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
Website: www.rockpool.com
Telephone: (02) 9252 1888
Tetsuya’s |
$$$$$ | Japanese |
Sydney's most famous chef is the internationally acclaimed
Tetsuya Wakuda - a master at blending Western techniques with
Japanese flavours in a unique way. The dining room is serene and
unobtrusively stylish with views onto a Japanese garden and
waterfall, and the changing menu offers specialities such as
scallop sashimi with duck foie gras, tartare of tuna with olive oil
and wasabi jelly, and marinated roast breast of duck with coffee.
Everybody who is anybody wants to eat here and reservations are
essential up to four weeks in advance. Open Tuesday to Saturday for
dinner, and Saturday for lunch. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Address: 529 Kent Street (CBD)
Website: www.tetsuyas.com
Telephone: (02) 9267 2900
Buon Ricordo |
$$$$$ | Italian |
Rated as the top Italian restaurant in Sydney, Buon Ricordo's
reputation is due in part to its jovial owner, host and chef,
Armando Percuoco who creates innovative dishes based on Neapolitan
and Tuscan styles of cooking. The ambience is akin to a private
Italian home complemented by a genuine warm welcome and
professional service. The signature dish of truffled egg fettuccine
is one of the city's best pasta dishes, and the warmed figs with
Gorgonzola and prosciutto is heavenly. Reservations essential. Open
Tuesday to Saturday for dinner, Friday and Saturday for lunch.
Closed Sunday and Monday.
Address: 108 Boundary Street, Paddington
Telephone: (02) 9360 6729
Chinta Ria – Temple of Love |
$$$$$ | Oriental |
Chinta Ria's buzzing atmosphere is presided over by a giant
smiling Buddha in the centre of the restaurant and crowds flock to
sample the delicious array of hawker-style Malaysian cuisine amid a
fun and funky ambience. Flavours are intense and dishes include
Laksa (Malaysian curry), hot and sour broth, and chilli prawns. A
selection of dishes to share is the best way to sample more of the
delicious food - the more people the better. Reservations are for
lunch only so arrive early for dinner or be prepared for a lengthy
wait. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
Address: The Roof Terrace, Cockle Bay Wharf, 201 Sussex Street, Darling Harbour
Website: www.chintaria.com
Telephone: (02) 9264 3211
Sailor’s Thai |
$$$$$ | Oriental |
Situated in the Old Sailors Home this popular restaurant has a
well-earned reputation for delicious and authentic Thai food. A
downstairs à la carte restaurant is elegant and serves
innovative food, while the upstairs canteen attracts the lunchtime
crowds, who sit together at a long stainless steel table. The food
is superb at both and includes Thai salads, stir-fries and
excellent red curries. Service is exemplary. Advance reservations
required at the main restaurant; not accepted at the canteen.
Canteen open daily; restaurant closed Sundays, no lunch
Saturday.
Address: 106 George Street, The Rocks
Telephone: (02) 9251 2466
Bayswater Brasserie |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
The Bayz, as it is affectionately called, has been serving
sumptuous dishes influenced by flavours of Asia and the
Mediterranean, first class seafood and cocktails for over 10 years.
The menu changes regularly and a blackboard shows the current
specials. A central oyster bar has added a new dimension to the
specialities list, and also offers a selection of seasonal food
from shellfish, foie gras, and cheeses that are a fabulous
accompaniment to a glass of chilled wine or champagne. Reservations
are recommended. Dinner Monday to Saturday as well as lunch on
Fridays.
Address: 32 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross
E-mail: info@bayswaterbrasserie.com.au
Website: www.bayswaterbrasserie.com.au
Telephone: (02) 9357 2177
Salt |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
This sleek, state of the art restaurant in Sydney's trendiest
suburb is the 'in' place for the fashion crowd to be seen.
Executive chef Luke Mangan has taken Salt to the top of the Mod Oz
movement with food that is innovative in its flavour combinations.
The menu changes regularly and includes vegetarian meals as well as
dishes like quail's egg encrusted with celery salt and sugar, and
baked guinea fowl breast with parmesan and artichoke puree.
Martinis are the drink of choice. Reservations essential. Dinner
Tuesday to Saturday as well as lunch on Fridays.
Address: Kirketon Hotel, 229 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst
E-mail: info@saltrestaurant.com.au
Telephone: (02) 9332 2566
Longrain |
$$$$$ | Oriental |
Located in a converted warehouse, Longrain encourages
traditional Asian-style dining with three long, wooden communal
tables and an enticing menu by chef Martin Boetz, with dishes that
are designed to be shared in order to fully appreciate the delicate
blend of Thai and southern Chinese influences. The décor is
hip, the food is remarkable, and it is the contemporary
warehouse-dining experience of choice by the trendy, sleek Surrey
Hills set. Dinner Monday to Saturday. No lunch Saturdays.
Address: 85 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills
E-mail: longrain@iprimus.com.au
Telephone: (02) 9280 2888
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
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
Website: www.ashianaindianrestaurant.com.au
Telephone: (02) 9977 3466
