Berowra Waters Inn - Food (NSW)

5 /5 Simon Lee: A perfect Rainy Retreat on the Hawkesbury Berowra Waters Inn on a rainy afternoon is pure poetry. The boat ride through the mist sets a tranquil, secluded tone before you even step inside. The tasting menu was excellent and lived up to its 2-hatted reputation. We added the marron tail, which was easily the highlight—incredibly succulent, sweet, and the best dish of the day. The service was exceptional—warm, friendly, and professional. Watching the rain fall over the river from such a cozy, elegant sanctuary made for a truly memorable, lazy afternoon. What makes it even better is that it is only 25 minutes away from our upper north shore home!

3 /5 Hieu Do: About a 45-minute drive from Sydney, Berowra Waters Inn is a great spot for a short getaway. The location is stunning — surrounded by calm water and wildlife, giving a real sense of Australia’s natural charm. Service and atmosphere were both good. Food-wise, some dishes felt slightly unbalanced in flavor. The amuse-bouche didn’t quite deliver the sensory spark one might expect, coming across as somewhat overpowering or muted. The beetroot parfait, leaned a little too tangy — a note that seemed to carry through several courses. The kingfish with pear and marigold sauce was the weakest dish for me. The citrus and pear flavours were too dominant, and the kingfish was sliced so thin that its natural texture and freshness were lost. The wagyu rump cap was good quality meat and cooked well, but the yuzu extract sauce overpowered it. The acidity from yuzu was meant to cut through the fat, but a pungent/ sharp choice like horseradish, mustard, or wasabi might have worked better with the wagyu’s richness. Highlights of the meal were the trout and crab chawanmushi. The trout was poached perfectly, and the smoked eel mousse tied the dish together with that distinctive richness. The chawanmushi, with its creamy custard base, fresh crab flavor, and touch of dill oil, beautifully captured the bold, modern essence of Australian cuisine. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience with great service/ though the food, while creative, didn’t quite reach the level of harmony we had hoped for.

5 /5 C Lee: One of the best dining experiences my fiancé and I have had in a long time. We arrived in style via Sydney Seaplanes, docking right at the restaurant, which set the tone for a truly special day. The Hawkesbury prawn with chilli was a fiery and exciting start, while the roe with crème fraîche beautifully rounded out the entrée course. Each dish that followed was presented with such care by a team that was warm, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. I particularly loved the bright citrus and zesty notes in the snapper with desert lime, and the crab with miso and onion was incredibly smooth, seasoned to absolute perfection. To finish, the berries and crème dessert was exquisite and hit exactly the right note. These were just a few of the standout dishes from a memorable day, and we’re already looking forward to returning. By the end of the meal I was completely knackered, and I’d love to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff for being so accommodating and attentive throughout the entire experience. It was truly unforgettable and the food was absolutely divine.

5 /5 SK Zhang: The taste of each dish is layered very well, the whole traveling by water and the dining experience is great. Definitely worth it, good value

3 /5 Adrian Giles: This is a tough one to review. On one hand, the location, staff, atmosphere and wine were perfect. The food however for myself and my wife was hit and miss, some amazing plates and some we left mostly uneaten. From others Ive heard everything was perfect so it might have been the menu or the day we visited in Sept 2025 with some overly fatty ones and some oddly matched flavours, for our palette anyway. Prices were well articulated for some things but not others. For example, the menu choices and paired wine choices costs were on the menu (I would suggest the premium wine menu, it was amazing and worth the extra $100 in our opinion), however when offered a pre-meal drink the prices were not advertised (that I observed) and when we got the bill, a beer for $13 was more than reasonable, however a glass of wine for $35, not so much without at least mentioning it. The wine retails for $79 a bottle in my search so its understandable but a shock at the time. Writing this I feel maybe I am petty over the point, but 5 stars for atmosphere and service regardles as its a minor thing. Overall, I would not go back or recommend it but reading others reviews I expect our experience was the exception not the norm in terms of the food. As you can see they were all presented beautifully. The 3 stars is all about the food, its the key for me when visiting a restaurant. Thanks to the staff who made the experience so good even with the food drawbacks.