This place is the best Yum Cha spot north of Sydney. Clean, presentable and with a essence of fine dining that doesn't match the cost. Have only been there for lunch yum cha so I haven't had to book. Service is fantastic - if they haven't got what you want on the yum cha trollies, they will have the kitchen cook it for you. Yum Cha dishes are the usual, but I think they taste a bit above average (so does Darling). This is the place we go to for a meal when we are in Chatswood. Cost for two for a good yum cha is averages about $50 - 60. Instead of mango pudding, they have mango pancake - fluffy pancake with mango & cream, icy cold mmmmmm. Highly recommend. Intend to try a non yum cha meal there when we can.

Approximate cost: $55

I like this place because I have my favourite dishes. Traditional Chinese - great homemade type dishes. I like the dumplings and especially the handmade stir fried noodles. Huge serves - I can't eat it all, so I get takeaway containers. I also recommend the cumin lamb pastries (I get extra & take them to work - they heat up perfectly in the sandwich maker). I always like dropping in there for a quick meal that I know that I'll like. (I do like trying different places but sometimes you are disappointed).

Approximate cost: $11

Found this place by accident - was going to the Asian supermarket next door after having a meal at Sea Bay Handmade Noodles (will do another review) & thought must try. Finally have tried. Yum
Lunch on Friday with Darling - pretty quiet when we got there at 1230 but then more patrons arrived (all Chinese).
Was hungry so ordered Chicken with garlic & chilli, cumin lamb [lamb was extremely tender] (with chilli), can't remember the name but it was a eggplant hotpot with sweeter chilli, a plate of shredded snow peas & fried rice + Chinese tea. All dishes were delicious - couldn't eat it all there so I'm having leftovers for dinner. Chilli on the menu was listed as 'Hot', 'Medium Hot' & 'Very Hot' - I opted for the 'Medium Hot' & was a little bit disappointed that it really didn't get me sweating (perhaps because they thought I couldn't handle it because I'm not Chinese), anyway I'll ask for bum burning chilli next time.
Cost for two of us came to $70 which I thought was just a bit more than a good Yum Cha meal + I get to have the leftovers tonight. Great value I think.
Hidden gem - even Darling (who is Chinese) likes it. We'll be going back.
They also have local & imported beer (forgot to ask if you could BYO beer).

Approximate cost: $70

Have been there before & thought it's been a couple of years - it might have changed. Alas no.
Dropped in there for lunch 'yum cha' - it was quite full & got a table no probs.
Bit of a wait for the first trolly to come around - in fact, disappointingly most of the food comes around on a tray which means the food is not really hot (& I like hot food & very cold drinks). There actually were two trolleys sort of going around - you had to put your hand up or jump up and down to get their attention though.
Food wise - got crispy vege tofu wraps - very oily, prawn dumplings - only warm not hot, chicken feet - warm and not really much flavour & I got some steamed tofu wraps in gravy, the waitress said they had meat & veggies but there was no meat. They were hot though.
So - four dishes + chinese tea, average service came to $35.20. Not really satisfied & I'm pretty sure that we won't be bake. Still looking for a good Yum Cha place up in the Hills. Best found so far is the Star Capital at Chatswood (see my other review).

Approximate cost: $9.00

Have been there before & have always been satisfied. Late reservations - no problem, & that was the case again last saturday. Rang to book on Fri night & got in.
I must say that service is always good here - plenty of waiters around asking if you need anything.
Ordered spring rolls & Xiao long boa for entree, salt & pepper prawns, garlic beef, stir fried gai lum and some fried rice.
Spring rolls ok. Xiao long bao weren't steamed properly and were still frozen in the middle - had to send back. Prawns were plump, juicy and delicious. I thought the beef was ok - wife didn't, and the veggie had a little too much sugar.
They brought out the fruit platter (orange & watermelon) however my second bit of orange was soft, dark and rotten.
Unfortunately we won't be going back for a while. Its a pity as this place was really handy for us. Eastwood or Chatswood has better options.

Approximate cost: $18 - 24

Wife has always wanted to go to Hurricane's Grill. Opportunity came when we went to the Star Casino for a look-see. Nothing worth eating for lunch there so we walked to Darling Harbour for lunch.
This was on the Australia Day public holiday Monday. Walked in - no reservation & got a table easy. Wait Staff were great, explained the specials & how everything worked.
Got the Beef & Pork Ribs & a rocket salad (plus a beer & Wife got a cocktail).
Absolutely delicious. They actually inspired me to try and bbq some beef ribs again (they are not too bad either).
Will probably try the North Ryde restaurant next time as its closer but recommend the Darling Harbour restaurant. View was great as well.

Approximate cost: $25 - $38

Have been there a few times and will now always go back. Went to Coogee Beach for a run along the cliffs to Clovelly & back followed by a swim in the ocean (its a great way to start the day). When its hot & you don't feel like a coffee. I now get a Breaky Shake (toasted muesli, rolled oats and cinnamon blended with banana, ice-cream, honey and ice).
Delicous sitting on the steps watching the beach & waves.
Mellonhead also do a variety of fruit juices, salads and fresh fruit.

Approximate cost: $7.00

I've been here a few times & it was always a good spot to drop into for a quick cheap meal. Today however, they must have been having a bad day or I was. It wasn't busy, about a third full but the waiters were shocking, very slow & sloppy. I asked if they had a specific side order to go with my main & was told they didn't have it. As soon as I had finished my meal a waiter brought out that side order (they didn't have) to the table next to me. The waiter just shrugged when I asked him about it.
Food was ok - heated hotpot with pre-cooked meat & gravy on top. Chilli was an extra 60 cents.
I'll go back one day but I'm in no hurry. There are better places to eat in this complex.

Approximate cost: $13

Found this place by accident - wife & I like Italian and we are always looking for a good place. Booked in with no problems (la Carretta is dry - so its bring your own vino & beer). Its actually out the front of the Cherrybrook shopping centre, so plenty of parking. Shown to a nice covered outside table, friendly staff and very helpful.
Ordered some herb bread and a salad as entree - very tasty and a large serve. Main for Darling was a prawn pasta dish (entree size) again large serve. I ordered pizza (can't help myself) and asked for extra chilli (bum burning in fact) and it came out with lots of chilli - I couldn't complain at all.
Too full for desert so we paid up & went for a little walk. We will definitely be going back.

Approximate cost: $18.00

The Minister of War and Finance is a bit fussy & it has been hard to find a nice Italian restaurant close to where we live. Last Saturday night we tried the Via Roma Woodfire Pizza & Restaurant and were pleasantly surprised.
Booked late, no problem, arrived and chose our table. Good atmosphere and wait staff very helpful.
Entre was nice - just the garlic bread and tomato, mozzarella & basil salad. I made a nice garlic bruscetta with it.
Mains were chilli prawns & I had a supreme pizza. They brought out extra chilli for us to place on (I think they were worried about my 'love chilli - bum burning hot is what we want'.
Prawns were nice but I don't think there was enough toppings on the pizza - although it tasted ok.
Ordered the chocolate brownie desert - they came back and said they didn't have it tonight. Went the gelato instead.
Overall it was a pleasant night, good food and acceptable cost.
$70 for 2. BYO vino

Approximate cost: $20