Ripples - Milsons Point
A couple of years ago my auntie and mum were coming to Australia for a visit, and I was searching the internet for a nice place to have dinner along the Sydney harbour that didn't charge extortionate prizes. Luckily, some friends came to the rescue and recommended Ripples at Milsons Points. Situated next to Luna Park and under the Harbour Bridge it offers breathtaking views, and a truly a unique dining experience overlooking one of the most iconic buildings in the world, the Sydney Opera House. We have been there four times now, and the food, service and view continues to impress us and our visitors.
This week we had some Norwegian friends passing through Sydney on their way to sunny Queensland. Ingunn and I studied together in Spain and it was great to meet her boyfriend Thor Ivar over a couple of wines and to catch up on the latest.
Norway is famous for its strict liquor licensing and high prices, and eating out is no exception. If you want to enjoy wine, beer or spirits with your meal you are looking at paying twice the prize! Needless to say that Ingunn and Thor Ivar were quite impressed with the BYO (Bring Your Own Wine) policy at Ripples, and the Norwegian government should watch out, as most of our visitors think this should be introduced in Norway too! As far as I know Ripples is the only place along the harbour that offers BYO, and it's worth noting that they don't sell any alcohol on the premises.
The menu at Ripples is influenced by Mondern Australian cuisine with a fusion of European and Asian food traditions, and since my husband is a proud Australian we also took the opportunity to introduce our guests to great Australian wines. We have recently discovered the pleasant drops that are produced in the wine district of Orange in NSW, and brought with us a bottle of red and white wine. Due to the cold climate and high altitude of Orange they produce some spectacular Chardonnay wines, and Phillip Shaw No 11 was no exception. My husband really enjoys the Cabernet Merlot from Rolling, which apart from having a very cool label (yes, that does matter!:) comes with the affordable prize tag of AUD 18 dollars.
Norway is famous for its strict liquor licensing and high prices, and eating out is no exception. If you want to enjoy wine, beer or spirits with your meal you are looking at paying twice the prize! Needless to say that Ingunn and Thor Ivar were quite impressed with the BYO (Bring Your Own Wine) policy at Ripples, and the Norwegian government should watch out, as most of our visitors think this should be introduced in Norway too! As far as I know Ripples is the only place along the harbour that offers BYO, and it's worth noting that they don't sell any alcohol on the premises.
The menu at Ripples is influenced by Mondern Australian cuisine with a fusion of European and Asian food traditions, and since my husband is a proud Australian we also took the opportunity to introduce our guests to great Australian wines. We have recently discovered the pleasant drops that are produced in the wine district of Orange in NSW, and brought with us a bottle of red and white wine. Due to the cold climate and high altitude of Orange they produce some spectacular Chardonnay wines, and Phillip Shaw No 11 was no exception. My husband really enjoys the Cabernet Merlot from Rolling, which apart from having a very cool label (yes, that does matter!:) comes with the affordable prize tag of AUD 18 dollars.
The food at Ripples was impeccable as usual, and seafood lovers have a great menu to pick from. Here is a link to the menu for people who wants to have a peek at what I am on about:
I have been fighting a cold the past week and therefore decided to try out the 'slow cooked lamb shanks with garlic and chive mash served in a braising jus', in the hope that a bit of meat could sort me out. The lamb was tender and fell off the bone, and the mashed potato and chive was creamy and tasted really nice.The portions at Ripples are quite generous, so I wasn't able to finish my meal, but thoroughly enjoyed it. My husband has a soft spot for the 'pan seared ocean trout served with coriander rice, asian salad and chilli jam', and always recommends visitors to join him in appreciating this dish. And I guess he now has a 4 out of 4 success rate after this visit to Ripples, as Thor Ivar ended up getting trout as well, and seemingly enjoying it a lot! I guess a testament to his taste and the dish is that my mum is still talking about the trout she had at Ripples two years ago....
View from Ripples
View from RipplesI didn't take any photos this time, but had some on my computer from previous visits, and the view hasn't changed so there is no outdated marketing in this posting!:) The great thing about bringing visitors to Ripples and Milsons Point is that it's only a five minute ferry ride from Circular Quay, and by going out on the water you get a better view of the Opera house and the city. They also get to see quite a lot of iconic buildings close up such as Luna Park, North Sydney Swimming Pool, Harbor Bridge and overall spectacular views of the Sydney skyline at night.
Although I have been living in Sydney for almost three years, I never get tired of admiring the city skyline and still pinch myself when I see the Opera house. The great thing with having visitors is that it serves as a great reminder of all the things you take for granted, and I get to see the city through their eyes, and I start to recall how it felt the first time I visited Sydney in 2003. I guess it doesn't hurt to get a nice meal whilst sightseeing the city as well.. so a trip to Ripples is a bonus for Sydney-siders and visitors!
I highly recommend going to Ripples next time you have visitors in town.
Linnemoren
PS. We have been here for breakfast as well, and the menu was pretty good and included warm vanilla waffles..
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