City Extra

This place was ok. Kind of just ok. The food wasn’t bad and it wasn’t great either. It was a bit on the expensive side, but that was no surprise given that it is located on Circular Quay and really is meant for tourists. We just got main dishes, no drinks, sides, or deserts. The dishes run typically from $ 25 to $ 30. They have the benefit of having long hours and serving everything on their menu all the time. You can order breakfast items for dinner if you please. Their menu was also pretty varied, which was nice because I wanted pasta and my boyfriend wanted a burger. Their desert items sounded appealing, but I was beyond stuffed after finishing my fettuccine. This is not the kind of place I would frequent, but I would probably eat here again.

I enjoyed the mixed grill recommended by waitress and wife enjoyed the special Shepherds pie and we shared e great pavlova desert. The price was reasonable bur the view was awesome overlooking the Quayside piers and busy sidewalk. Great alternative to the overpriced reataurants or fast food.. something between that satisfy all around.

City Extra Extra read all about it has gotten a pretty quirky and cool vibe going on. Walking in and your presented with a menu that’s in the form of a newspaper. A lot of the menu options continue with that theme and they even get in on the whole Clark Kent and Superman Daily Planet in their Cocktail offerings.
The place is quite large and they offer seating outside as well as two levels inside. I had been here once before but just for a late drink so this was the first time for food. I decided to order a Chai Latte to start with. They were busy but managed to take my order very promptly which was a plus. I decided to order Eggs Florentine for breakfast.
The Chai Late came out just after I ordered. The Chai Late was served in a glass and was frothy, tasty and served hot. I received my order within 10 minutes which was awesome. The Eggs Florentine was poached eggs with spinach served on a whole grain roll topped with hollandaise sauce. The portion size was so so big and this place really believes in the old proverb «Breakfast is the most important meal of the day». The flavouring of the sauce was good and the bread was fresh. I was indeed satisfied by breakfast here.
They offer a pretty comprehensive menu with all options available throughout the day which is perfect for those morning when you feel like a steak or nights when you want breakfast because somewhere in the world it’s breakfast.
Would definitely come back.

Love this place. Went here twice, super close to my home and they have a crazy selection of greats eats for you to choose from! First time I ordered the Shepard’s pie. It was served in a single personal dish and was part of the special. I got a cappuccino along with my meal for a great price. I also ordered the single side of spicy wedges for a started and couldn’t help but loved it! Then again I always love anything that isn’t good for you. My mom ordered the sea food mix basket and she enjoyed it just as much. The second time we went there I decided to go a bit healthy although my stomach was telling me else wise… I ordered the salmon and my mom ordered the chicken cutlet. I was a bit disappointed that the salmon had barely any flavour. I would have liked it to be seasoned a bit more. The dinner roll it came with was massive and I couldn’t even finish it.
I love the way the place is decorated and and vibe it gives off. The menus are on old looking newspaper and its great to feel like you are back in time. The service was phenomenal the first time around. Our waitress was on the ball and knew her job very well. Sadly that wasn’t the case the second time. The waiter took forever! Never came around and to top it off we had to walk up to the counter to pay. The first time she sold us on dessert which we happy enjoyed the second time he left no room for that.
Because the food is great I will go back but if the service lacks I will reconsider for future!

We came here only because it was late at night around 9pm and not many places were opened then. Bad choice.
I was not in the mood for Japanese or French/​Italian food which were apparently the better choices in this area. Lesson learnt. Listen to locals.
We sat outdoor which was quite lovely, as the weather was cool and the Quay was pretty under the twinkling lights. Service was friendly. There was free WIFI if you order a main or something, but I did not bother asking for the password as the focus was to catch up with friends whom I have not met for years.
I was torn between the seafood pie and the steak. In the end, I decided on the steak burger as it was a special and came with a glass of Brown Brothers wine which was what I wanted to try too. The meat was a bit on the tough side and the fries were ok. I just was not wowed by the food. The seafood pie looked better though my friend said it was just ok only.
Basically the food was really average and the prices were considerably higher than other places that it made it seemed like this place was a tourist trap. There are way better food elsewhere at much lower prices.
The only thing they have going is their opening hours since they do open till late.

The only time I’ve come here was to use up my Entertainment Voucher (50% off solo meals or buy one get one main meals up to $ 40.) The first time I went, a year or so ago, I remember thinking that the food was OK, but not worth it if paying for full price. The second time I went, last Tuesday, I realized that this is a place to avoid at all costs, even with a voucher.
This place is a tourist trap, being smack dab in the middle of Circular Quay. Inside, it’s pretty grimy. Some of the waiters/​waitresses were foreigners who had trouble with English and didn’t really have hospitality skills…
We both ordered steak, the 250gm prime eye fillet at $ 34 each. One medium, the other medium rare. They came out around 15 minutes later — both well done. When we brought it up with the waitress, she said she could replace the dishes, but it wouldn’t be coming out anytime soon, and since we had a show to catch at the Opera House, we declined. No other compensation was given other than a flippant «sorry!»
In summary, the food is overpriced and it sucks — in particular, stay away from the steak, I’ve had much better $ 10 steaks at pubs. Customer service is lacking, and the place is grimy. Go somewhere else, even with a 50% off deal! Totally not worth your money.
Sadly, they don’t seem to see the need to up the game since it’s right in the middle of Circ Quay and they get a lot of tourist foot traffic.

