The rabbit holes pizzas are so fresh and appertising. Washed down with a beer, good conversation, great atmosphere and not a huge bill. was a good night.

I came here for drinks with friends, and was absolutely blown away by the cocktails. These drinks cost around $20, but they're worth every cent--I've yet to find a place in Sydney with such a wonderful range of unique cocktails that were a complete delight to the palate. I had a "Wood and Smoke" (a beautifully smoky whiskey-based drink with cinnamon--my favourite from that evening), a "Life is Peachy" (whiskey-based, with lots of delicious peaches), and a "Aerated Caprioska" (an amazing lime and vodka-based "drink" that is made of foam, which you eat with a spoon!). Wonderful!

My only qualm is that the music was way too loud, and detracted from the exquisite cocktails. That being said, I'm definitely going back for more--perhaps at a quieter time--and I fully intend to work my way down the cocktail menu!

I spent hours online trying to find a place to host my 20th birthday party. I felt fortunate to have finally discovered Rabbit Hole Bar and Dining, and I was not necessarily disappointed. I chose Rabbit Hole because it sounded like exactly what I was looking for – something Wonderland-esque and fantastical, a place that dared to err outside conventional dining practices. After finally locating the elusive restaurant on Elizabeth Street in the pouring rain, we descended into what was an interesting night.

I made a reservation through email and received a response rather promptly to all of my questions. One of the turn-offs from larger restaurants I previously considered was the imposition of a gratuity tax for larger parties. Why should I have to pay more on my bill simply for having a larger number of people? Thankfully, Rabbit Hole places no such tax, leaving your post-gluttony billing simple.

The night started off! Rabbit Hole's cocktails menu is fantastic – we spent ages deciphering the artful descriptions in an attempt to decide. I started with the Breakfast Bouquet and I was not disappointed. An inviting rich red colour, the taste is simply divine, finding the perfect balance between sweet and alcoholic. My next poison of choice was the Kraken's Prey, an interesting concoction for those slightly more daring. The swipe of squid ink could be a turn-off to some, but what I liked about this drink is that the flavour changes as you drink. Starting off rather bland, it eventually evolved into something bittersweet and delicious. Then came the Chocolate Pop Martini, and we elected a dark chocolate flavouring. This drink was strong and heady, and while I enjoyed its simplicity, it was not necessarily well received by the table. My final drink was the New + Old Sparkling Cocktail. While this drink looks beautiful, I was not won over by the taste (but to be fair, I was in the minority on this).

What I liked about dinner here is the availability of two menus – bar and dining. If you're money-conscious, I would recommend sticking to the bar menu. For entrée, we shared a charcuetrie which was generally well received. The bread and hummus were memorable, but the gherkins and unidentifiable sausage/tuna meat received grimaces. For dinner, I ordered the wagyu beef burger and hand cut chips off the bar menu and I was not disappointed. This was absolutely delicious! While you'd have to unhinge your jaw to eat this, the flavours are fantastic – the beef was juicy and cooked perfectly, the bread was cloud-soft and the melted brie a work of art. While the chips were a bonus, the centre of attention is undeniably the burger (and I'm craving another already). We also shared a delectable cheese board, where there is virtually no room for error and a must for any table. However, the major gripe at the table was that the food and drinks appeared to be unreasonably overpriced. The cocktails are approximately $20 and while I would go back for one, you might need to take out another mortgage on your house to get drunk. To have a decent, filling meal, it costs approximately upward of $30, and to the poor uni student, this can put a slight damper on spirits.

In terms of service, my response is mixed. We were seated in the wrong area of the restaurant in the beginning as our reservation was mixed up with another's. The servers we dealt with were varied. One of the waiters was memorable (but perhaps a little hopeless) – he spoke to us informally, sat at our table and had a few jokes. It depends on your attitude towards dining propriety, but we (mostly) enjoyed his casual and affable demeanour. Our other servers seemed a little more frigid, but to be fair we did receive recommendations and comments on our drinks and they took some photos for us. There was also a mix-up with our bill twice (undercharged, then overcharged). Do the small annoyances detract from the overall experience? Maybe, maybe not.

Overall, I was pleased with my experience at the Rabbit Hole, and I am glad that I chose this place to have my birthday. The food tasted great, the drinks rid me of all propriety and the ambience was beautiful, very much unlike general dining experiences. If you haven't checked this place out, do an Alice and take the jump. Wonderland is never too far away.

Approximate cost: $30