it deserve a special mention too. We opt for the bearnaise sauce, which is deliciously rich and has a light, fluffy texture. A dedicated tray of condiments is offered to us as our steaks arrive – we choose from a selection that includes horseradish, dijon mustard and seeded mustard.

The sides are a must order to go with the steaks. We all fall in love with the potato and cabbage gratin. Hidden among the potato layers are bits of cabbage and caramelised onion; the onion adds a wonderful sweet flavour and the cabbage helps lighten it up a bit. We fight over the crispy, caramelised bits on top. The roasted broccolini is a well-executed side, with the herby sauce providing a nice fresh pop.

We’re disappointed that we don’t have enough time for dessert due to the limited seating times. It’s a shame because we were really looking forward to trying the strawberry and rhubarb pudding (which must be ordered 20 minutes in advance), but before we’re rushed out of the restaurant a surprise birthday cupcake arrives. It’s a sticky date cupcake with mascarpone icing and pecans, which cuts open to reveal a surprise burst of butterscotch sauce inside. It’s so good that we polish off every last crumb.

This is a place you must try if you’re after one of the best steaks in Sydney. 

Website: http://www.rockpoolbarandgrill.com.au/