Restaurants
Restaurants in Sydney
A multi-cultural city like Sydney has a wide variety of food
with influences from around the world, but particularly from Asia.
Along with modern Australian, or 'Mod Oz', cuisine, which combines
fresh ingredients with a creative blend of European and Asian
styles, restaurants serve almost any type of fare imaginable, from
Tibetan to African, from Russian to American. Some areas or streets
are dedicated to one type of food, while other areas in the city
offer a variety of styles. The range also varies from
award-winning, fine dining restaurants, situated mainly around the
harbour or attached to five-star hotels, to international fast food
takeaways such as McDonalds or Pizza Hut. Fresh seafood is in
abundance, and steak is a staple that can be found in a selection
of steakhouse chain restaurants scattered around the city.
The main dining areas in the centre of Sydney are The Rocks,
Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Chinatown. Prices vary according
to location, with harbour facing establishments charging more for
their views. Some restaurants are BYO, which means they are
unlicensed, but diners can bring their own wine; sometimes a small
corkage fee will be charged. All restaurants are non-smoking.
For a more comprehensive list of restaurants in Sydney see
www.sydneyrestaurants.com or
www.yourrestaurants.com.au/nsw/sydney
With breathtaking views of the Sydney city skyline and
Woolloomooloo wharf, diners at the stylish Manta will feel as if
they are dining at a Mediterranean seaside eatery. The exquisite
seafood is fresh and tantalises the taste buds in the form of
grilled Atlantic scallops served with watercress, shaved fennel,
orange and Mt Buffalo hazelnuts or steamed Murray cod, broccolini,
shitake and oyster mushrooms with a white truffle butter and
chives. Desserts here are something else - try the quince tarte
tatin, pistachios and pinot noir butter ice cream. Reservations
essential. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Address: 6 Cowper Wharf Rd, The Wharf, Woolloomooloo;
E-mail: reservations@mantarestaurant.com.au;
Telephone: (0)2 9332 3822
Rockpool began as a fine dining restaurant serving top-class
Australian produce with an Asian influence, and today chefs Perry
and Danis create original dishes that combine excellence,
especially when it comes to seafood, with Thai, Chinese, Middle
Eastern and Mediterranean flavours. The tea-smoked duck is highly
recommended! The décor is glamorously modern with glass and
chrome, and the busy kitchen hung with copper pots and pans is very
much at the centre of the action. Dinner Tuesday to Saturday.
Reservations essential.
Address: 107 George Street, The Rocks;
E-mail: enquire@rockpool.com;
Telephone: (02) 9252 1888
| Tetsuya’s |
$$$$$ | Japanese |
Sydney's most famous chef is the internationally acclaimed
Tetsuya Wakuda - a master at blending Western techniques with
Japanese flavours in a unique way. The dining room is serene and
unobtrusively stylish with views onto a Japanese garden and
waterfall, and the changing menu offers specialities such as
scallop sashimi with duck foie gras, tartare of tuna with olive oil
and wasabi jelly, and marinated roast breast of duck with coffee.
Everybody who is anybody wants to eat here and reservations are
essential up to four weeks in advance. Open Tuesday to Saturday for
dinner, and Saturday for lunch. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Address: 529 Kent Street (CBD);
Telephone: (02) 9267 2900
| Buon Ricordo |
$$$$$ | Italian |
Rated as the top Italian restaurant in Sydney, Buon Ricordo's
reputation is due in part to its jovial owner, host and chef,
Armando Percuoco who creates innovative dishes based on Neapolitan
and Tuscan styles of cooking. The ambience is akin to a private
Italian home complemented by a genuine warm welcome and
professional service. The signature dish of truffled egg fettuccine
is one of the city's best pasta dishes, and the warmed figs with
Gorgonzola and prosciutto is heavenly. Reservations essential. Open
Tuesday to Saturday for dinner, Friday and Saturday for lunch.
Closed Sunday and Monday.
