High Street Bistro

Today was my third visit to High Street Bistro and my last. During our first visit we were served by a lovely young man but there seems to be a change in their staffing of late. The two that served today seemed self absorbed and arrogant.
The Spring special did not have a vegetarian option and they weren’t willing to substitute anything either. I am not a vego but my husband is and I always look at the options. (Only one entrée was vego and no mains)
I decided against the special and ordered off the a la carte menu. The spaghetti was almost $ 30 (special was two courses incl wine) so that seemed a lot.
Two in our party ordered it and it was swimming in OIL and tasteless…
They whisked away the plates and did not ask if anyone enjoyed their meals, so it seems they don’t care what you think.
With average meal prices that high, I would love genuine service and generous serves of delicious food — none of that at High Street Bistro!
Save the effort and go to Crows Nest :)
P.S I also bought a Cudo voucher a few months ago but after multiple tries I was unable to use it before they expired. Only could be used at very specific times I guess but they weren’t willing to say when that was.

High Street Bistro has a little bit of Surry Hills funk about it with a dash of upper north shore suburbia. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the south side wall art — black and white illustration circle pattern with a retro design feel. It’s pretty ‘cool’ for these parts. The dark timber table and chairs and polished (both in presentation and literally) table setting gives this restaurant an instant luxury dining feel whereas the outside seating area on the main road and side street give it more a chilled café feel.
The menu is certainly on the fancy end of food standards. Here’s my picks to give you an indication of quality: fresh oysters with a Campari and lime dressing for starters (one dozen for $ 36), Roast baby beetroot with Mt Vikos feta, purslane and truffle honey for entrée ($ 17), Duck confit with frisee salad, lardons and mustard dressing for main ($ 28), Rocket salad with organic almonds, black pepper and lemon for sides ($ 8) and an «Orgy» of summer berries, crisp meringue and raspberry sorbet ($ 14). Oh yeah… it’s a nice menu indeed.
There’s a comprehensive wine and beer list but you can take your own bottle of wine for $ 10 corkage. Coffee is so so.
Breakfasts are also meant to be pretty dam fine.
Staff were pleasant and efficient enough but I didn’t find them overly warm. Also I’d sit looking inwards towards the restaurant as the streets outside are pretty drab.