Wildfire

Wildfire Overview

The thing about eating anywhere around Sydney's Circular Quay is that you’re guaranteed a breathtaking view, and Wildfire Restaurant is no exception. The spectacular view straight across the harbour to the Sydney Opera House greets you as soon as you enter this venue.

Wildfire has a rather gorgeous looking separate cocktail bar – Embers – however on the night my partner and I visited we decided to head straight for our table ‘with a view’ to sip our cocktails while deliberating over the menu choices.

The menu (not unlike the restaurant) is eclectic, modern, and extensive. I confess to having already enjoyed a rather substantial lunch that day. Don’t is all I can suggest. Wildfire deserves your appetite’s full support and attention. Starters ($8 - $12) with cocktails were sadly out of the question, although there was a tantalising selection on offer including octopus braised in its own juice with chilli and garlic; steamed vongole clams with chorizo sausage; and tartare of ocean trout.

Entrees ($20 -$30) catered for all tastes and desires from freshly shucked oysters to duck consommé; wagyu beef tartare and ravioli of spanner crab. We chose a plate of thinly sliced delicate Spanish ham – Jambon Iberico de Ballota (the king of hams I learned that night), enhanced by an accompaniment of caramelized figs. My choice of beetroot risotto was creamy, colourful, generous, and perhaps a little too subtle for my palette.

To the main course! The choices are endless. Wildfire is famous for its wood fired churrasco. For $69 per person diners are treated to a variety of fire roasted meat, poultry, homemade sausages, seafood and vegetables with salsas and sauces to compliment. Delivered straight to the table on skewers, this main course just keeps coming. Heaven for carnivores! The a la carte menu is also impressive and offers a pleasing range of seafood, meat and poultry dishes, and of course more choices from the wood fired grill. We settled for duckling confit and foie gras mousse (at $39) and Balmain Bugs wood fire grilled with lemon, garlic and herb butter (priced by weight). Both were winning. The duck was pink, succulent, melting away from the bones. The bugs were as fresh as you could want – sweet and tender, cut by the subtlety of the lemon, and very moreish. And if you still can’t decide, the Sea Bar offers a lavish selection of Australian fresh seafood fried, grilled or steamed with your choice of condiments and herbs!!

While contemplating dessert we took in the general buzz and some Brazilian inspired background music. As inviting as the cheese selection was (and the selection is really inviting!), sweets won on the night. So many temptations, so much indecision. Assiette (at $18) – a gorgeously presented tasting selection for 2 from the dessert menu seemed the only solution. Cheeky ice cream lollypops; tiramisu Wildfire style (not to be missed); mini doughnuts with a raspberry coulis; banana cannelloni – just to mention a few of the flavour sensations. It was fun, truly delicious and a fitting end to an enjoyable evening in this rather fanciful, larger than life restaurant.

Wildfire’s wine list really deserves its own review. It has won numerous awards over the years and deservedly so. We took advice from our sommelier, course by course, and his recommendations were spot on. Wildfire has a feel and energy that is distinctly Sydney; unapologetic and just a little showy. If you’re looking for a venue that sizzles and sings, you’ll enjoy it immensely. It’s trendy but not ageist, large but not impersonal. Ask for a table by the window to complete the experience, and remember to eat lightly before you go!

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