Ormeggio At The Spit

The verdict

Perched above Middle Harbour, Ormeggio at The Spit has spent nearly two decades shaping Sydney’s idea of Italian fine dining. Now, after 17 years, the Pavoni flagship is entering a new phase of life—a more flexible approach to the menu that goes beyond its signature seafood focus. 

Alongside the long-standing degustation, there’s now a $98 Primi & Secondi offering, designed to give diners more control over the pace and structure of their meal. It's a step away from rigid fine dining, without sacrificing the precision and detail-oriented cooking they are known for. 

The menu itself has widened slightly, too. While seafood still anchors the offering, you'll find a more confident inclusion of premium meat dishes, rounding out the kitchen’s expression of Italian cooking. 

Dishes continue to lean into technical execution with a clear Italian through-line. There’s saffron risotto alla milanese layered with scallop and roe emulsion, spanner crab spaghetti in a rich cacciucco, and dry-aged tenderloin finished with foie gras and truffle jus. The signature bottoni pasta remains a constant—this season filled with roasted pumpkin, balanced with burnt butter, sage and hazelnut.

Snacks and smaller plates still play a key role, offering a way to build out the meal or keep things lighter, while the wine list stays focused on Italian producers, supported by a tight edit of Australian and French bottles.

Inside the space, floor-to-ceiling windows frame the harbour, and the dining room—layered with marble, rattan and warm finishes—leans into that coastal Italian feel without losing its Sydney footing.

Ultimately, this refresh is less about the intent of the venue and more about widening the access point to a diversified pool of diners. Ormeggio is still operating at a high level, but they're responding to current feedback and finding ways to keep things fresh and exciting—without sacrificing the values that made them a Sydney institution in the first place. 

Image credit: Ormeggio at the Spit | Supplied