The Stockroom at the InterContinental Hotel Sydney Double Bay, NSW

Where Is It: Inside the new InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, just a stone's throw from Double Bay Wharf.

Why Go: Fine dining in one of Sydney's most glamorous suburbs.

Best For: Couples seeking romance, dinners to impress.

Three Things We Loved: The moody decor, the comfy booths, the breakfast buffet.

The Ultimate Factor: The overall glamour.

Overview:

Double Bay is one of those fashionable and well-heeled Sydney suburbs which appears to have it all; a leafy, harbourside location with views, high end designer boutiques at every turn, and an impressive lineup of fine dining venues to choose from. And even though it's hardly short of places to whisk your beloved away for dinner, maybe as part of a romantic getaway or a weekend break, The Stockroom is undoubtedly a welcome arrival to the scene. The restaurant is located in the swish new InterContinental Hotel Sydney Double Bay, which only opened its doors late last year after a substantial transformation from its former life as a Ritz-Carlton, with just a few of its draw cards being a glamourous, modern decor, and Executive Chef Julien Pouteau at the helm of a team which makes the most of the robata grill to turn produce.

The Location And Decor:

This hotel exudes style, from the moment you take the elevator from the ground floor to the grey marble foyer one floor up. If you get there early head for Stillery, the hotel's combination bar and lounge, and if you love a gin and tonic, at the bar there is a menu of over 60 local and international gins, with a cocktail list to whet even the most discerning appetite. The Stockroom is next door, the decor a very masculine  grey of many shades with lots of dark wood, softened by recessed lighting in the ceiling, a wall of gold light at each end of the room, and further accents of warm gold in the soft velvet cushions and the black and gold brick patterned carpet. If you have an option, choose one of the expansive booths at the far end where one of you gets to snuggle back in a deep, high backed, fabric bench.

The Menu And Wine List:

Chef Pouteau focusses on locally-source produce including seafood and seasonal vegetables, with market-fresh sides, and with breads, preserves and sauces all made in house. And it shows. If you are really hungry, or that pre-dinner G 'n' T has spiked your appetite, you can start with a new nibbles including crispy school prawns with paprika mayonnaise or a chicken wing croquette with creamy onion, then move on to entrées, with mains offering a choice between grilled dishes, or dishes to share such as a Blackmore rump cap roast or Golden Plains suckling pig. All that followed by dessert. As for wine, there is an impressive list with a strong focus on local varieties and producers, with house wine starting at around $70.

What We Enjoyed:

Having spoken at length with someone on reception earlier in the day I'd been tipped off that the octopus entrée was to die for. He wasn't wrong. The Fremantle octopus was grilled to perfection, served on baby gem lettuce, with pepperoncini peppers and mortadella. We just had to share such exquisite cuisine, so the other entrée which suited us was the grilled scallops, served juicy with pumpkin, pancetta and grated chestnuts. With the mains we opted for flame roasted Cone Bay barramundi fillet and a flame roasted grange silver certified Angus beef rib eye, sharing both, with sides of beans with carrots and tarragon mascarpone, and on recommendation, a portion of crispy hand-cut sebago chips. The service was warm and efficient, and although it was a quiet night being a Sunday, we were never rushed and had plenty of time to savour our courses. As usual we were unable to make dessert, but a nightcap and some after dinner truffles hit the spot beautifully.

The verdict:

It was a quiet Sunday night when we visited, but there a lovely warm vibe and enough other tables in use to create an atmosphere; I could only imagine what it might be like on a Friday or Saturday night. The menu isn't vast and the wine list not for amateurs, but overall if you're looking for a romantic venue which is friendly and offers top notch cuisine, it's worth checking out.

We're working on a full review of the InterContinental Hotel Double Bay so check back here soon!