Address: 108 Boundary Street, Paddington;
Telephone: (02) 9360 6729
| Chinta Ria – Temple of Love |
$$$$$ | Oriental |
Chinta Ria's buzzing atmosphere is presided over by a giant
smiling Buddha in the centre of the restaurant and crowds flock to
sample the delicious array of hawker-style Malaysian cuisine amid a
fun and funky ambience. Flavours are intense and dishes include
Laksa (Malaysian curry), hot and sour broth, and chilli prawns. A
selection of dishes to share is the best way to sample more of the
delicious food - the more people the better. Reservations are for
lunch only so arrive early for dinner or be prepared for a lengthy
wait. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
Address: The Roof Terrace, Cockle Bay Wharf, 201 Sussex Street, Darling Harbour;
Telephone: (02) 9264 3211
| Bayswater Brasserie |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
The Bayz, as it is affectionately called, has been serving
sumptuous dishes influenced by flavours of Asia and the
Mediterranean, first class seafood and cocktails for over 10 years.
The menu changes regularly and a blackboard shows the current
specials. A central oyster bar has added a new dimension to the
specialities list, and also offers a selection of seasonal food
from shellfish, foie gras, and cheeses that are a fabulous
accompaniment to a glass of chilled wine or champagne. Reservations
are recommended. Dinner Monday to Saturday as well as lunch on
Fridays.
Address: 32 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross;
E-mail: info@bayswaterbrasserie.com.au;
Telephone: (02) 9357 2177
| Salt |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
This sleek, state of the art restaurant in Sydney's trendiest
suburb is the 'in' place for the fashion crowd to be seen.
Executive chef Luke Mangan has taken Salt to the top of the Mod Oz
movement with food that is innovative in its flavour combinations.
The menu changes regularly and includes vegetarian meals as well as
dishes like quail's egg encrusted with celery salt and sugar, and
baked guinea fowl breast with parmesan and artichoke puree.
Martinis are the drink of choice. Reservations essential. Dinner
Tuesday to Saturday as well as lunch on Fridays.
Address: Kirketon Hotel, 229 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst;
E-mail: info@saltrestaurant.com.au;
Telephone: (02) 9332 2566
This sunny corner café has earned Sydney icon status for
its outstanding breakfasts, with signature dishes including ricotta
hotcakes with bananas and honeycomb butter, sweet corn fritters
with roast tomato, bacon and spinach, and the best scrambled eggs
in the city. The friendly communal table, nouveau café-style
décor, professional service and consistently good food make
Bills immensely popular. Open for lunch and breakfast. Closed
Sunday. Reservations are not accepted.
Address: 433 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst;
Telephone: (02) 9360 9631
| Bistrode |
$$$$$ | International |
This popular eatery owned by chef couple Jane and Jeremy Strode
is a must for all food lovers. Jane trained in Sydney's renowned
Rockpool, while Jeremy gained invaluable experience at the three
Michelin starred Waterside Inn in England. Their combined
experience is enough to tempt even the most sceptical into their
doors. Serving delectable dishes such as smoked eel, celeriac and
celery or the Scotch fillet steak served with a bone marrow and red
wine sauce, diners can end off with the William Pear sorbet with
passionfruit sauce and shortbread or the Honey tart served with
peanut butter ice cream. Reservations recommended. Open for dinner
from 6pm Tuesday to Saturday and for lunch on Friday from 12pm.
Address: 478 Bourke Street, Surry Hills;
E-mail: info@bistrode.com;
Telephone: 02 9380 7333
This trendy restaurant with stylish décor and a fabulous
menu to boot is situated above the Icebergs swimming pool on Bondi
beach and provides some of the most breathtaking views over the
Pacific Ocean. Dishes such as wonderful seafood risottos, Finders
Island salt crusted suckling lamb and delicious char-grilled steaks
make this restaurant a firm favourite with locals and tourists
alike. Reservations recommended. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Closed Mondays.
Address: One Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach;
E-mail: idrb@idrb.com;
Telephone: (0)2 9365 9000
Situated in the Northern Beach suburb of Manly, Ashiana is one
of the best cheap Indian restaurants in Sydney and is extremely
popular for its friendly service, award-winning traditional spicy
cooking, and local ambience. Portions are large and filling and
covered in sauce, which is best soaked up with quantities of
tandoori breads. The menu offers tandoori specialities as well as
chicken, lamb, beef, seafood, pork and vegetarian favourites, such
as butter chicken, Malia Kofta, Roganjosh, beef korma, and fish
curry. Banquets are also good value offering a choice of
entrée and main course, which are accompanied by rice and
tandoori bread and followed by tea or coffee. Reservations
recommended. Dinner daily.
Address: 2 Sydney Rd, Manly;
Telephone: (02) 9977 3466
