yellow

for a seasoned food taster and chef for the past 6 or 7 years, there are very few restaurants, cafes or bars around the globe which intrigue me. i believe all food institutions should have a solid foundation in food preparation, an ethical and sustainable procurement of ingredients, an innovative and progressive menu, as well as a personable dining experience regardless of size and reputation.

yellow is one of a handful of restaurants in sydney (sadly but factually) which impresses me greatly. for a predominantly carnivore like me, visiting a vegetarian fine-diningrestaurantand trying a 7-course degustation menu is a gamble. but this gamble paid off marvelously.

situated in the historic yellow house building in potts point, the namesakerestaurantis sleek and beautiful with its dimly-lit interior, wooden flooring and comfortable sofas.

the delightful gastronomic adventure begins with a mild avocado with pine nuts and native lime and the awesome zucchini topped with sunflower seeds and quinoa. the multiple layers and texture that comes with every bite of the zucchini, sunflower and quinoa is further enhanced by contrasting but complimentary flavours of the green juniper. the thick and silky potato purée adds to the overall taste in a sophisticated fashion.

the eggplant is prepared in similar and meticulous manner too. covered with black garlic and dunked in the therapeutic ginger broth, the variated texture ensures that the nondescript eggplant become one of the highlights of the course. (i really liked how the chefs focus on the olfactory receptors!)

several points to note too: some of the dishes were served scalding hot and the kitchen needs to know that.

the starchy main courses, the heirloom potatoes and forbidden rice, were impressive too. topped wth chestnut purée and mixed pepperberries, the heirloom potatoes surprises me with an explosion of spices and flavours. the forbidden rice (essentially just a fancier name for black rice) combines flawlessly with the smoked yoghurt and yellow beans to deliver the ultimate alternative to rice dishes. however, it will be better if the chefs could add layers and textures to the rice just like the previous few courses.

the desserts were eye-opening for me because i did not know certain vegetables can be transformed into sweet (not too sweet) and delightful treasures. the mixture of shaved persimmon and flaky almonds were fragrant and delightful but could be further improved with a chewy or rubbery ingredient to break the monotony of chewing on the tiresome almond nuts. last but not least, the black licorice covered with a generous layer of fennel curd and raspberries, gave the degustation course a wonderful conclusion. mildly sweet, chewy and creamy, the dessert extends the width of our tastebuds through this exotic combination of ingredients.

in conclusion, yellow is a memorable gastronomic experience which perks me up after a series of forgettable and disappointing meals in the past few months.

if you haven't tried yellow, you should.

two of us went to yellow for dinner on a tuesday night. i had the slow cooked lamb shoulder with cawliflower three ways and my friend had the skirt steak. the lamb was juicy and tasty. it went really well with the creamy puréed and fried cawliflower. my friend enjoyed her main too. the side dish of broccolini with pepitas was disappointing though as the pepitas were almost burnt and the broccoli underseasoned. therestaurantmanager that night was very knowledgeable and knew the menu extremely well. she gave us very accurate descriptions of the dishes on the menu. unfortunately none of the desserts on the menu excited us (there should be some work on them) so we walked to messina for the final treat.

on a completely random thursday, a last minute decision saw me with a table for two at the reputable yellowrestaurantin potts point.  therestauranthas gained attention with its decision go vegetarian and vegan only (*gasp*) for its night time menu. rest assured the breakfast and lunch menu have hints of animal flesh including housemade bacon.  however for diners, this is one destination that you can indulge in fantastical vegetarian dishes without judgement.

live the ambiance of thisrestaurantand the vegan concept. i can appreciate the vegan creativity but there was no wow factor in any of the dishes. the dessert was probably the best course, but even then, the pistachio ice cream was bland. staff were nice and always tried to recommend.

yellow is a vegan and vegetarian fine diningrestaurantin potts point. we went there for my birthday and we had a 5-course degustation with cocktails. there are not many vegan and vegetarian fine dining restaurants in town, and yellow is an extraordinary representative. 

the food was creative and presented beautifully. the choice of ingredients is simple but gives you an interesting palette of taste. the interior is on the warm tone with a rustic look, and the use of colour yellow coherent with the name seems very playful. if you are an adventurous foodie and want to explore more vegan/ vegetatian options, or a casual romantic date, why not give yellow a go?

