Pier 26, Darling Harbour

Love is dangerous. The more attached you become to something, the greater the risk that one day it will let you down. It may be a petty mistake. A slight transgression. But it causes you to rethink your relationship. Question everything you held true. You ponder. You stress. You fret. You over-analyse.

But then you step back and think over the good times. Put things in perspective. Lighten up a little.

Ahhh Pier 26. We still love you.


BBQ Prawn Skewers $19.50
with mango and green chilli coconut salad and flat bread

There was no major disaster, but as I publish my fifth post on Pier 26, I feel compelled to be more critical of every aspect of our meal. We had made two trips to Pier 26 within 8 days recently (I know, it was a crazy record) when suddenly I noticed that the meals weren’t very big, that the lamb, spinach and mushroom moussaka was disconcertingly greasy, and that the serving of prawn and mango skewers would have barely sustained Kate Moss in her Calvin Klein waif period.

But then we rationalised that the moussaka was a blackboard special, that the prawn skewers were of tasty quality if modest quantity, and that compared to its Cockle Bay neighbours and Harbourside competitors, Pier 26 is still fairly good value for money.


Pan-fried barramundi $22.00
with saffron and parsley risotto, rocket and
semi-dried tomato salad (blackboard special)


Lamb, spinach and mushroom moussaka $16.50
with salad and fries (blackboard special)

The blackboard specials can be a bit hit-and-miss (the barramundi was a hit; its eater just wished there had been more of it) but there are consistent performers in the Pier 26 regular menu: the ocean trout and fish and chips are amongst them.


Ocean trout $20.50
with grilled zucchini, figs, semi-dried romas,
cider and goats cheese dressing

The ocean trout is always cooked to perfection, its seared golden skin as thin and crisp as a delicate wafer. It sits on ribbons of charred zucchini, alongside a grilled halved fig and a sexy pout of goats cheese dressing.


Beer battered flat head $17.00
with chips, tartare sauce and lemon

Fish and chips are similarly swoonworthy. The beer batter is light, airy and almost cloud-like in appearance. The fried is fried to a pale golden brown, in fresh oil which leaves no sticky residue. Chips are crunchy batons, the tartare sauce has the right among of zing.

And sitting on the deck which is perpetually drenched in sunshine, chilled music in the background, and a water view straight ahead, you almost forget you have to get back to work in half an hour, a fleeting moment of bliss that is ultimately priceless.

Pier 26 Bar
Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour
Tel: +61 (02) 8270 5126

Open 12pm till late, 7 days

Related GrabYourFork posts:
Pier 26, March 2006
Pier 26, June 2005
Pier 26, April 2005
Pier 26, August 2004