The financial district in downtown Sydney appears to shut its doors after happy hour and empty out.

However, if you are diligent and dig deeper to descend a set of brightly lit stairs, or whiz up an elevator to the top of the city you will find many gems. Forty One Restaurant is just one of these amazing discoveries. At the top of the Chifley Tower, in the square by the same name, is a culinary dining experience that is truly second to none.

Founded in 1993 by internationally acclaimed chef Dietmar Sawyere the menu reflects his personal style in a mix of French and oriental influences. Passionate about the superiority and diversity of Australian produce, Dietmar has worked alongside growers to develop his own products, which he uses in his restaurants - adding that personal flair and taste that is Forty One.

His award-winning menu and style reflects the techniques and expertise that he’s acquired at the Culinary Academy of London and beyond. Dietmar has worked with the great chefs of the Savoy, the Connaught Hotel, and the Regent Hotels of New Zealand, Hong Kong and Bangkok. He has blended all of this expertise into Forty One, giving it an international panache and palette that is uniquely its own.

Forty One has three dining rooms to chose from, each with stunning views of the Opera house and Sydney harbor to the north, the botanical gardens to the northeast, and the sprawling city lights and sunset to the southwest.

As the elevator opens on the 41st floor and you step out into the lobby the splendor envelopes you. The soft music wafts up to the ears welcoming you in as you soak up the atmosphere. The serene Asian influenced garden mixed with rich silk tapestries and a hint of French boudoir, gives the setting a tranquility that soothes the senses and prepares you for the pampering that is to come. This restaurant is elegant.

From the moment that you arrive the staff at Forty One makes you feel as if you are a special guest and they have been expecting you.

And there is space here. With floor-to-ceiling glass windows and ample space between each table you have the feeling of being in an opulent dining room but with a hint of privacy. It’s perfect for those intimate conversations and special occasions.

The tables are covered with fine French linens and the seats are comfortable, which is great since the dinner ritual here can take two-to-three hours. Prepare for an experience! This is an evening to languish and to relax, no fast food or take away here. This is not simply a meal - it is an event to remember.

The waiters are welcoming, warm and extremely professional. Throughout each course the presentation and the service is to be applauded. Each server seems to have a sixth sense and tends to your needs without ever having to ask. Here you are special.

Every meal offers fresh products from local vendors and is a unique and mouth watering celebration. Whether it is the first mouth melting bite of an appetizer of Citrus Cured Salmon, Salad Of Yabbies, Avocado, Salmon Roe & Lemon; or the tender main of Crown Roast Of Wild Hare, Sauteed Whitloof, Shallot & Foie Gras Sauce; or even the sweet last temptation of Chocolate And Hazelnut Praline Mousse with Raspberry Jus Milles Feuilles Of Blood Orange - each course is a culinary delight!

Even vegetarians can pleasure their palette here as chef Dietmar offers a unique and tasty vegetarian menu.

The menu is constantly changing, and for private dining chef Dietmar may even create one especially for the event.

The restaurant offers lunch and dinner menus and reservations are necessary. This is an exclusive dining experience and the prices reflect the standard of service, atmosphere and culinary expertise that the patrons expect.

All menus are fixed prix. Lunch offers two, three or four-course selections, and ranges from $65 to $95 all inclusive. Dinner offers the choice of four, five or six courses. Prices start at $130 for four courses including coffee or tea, and range up to $220 for six courses with matched wines.

In a world of fast, pre-made microwavable food, Forty One is like a bonsai tree in the concrete jungle. An evening here is to be savored. With the combination of elegant décor, breathtaking views and tantalizing meals this has to be one of the formidable “must do’s” in Sydney.

Forty One Restaurant
The Chifley Tower
2 Chifley Square
Sydney, Australia
Tel: 61-2 9221 2500
www.forty-one.com.au

-Reviewed by P.R. Montgomery (pmonty1@hotmail.com)

Paula is a writer and traveler who is currently living in Los Angeles but may be somewhere else by the time you read this! A lover of combining fine food, travel and adventure Paula has been to several countries all over the globe. “Next stop…unknown!”