this is a nice vegetarianrestaurantin potts point easily walkable from kings cross station. the dishes are designed to share and my favourites were the charred sourdough, baby sweet corn and shiitake mushroom. the service got progressively slower during the night but the staff were lovely otherwise.

this vegetarian and veganrestaurantunreservedly merits it’s two hats. delightful and knowledgeable waiting staff, hip decor, creative and innovative dishes. the emphasis on seasonal and unusual ingredients gets big ticks from me. this was my fourth visit and i cannot wait to visit again. #vegan #vegetarian

the spot: warm, dim lighting - flattering if you’re looking haggard, inconvenient if you want to take photos. i noticed that despite being generously busy, there’s a quietness about thisrestaurantthat i loved - perfect for catching up with a friend or date.

the service: we had an array of waitstaff - most of them incredibly humble and personable with the one stray mumbler who didn’t seem like the loved the food as much as the others.

the food: we (two smallish females) were recommended to go for the 5-course but in retrospect we could’ve comfortably finished the 7. first of all the complimentary bread - direct portal into my heart. gloriously crisp yet moist and chewy on the inside. i would say the overall impression was that texture and umami were heralded in our set. lots and lots of umami, to the point where our 3rd main was a touch repetitive. however the last main was by far our favourite - artichoke and goats yoghurt, flakey, succulent, perfectly balanced. the dessert was another jaw-dropper. the licorice honeycomb was ingenious and this coming from a non-licorice fan. we were so blown away that we ordered a second dessert separately. best. decision. ever.

we chose yellow because we love vegetables and wanted to know how they’ve pushed the boundaries with it - we got that and more. i would say that some more variety in the set was needed - perhaps a soup/broth to add some temperature and break up the umami (someone shoot me if i say that word again), and perhaps playing more with the chilli spectrum. the standout for me is how expertly they treated their dairy, both in mains and desserts. i’m definitely going to try their other restaurants.

we started off with some bread and yummy nutty butter, along with small turnips coated in a sesame coating. the bread was warm and soft and paired beautifully with the butter. i expected the turnips to be a little bitter, but they were deliciously sweet and crunchy. the strong roasted sesame flavour was powerful and complimented the mild bitterness and watery taste of the turnips. it's a little awkward that i am realising now that this was actually an addition to our tasting menu!

next up, and the actual start to the menu, the 'jersey milk curd + cucumber + spring herbs'. the curd was delicious and soft and very mild in flavour. the cucumber portion was essentially a soup coating the curd which added a strong and fresh flavour, alongside the sharp herbs. it was a really beautiful combination of rich and creamy with the curd, fresh and slightly bitter from the cucumber and sharp with the herbs. definitely a beautiful summery start to our dinner.

the 'butternut pumpkin + miso butter + saltbush' was probably the most stand-out item for us on the menu. we even asked how in the world they made it, because we were making all the yummy noises. i even overheard the table next to us comment that they wanted whatever the hell we were having because of how much we clearly enjoyed it. the pumpkin was soft, and just packed with buttery miso flavour. there was delicious crispy curry leaves served over the pumpkin, a beautiful smooth hollandaise made with more pumpkin, and a japanese style tomato spice powder. trust me you want this - regardless of which menu you opt for :p

next came the 'forbidden rice + aromatic sauce + smoked yogurt' which came alongside some char-grilled cabbage. unfortunately this was the only let down in terms of the menu. we found the flavours a little overpowering. the smoked yogurt was delicious, however it was that smokiness that really took over the already smokey flavour of the rice. i felt like some freshness to cut the flavours would have worked wonders.

okay finally let's talk about dessert - which i really loved. this was the 'mandarin + coconut + toasted almond', which was a beautiful combination of gelato, fruit, the coconut and almond. there was smooth textures, crunchy, sour flavour, sweetness and amazing nuttiness. there were little icy bits and little warm bits - honestly i cannot explain it. there was a lot happening, yet all the tastes were so subtle. i definitely recommend this dessert if you are a fan of citrus fruits!

let me circle back to the small portions - the portions are actually substantial! we struggled to finish off everything, and we really needed to get up and walk around for the food to settle down. skip your lunch for the 5 course menu, and just don't eat for the whole day for the 7 course in my opinion.

