By June Ramli
Sydney, March 9: After 12 years of living in Sydney, I finally had the chance to try Altitude, the highly acclaimed restaurant at the Shangri-La Hotel.
I had always wanted to experience their high tea through Groupon deals but could never find someone to join me.
Instead, I decided to try their three-course meal as a way of celebrating a birthday.
Since it was Ramadan and I was fasting, I checked if the hotel served halal food.
While their meat is halal, the kitchen is not—a common occurrence in Sydney, where pork and wine are used in shared utensils.
In Malaysia, this would not be considered halal, but I had to make do with this adjustment.
After breaking my fast at home with a chocolate and a glass of water, I arrived at the restaurant at 7:57pm for my 8pm reservation.
The restaurant has a strict no-show policy, charging $50 per person if you’re late or absent. Reservations require a credit card, which is used to enforce this policy.
Upon arrival, I was seated at a table with spectacular views.
The hostess briefly introduced the menu, which mostly featured alcoholic drinks.
We opted for sparkling water and made our selections.
I chose the three-course menu, priced at $139 per person, which included a starter, main course, and dessert.
The service was underwhelming.
At a five-star establishment, I expected attentive staff, but we had to signal a waiter to take our order. Eventually, a waiter arrived and took our selections.
While waiting, another hostess oddly asked under what name I had made the reservation.
I confirmed my name, and she left without further comment.
The food itself was disappointing.
I ordered the salmon for the starter, barramundi for the main course, and a chocolate dessert.
None of the dishes stood out in flavor or presentation.
For the price, I expected something far more refined.
The ambiance was the only highlight.
The restaurant was packed on a Saturday night, and some diners dressed casually, likely hotel guests looking for a quick meal.
While the view was stunning, it couldn’t make up for the lackluster dining experience.
In total, I spent over $300, including Uber rides, and can confidently say it wasn’t worth it.
The view was great, but the food and service did not match the five-star setting.
The staff was friendly when we left, but overall, the experience fell short.
Rating: 2/5
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