Gaea

Gaea offers a pretty unique fine-dining experience with a focus on contemporary Australian cuisine mixed with Asian flavours. They focus on sustainability and seasonal ingredients. Our degustation menu was very seafood-heavy, which I didn't mind at all because I love seafood. Most of the dishes were done well, but a few just didn't have that wow factor, making them feel a bit ordinary. However, for $175pp, I reckon it's worth a visit.

Booked Gaea with high hopes - given the fact that the menu had a great mix of seafood and asian/Japanese inspiration. Not to mention it's had rave reviews too! It's a small restaurant, with space for maybe up to 15+ if you include the private dining room. Not much space to wait around so if you are in the second seating - don't come too early! (But you have to anyway if you are driving, given the parking in the area is hard to find). Overall, we were disappointed with the food the night we dined - whilst the presentation was good, ingredients fresh and the food was cooked well - we felt many of the dishes were lacking that "umami" taste, especially given the ingredients of some of the dishes. Perhaps this is too harsh a review, but we felt wanting for that explosion of taste that we normally would find in a well-reviewed fine dining restuarant. Service ok was - water was filled quickly. Dishes explained well but lacking some gusto. Didn't really check up on us much - which is fine as we prefer not to be interrupted! Gaea is worthy of a try - if you like asian-inspired fine dining.

Dinner at Gaea is an extreme culinary experience. Not only because the dishes are extraordinary, the food and wine pairings are fantastic (even in the version of the house non-alcoholic drinks), not only because the dishes and the presentations are of a rare finesse. But especially because we enter into the intimacy of a chef who shares through his dishes a crazy emotion. I have dined in 1,2,3 Michelin stars around the world. Never have I felt this emotional exchange so well. Yes, this intimate restaurant (16 seats) and the proximity to the kitchen have a lot to do with it, but the delicacy of the chef's cuisine is the real keystone.

We travelled from country NSW for my wife's birthday, and therefore were looking forward to a night to remember. Dinner at Gaea's was well above our expectations. The small size of the restaurant gave the setting, one of intimacy with a quiet and peaceful setting. A great change to some very loud restaurants. The food was a very enjoyable experience with each course a delight. The sake pairing was also a delight. Thank you to the staff of Gaea for a wonderful night.