let's rate this marvellous place

service: 10/10

the waitstaff is exceptionally friendly, and made jokes while we dined also. nothing inappropriate ofc, just fun banter. i appreciated how quickly our food came to us, and the small explanations of everything we were eating was so appreciated.

ambiance: 10/10

the motifs were warm, and i really loved the exposed brick walls. the dim romantic lighting honestly makes it a perfect intimate dinner spot :)

menu: 8/10

i think there are a lot of non-traditional combinations on the menu, which can make it a little difficult for some customers. it's still a beautifully arranged selection however.

value for money: 9/10

we left therestaurantfeeling exceptionally full. the 5 course tasting menu, at $75 was tough to finish up!

the food: 9/10

one point off for the one item we didnt enjoy, and it's only one point because the rest was honestly so phenomenal.

overall: 9.2/10 seriously, get yourself here for amazing vegetarian food.

went here for my 6 year anniversary with my partner and ordered the vegan degustation. i am absolutely amazed at how incredible every single dish was!! i tried not to have high expectations to avoid disappointment but thisrestaurant100% lives up to the hype and great reviews!!! the eggplants dish with corn was my favourite course. and the dessert - mandarin and coconut - i didn't think i would like as the flavours are not ones i would usually go for, however it was also amazing!!! they can do no wrong! the service was also extremely professional and we did not feel rushed at all despite being allocated a specific time slot. highly recommend for special occasions.

do not let the fact that yellow is a vegetarianrestaurantwith vegan options put you off coming. the food here is carefully considered, full of flavour and ingeniously created. went for a late weekend lunch and shared two dishes and a dessert. the brassica (like broccolini), quinoa, sunflower and green juniper was so tasty, fresh and creamy. the forbidden rice, green beans, smoked yoghurt (not vegan) and aromatic sauce hit the ball out of the park for me as i have never seen anything quite like it, but was so warming, satisfying and smokey. dessert .... must have chosen the signature dish as it was many shades of yellow and delightful to eat....the mandarin, coconut and toasted almonds with a verjuice granita! wow! every dish was worthy of forgetting traditional manners and just using fingers to finish the last drop of sauce. my friend made the comment at the end of the meal which i thought i would share "wouldn't even need dishwashers around here!" never has a truer word been spoken".

delicious food!! the venue is gorgeous as was each of the items we ordered. definite fave was the goats cheese tofu and the carrots! i will definitely be popping back and dragging my carnivore friends with me to give this greatrestaurantand it's incredible cuisine a go!

i went to yellow last night for the 2nd time and had the tasting menu.

it was, quite simply, one of the most sublime meals i've ever had. i was with my 75-year old mum & aunt, both of whom have travelled the world, & my aunt said it was the best meal she'd had in her life. & i don't think she exaggerated.

it's so great to see arestaurantwith passion & drive like yellow. they're taking things to a different level & the care and attention they take to each dish stands out a mile. every course was sensational - so well crafted - and tasted incredible.

& no pumpkin - hallejuah !!! i've been veggie over 30-years and get offered pumpkin as a veggie option 9.5 times out of 10. it's that or risotto & i'm sick of both of them.

i had an amazing time at yellow & i'll be back with more friends !!!

overall, highly recommended & makes other sydney chefs look really, really lazy. yellow is where others will learn from.

we loved the new vegetarian menu - there were 3 of us. some of the sauces were used across a few meals, however. the service was very good, but for arestaurantthat charges $100 up per person, they could really replace a broken toilet seat, don't you think? i think our bums are worth it, yellow.

thisrestaurantmade me feel sorry for vegetarians.

the meals were presented with care, looked great and were of a high standard.

our biggest exception was the fact the dishes and the entire meal was completely unfulfilling. we had 3 small plates and 2 main plates (for 2 people).

there was nothing remarkable about any dish. you felt like you were eating a side dish every time. im sure the ingredients were of a high quality / organic etc but we did not leave satisfied or that we had felt like we had eaten a meal.

the prices are extortionate. main plates are around $28 each - a vegetable side dish in any otherrestaurantwould have more food on the plate.

the starters were comical when you see the size of the bites.

do go. it's fancy, it's hipster, it's cool.

we thought it was a complete joke however.