Avoid this place if you can — total Tourist Trap!
I went here for a work lunch we were just looking for something around the Quay and someone suggested this as it was a café. Food was overpriced anything with chicken was around $ 30 I ordered one of the cheaper items being a Beef Burger ($ 20.80 with cheese) with chips. The patty was so dry there was no juice whatsoever and it was super bland. It had grated cheese instead of a nice slice of cheese I basically had to smother it in tomato sauce to make it edible. The fries were ok but we’re lathered with fat. I could have had a better meal at McDonalds!
The service was slow and not great, I will not be returning.

Food was ok — found the kids meals over priced at $ 14 for what you got — I had a vegetarian muffin that was $ 8:50 and quite filling — food came out at the same time which I always think is a bonus when you are with a large group — there are nicer places to go but on a hot day I would recommend because the restaurant is large so not all packed in

City Extra! You’re disappointing me! You used to be amazing because you were 24hrs and now, you close at 12 on a weekday and then 2 on a Friday and Saturday night! Where am I going to go for food at 1am when I finish work?
Whilst City Extra’s food is ridiculous overpriced, not a surprise as it’s right in the middle of Circular Quay, and the food isn’t very good, the appeal was that it was open 24 hours a day and you could get somewhat decent food in the odd hours of the morning, which for someone who works nights mostly really appreciates! But alas no more.

Avoid this place. Staff fighting and swearing in the kitchen, food was below average e.g. Overcooked Atlantic salmon was dry and hard. Seafood basket was a greasy basket of deep fried batter — some pieces were unidentifiable.
To top it off it was expensive compared to better restaurants on the Quay.

The food was okay, it’s definitely over-​priced as are many of the restaurants in the area. This is the place tourists drop into to grab a bite right before jumping on the ferry or just to get a view of the water right after taking a bus or train to get to Circular Quay. It is open at all hours so that’s a plus.
In my opinion, I’d cross Alfred St and eat at CQ Café for a quick bite. Their food was better and also had a pretty good selection in addition to having healthier options.

A tourist trap as rightly pointed out by other reviewers. US diner in food type. Quality is ok. Hideously expensive for what is is. Location is what this place Is all about.

The waiter service is terrible. I was seated almost immediately but it took a good 10 minutes before my waiter came by to take my order even though I made it clear that I was ready after 2 minutes. I felt invisible. I ordered the fish n chips snack and a lemonade. Ten minutes later, the food showed up. It was so-​so quality. not the best. not the worst. it was edible. I finished my food rather quickly and usually in a normal restaurant, the waiter would bring the bill before you finish. Not this restaurant. I sat there trying to find my server and she was nowhere to be found. I decided to turn on a stopwatch and see how long it takes for me to get my bill. My waiter was spotted a few minutes later but she walked up to the cash register and started chatting with the person at the register. Did not even look in my direction. So I sat there for a good 6 minutes just waiting for her to finish, because she had to finish eventually right? After she left the register, she walked back into the kitchen and was nowhere to be seen again… I was losing my patience so at that point, I was looking for any server to get my bill. After 8 minutes of attempting to find someone who will notice me, I finally got someone to bring me my bill. Absolutely ridiculous. The servers here don’t know what they are doing.
Other side notes I noticed during my visit: Saw a server stick her fingers in her nose while walking customers to their seats. gross. I hope she doesn’t touch people’s food after that. I saw a family of 4 getting seated at a table and they requested the booth that was not cleaned next to it. The server just walked away with a grumpy look on her face and left the family standing there while she slowly walked to the kitchen for some reason? and come back and take her time as she cleaned it. She didn’t even say a «oh please give me a second to clean this up». Just a grumpy look at the family and a walk away.
I understand this place is supposed to be a replication of a North American breakfast diner, but they do a terrible job of it. In America, we have nice and friendly waiters! (I’m from the states myself).
Overall, serves edible food which is why I gave it a 2 star instead of a 1. but needs work on their service!

