Courtyard Dining
I happened to have discovered this place while looking for food at an abnormally crazy lunch hour in the MLC Centre. While I normally have lunch in the food court downstairs, today was ridiculously full, so I decided to try the courtyard upstairs, in the hope that there would be some form of free seating available.
Again, the situation repeated itself, with most tables occupied. Luckily, I found a table free just as two other people were done with their lunch. This is Café Courtyard.
Café Courtyard is a nice little restaurant right above the MLC food court in Martin Place. It overlooks the glass canopy which provides light (and pigeons) to the eating area downstairs. The restaurant is surrounded by likeminded eateries and luxury boutiques, with Salvatore Ferragamo and Cartier right behind it.
Service wise, this place scores top marks. We were promptly seated, and the waiter returned asking for drink orders in a reasonable amount of time after we have settled down. Roughly 2 minutes. Then, a few moments later, another waitress comes over inquires on food orders. As she leaves, the drinks arrive. Drinks and orders done within less than 5 minutes.
In addition to the speed of order taking and drink serving, food also promptly arrived, negating the use of tedious waiting time. Their Mushroom Linguini is highly recommended.
Price-wise, the range is about average for a Martin Place dining location, averaging below $20 for a main. The ambience is good, with a nice outdoor area and a glass enclosed indoor area.
Service and attention from staff is excellent, among the best I have encountered in Sydney, the other two being Opium Den and Morgan’s. The menu can be a little restrictive. Their salad is confined to Caesar Salad with different additions. Their pasta selection is adequate.
For excellent service at the peak of lunch hour in Martin Place, the suit-and-tie central of Sydney, I would highly recommend Café Courtyard. Despite the crowds, they did not sacrifice service or even quality. Great place to dine, either with friends, a rendezvous or even business dealings. Cheers!
