Sumptuous Seafood at Ice Cube

The secret to a great restaurant isn’t just an awesome meal on an isolated night. It’s the power to bring you back. While I’ve had some lovely meals in the city, most times I’m in Darling Harbour it seems I head for Ice Cube.

It might sound cruel to visit a seafood restaurant after a morning spent at the aquarium, but when the experience is this good it’s hard to resist. Ice Cube strikes that difficult balance between good value and luxury. There are cheaper places, and ones that offer a more opulent experience, but few seem to marry the two quite as easily.

The experience starts from the moment you walk in. The staff are always attentive, friendly without being overbearing. They were patient when I took a little longer than expected to order, and efficient when it came to refilling our wine glasses.

The wine was good. Really good. The kind of bottle we’d probably pay twice as much for in many Sydney restaurants. It’s hard to go wrong with a Clare Valley Riesling, but this definitely suited our meal of seafood.

For me it was the Moreton Bay Bugs, served salt and pepper style with lime, coriander, and chilli. My husband went with a more Japanese flavoured dish: the sushi and sashimi plate. He’s not a seafood fan, I am, but as always we devoured our meals. The bugs were so fresh, and the combination of lime and chilli made them pretty heady. I’m not a fan of sashimi, but I had to admit his kingfish was amazing.

I had no room for dessert, and am not sure where my husband found the space. He did though, and oohed and aahed his way through it.

This felt like a luxurious meal, so we were pleasantly surprised when the bill arrived. We left satisfied, and without a hole in our wallet. It’s that combination that keeps us coming back.

Trading hours: Open every day from noon to midnight
Location: Ice Cube Seafood Grill
Address: Ground Floor, IMAX Theatre Complex, 31 Wheat Road, Darling Harbour
Public transport: Take the train to Town Hall station and walk down Druitt Street, take a ferry to Aquarium Wharf, take the monorail to Darling Park or Convention station, or take the light rail to Convention station
Parking: Parking is available at Harbourside Car Park and Kings parking stations at 182 and 383 Sussex Street
Cost: Mains from $18.50
Website: http://www.icecubeseafood.com.au

Image source: Billy Alexander @ Stock.xchng