City Extra is more than its veneer might suggest. No doubt it’s a trap café, central and exposed on the churning strip of tourism that is Circular Quay. You pay a tax for that, and it’s a high one. It’s a tax that negates much of what the restaurant does right. but not everything.
The redemption is that it’s probably the most authentic replication of a North American breakfast diner in the city. The menu is huge, the hours are long, the coffee comes from a filter and the hash browns are crispy under lashes of egg yolk and Tabasco. That sounds like a simple enough demand in a city reveling in semi-​ironic cuisine but it’s practically impossible to find. I crave that stuff from time to time… It’s good for the soul, if not the heart. City Extra delivers it naturally, and as far as I know was delivering it long before it became cool.
We’re reminded that we’re in Australia — and actually glancing out over the harbour and our great bridge — when we’re asked to pay $ 4.20 for that paltry cup of black coffee. They won’t even refill it for you. There are other weird conceits to the local culture, like wholegrain slabs of impenetrable bread where my perfect English muffin should have been, under an eggs florentine. Strangely enough, it wasn’t enough to shatter the illusion. City Extra still manages to transport me a little bit.
Maybe it’s because they know most of their customers are Americans, suckers who’ll tip on top of the extravagant Sydney prices if they get what they expect. I don’t want to commend that… But I do want to keep eating runny eggs, hash browns and Tabasco when that rare urge takes me. So I’ll be back.

Overpriced but decent food in a room with a view that makes it worthwhile. Although this passes itself off as a diner, it doesn’t have the dirt-​cheap prices those of us from America know to be traditional to the diner market. Nevertheless, it offers similarly homey and familiar fare which turns out to be tastier than your average diner. Having been there before and returned a couple of times just to get out to Circular Quay for a sunny afternoon, can’t really complain too much about the prices given my existing awareness. Just be warned anyone going for the first time this is as expensive as a regular restaurant would be, but it’s certainly a step up from Hungry Jack’s around the corner. Fun to people watch with the Harbour Bridge in the background too.

This is where you end up when due to unforeseen events, its 11pm and you planned to get dessert at Zumbos in Pyrmont earlier, but it closes at midnight. So you’re like… where the f… else can we get dessert that isn’t bloody Pancakes on the Rocks?
City Extra.
I recommend sitting outside if you can, seriously, the inside smells stale. They haven’t remodelled the interiors since like 1992, at least. And it smells like it.
I also think the prices are over the top. $ 5 for a lemon, lime & bitters? $ 15.80 for my banana split? OK, OK… it was a pretty amazing banana split. It was a cream and chocolate topping banana extravaganza. My friends got pancakes. I thought they looked way better than the ones at Pancakes on the Rocks. Someone also got nachos. The nachos were pretty decent here.
But the smell! I’m not even kidding. It really bothered me. They need to light some smelly candles or something. Or plug in a Glade! It’s gross.

City Extra is a fantastic place for breakfast & lunch. Good food, reasonable priced and nothing like having a hamburger with egg for breakfast after a long night out in Sydney.
Excellent for «people watching» too as it’s right in the middle of the Circular Quay ferry terminal.
Greg

There is really no need to visit City Extra unless you’re desperate, drunk, or your date made you miss the ferry.
Really, you’re in Circular Quay for pity’s sake — there are countless other cafes and restaurants you can take your visiting relos to — but if you’re any of the above, City Extra is worth knowing about.
The staff are all friendly tourist-​visa types — I imagine that plays well with the touristy clientele — and there’s a modicum of novelty value reading the menu like a newspaper. The food is fine. No more no less. Actually I guess it’s pretty impressively consistent given this is a 24 hour establishment. 24 hour brekkie is a happy bonus.
There’s also free wifi, so if you have missed the ferry — at least you can hang out a stones throw away and do a bit of people watching/​Facebook stalking while you wait it out at City Extra.

What is the Extra is City Extra? Well in my opinion it’s the Extra Hours… unlike NYC — the city that never sleeps — Sydney has a habit of expecting its citizens to be dead asleep by 9.30PM. The consequence is anyone who has any degree of being an insomiac really struggles to find somewhere to hang out post 10PM… that’s why a place like City Extra is awesome because it’s a 24 hour diner which pretty much offer you whatever you would like at 3 in the morning…
Here’s the thing — you’re not coming to City Extra because the foods amazing — you’re here because nothing else is open — but considering they have a monopoly on late night food, they do deliver something decent (which is appreciated).
They have 24 hour breakfast (which is cool) and their main meals offer everything from burgers to salmon fillets… their mains range from about $ 16 — $ 35…
To sum it up, this is my thoughts — City Extra is designed for 2 major clientele —
1 — Tourists who are happy to pay high prices because they’re at Circular Quay and they think its worth it
2– Late Night Owls — and hey, let’s be honest, we’re so happy to get to eat something late at night which isn’t Maccas, so I guess it works for everyone…

Extra extra read all about it! Sydney’s first 24 hour restaurant.
This is the Australian version of the American diner experience you only read about. Styled with booths and old fashioned lighting. The walls are lined by interesting news articles probably spoof but quite funny. Sit inside or out and you can see the ferry’s going across to Manly from your tables you are literally 30m away from the water, without the fuss. I went the stuffed field mushrooms and I was not disappointed, the flavours were bouncing off my tongue. Take a group along there’s plenty of room as there’s upstairs as well. All the waiters are from overseas which gives the place a fresh and fun atmosphere. For harbour side dining you’ll be surprised once you’re done that there’s room for coffee and cakes up the road in one of the boutique patisserie’s at The Rocks.