Chef Refaie Kee, formerly of Zuko Bistro, has quietly opened this restaurant among the ever-burgeoning lifestyle precinct around the Robertson Quay area. And it seems to be doing pretty well. The many times we’ve peered inside to the clean lined and subdued toned interior, the restaurant has always been peppered with diners eating elegantly presented dishes. So we were eager to see if the experience was as sophisticated as the surrounds promised. On the day we visited the restaurant was actually very quiet, which meant we received extremely attentive service throughout our meal. Of the starters we liked the maguro tuna loin carpaccio the best—the dressing was tangy with a hint of sweetness, but light enough to maintain the taste of the fish. Among the mains we were also happiest with the steamed garoupa which was perfectly cooked and the lamb shank, a surprisingly Asian-influenced mixture of tastes with a hint of spice. With the exception of the very reasonably priced Rochford shiraz, nothing about Reif+James’s menu blew us away, but for an above average meal in a stylish environment suitable for a romantic meal or entertaining clients, this is not a bad choice. BYO corkage $30.
