• Cucciolo Pasticceria
• The Bridge Room
• A French affair…
• Somewhere between Chanel & Bvlgari…
• The Treehouse
• El Jannah
• Black is Black is Black…
• Sepia Restaurant and Wine Bar

Declared Restaurant of the Year 2012 and awarded the coveted three hats by the SMH Good Food Guide 2012, Sepia is a sensory feast and a foodista’s dream come true – it’s a decadent parade of beautiful pieces, oh I mean dishes!

Arriving mid week for a solo experience, I am quickly ushered in – it’s pouring (again!) outside and its busy inside!  I look around and take in the darkish interior of rich brown and grey tones (fitting of its name), I’m impressed…the restaurant strikes a fine balance and creates a cosy and intimate yet spacious ambience.

I browse through the menu, I can’t believe my eyes – so many choices, so much to experience, oh what will I do! Suddenly a sign from the god’s – I catch a glimpse of the entree’s being served at the table next to me and immediately I have food envy…the decision has been made!  So with entree sorted, the rest is easy…

I order the Sashimi of spring bonito (with green apple and sheep yoghurt, sake and chive oil, radish, Tasmanian wasabi, red elk) as my entree, the cocoa and sansho seared Mandagery creek venison (with baby beetroots, rhubarb chocolate, beetroot and boudin noir crum) as my main and last but certainly not  least in any way, shape or form – the Chocolate Forest for my favourite course, desert!

When the bonito arrives I’m in awe, it’s a beautifully presented delicate dish.  When I take my first mouthful, I feel guilty – I’ve just wrecked a beautiful piece of work!   I’m overwhelmed by the simplicity of this dish – it’s a fresh, clean dish…the condiments are unusual but complimentary, the star of this dish after all is the magnificent bonito!  Next it’s onto mains, the Mandagery creek venison is tender and flavoursome – my scepticism over the cocoa, sansho and rhubarb chocolate have all but evaporated…I’m amazed over the complexity of the dish, unlike the entree, there are so many ingredients that could, but just don’t, go wrong!

The moment I’ve been waiting for – out comes desert and I’m smiling! O.M.G,  the excitement is too much, I need a valium…Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to the Chocolate Forest.

As well as being the signature desert, the Chocolate Forest is truly a  magical desert – it’s a sensory overload and very much a resemblance of a forest floor.  Made from soft chocolate, chestnut, lavender cream, sour cherry sorbet, blackberry candy, green tea, liquorice, chocolate twigs and berries, this desert is not for the faint hearted! It’s rich, intense, and plentiful – needless to say this desert junkie couldn’t finish the dish (it’s a travesty, I know!).

Although a tad on the pricey side, Sepia is worth a visit – even if its for the ‘Chocolate forest’ alone.  The service is informative, prompt and courteous without being pompous.

* With the exception of desert, photo's courtesy of Sepia Restaurant.

Must try: Chocolate Forest, need I say more…

We spent: $120 with tips…

Good for: Either impressing that special someone or your corporate guests (trust me, the food more then makes up for the lack of views!)

Find it at: 201 Sussex S, Sydney NSW 2000. Tel – 9283 1990. Open Tuesday – Saturday for lunch and dinner with an a la carte, seasonal four course menu or a degustation menu to choose from.