delicious.100: How to enjoy the city’s best restaurants for cheap

Having a meal out can quickly break the bank— but not if you know where to go in Sydney, and when. Here’s the best hacks to help you enjoy some of the city’s finest eateries for cheap.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get the best out of Sydney – if you know where to look.

World-class cocktails at half the price, fine dining Japanese on a shoestring, nonna-approved fresh pasta at a fraction of the cost. Here’s the budget-friendly approach to the very best of Sydney.

MAYBE SAMMY cocktails

Maybe Sammy is all mid-century glamour, with references to Sammy Davis and the Rat Pack, but it’s the world-renowned cocktails that have us lining up, even better when they’re half the price. Bartender and co-owner Martin Hudak has a cocktail list at most price points, but go for the rotating $13 classic cocktails – served mini-sized, or arrive between 4.30pm and 5.30pm when they are only $7 each.

MAYBE SAMMY.

LP’s Quality Meats deli range from Harris Farms

The burgeoning wholesale business from the reopened LP’s Quality Meats means you can get their slabs of smoked short ribs and trays of handcrafted charcuterie from Harris Farm, Vic’s Meats and other Sydney locations. Their free-range pig’s head sausages, parsley and pecorino sausages and chorizo are also available online.

LP's Quality Meats.

Aria’s pre-theatre menu

At Aria you already have front row seats to the Opera House, the Bridge and Sydney Harbour, so it seems fitting that Matt Moran’s stunning fine diner would cater to those heading to yet another show within the Opera House. Book in any time ­before 6pm for a three-course, plus sides and a cheese course, degustation ($150) spanning options such as Abrolhos island scallops with artichoke and morcilla, grass-fed beef fillet with chicory, pressed potato and bone marrow, and passionfruit souffle with matcha and yuzu.

Aria.

Fred’s breakfast

A little known fact is that up-market Fred’s in Paddington opens its doors for breakfast every Saturday from 8am to 11am. But far from being just another breakfast service there’s a real European city market feel to it, and the cost is spare change compared to a usual night out here. Fred’s offers a sort of approachable old-world cooking that is guided by the seasons, set within a grand room with an open kitchen and open fire over which the likes of a whole John Dory is wood-roasted with brown butter and almonds. But on Saturday morning a marble bar is lined with a bounty of savoury scrolls with greens, goat’s curd and leeks, buttermilk scones – or biscuits.

Fred's.

Magnums and Movies at Hubert

Mega-bottles of wine paired with Oscar-winning drama, followed by a buffet from one of Sydney’s most popular – and usually difficult to get into – restaurants. Magnums and Movies is a series of dinners held at the restaurant’s own Theatre. Films such as Romeo + Juliet, My Own Private Idaho and Birdman meet a decadent feast. Tickets are $165, and include canapes, popcorn, a buffet feast and free-flowing wine for the duration of the event.

Hubert.

Fabbrica pasta shop for Ragazzi fresh pasta

Like many restaurants across the country, pasta gurus Ragazzi had to rethink their business model during the 2020 lockdowns. They quickly rolled out a line of cook-at-home fresh pastas and sauces to great ­acclaim. Now they’ve opened a dedicated mini pasta factory and retail shop in the CBD called Fabbrica. The moody outpost does a line-up of snacks and handmade pasta, cocktails and wines by the glass or you can buy your meal to go.

Fabbrica.

Fabbrica.

Simulation Senpai instead of Sokyo

In what could be the best value sushi in Sydney for what you are actually getting, Sokyo’s own Chase Kojima does stunning and utterly Instagrammable bowls of his steamed rice in different sizes to both dine in and takeaway at his Darling Square digs Simulation Senpai. Think: 12 slices of sashimi tuna marinated in what he calls “secret sauce” – but let’s be under no illusions here, this is no junkish mashup – plus a seared Hokkaido scallop on Masshigura rice, all topped with fresh ginger, ­yamaimo, umami miso mushroom and baby cucumbers ($35). He does a Saikyo miso cod as well, using ­Glacier 51 toothfish which alone is good value for the $38 price tag.

Fish Butchery or Charcoal Fish instead of Saint Peter

In the years since the phenomenally popular and lauded fish restaurant Saint Peter opened in Paddington, founder and chefs Josh Niland and business partner (and wife) Julie ­Niland have opened three other ­venues, each more accessible than the last. Upmarket Fish Butchery in Paddington is like a jewellery store that also does some of the best fish and chips in town, at a good price. Charcoal Fish in Rose Bay is a chook-shop-inspired place – its crispy-skinned rotisserie Murray cod with gravy is a marvel.

Fish Butchery Waterloo has also opened as a retail store and takeaway, an approachable place to pick up some quite far above average ­frozen meals – packs of prawn dumplings, fish pies, tuna lasagne, and Murray-cod fish fingers.

Kepos Street Kitchen deli range

In another win for hospitality after the pandemic the deli range at Kepos Street Kitchen is staying for the long haul. What started as a project during lockdowns, the deli fridge has expanded to more than 65 products that can now be bought for a fraction of the cost and enjoyed at home. There are dips such as hummus to eggplant and famous cauliflower salad and hot smoked salmon salad, condiments including zhoug, harissa and chermoula, as well as meals to cook at home spanning eggplant moussaka, meatballs and bolognese.

Kepos Street Kitchen

Originally published as delicious.100: How to enjoy the city’s best restaurants for cheap