Sydney Eat Street: 10 places to celebrate Valentine’s Day
It’s been said that the way to the heart is through the stomach so in the name of love, check out these foodie options across Sydney to keep the romance alive with your special someone.
It’s been said that the way to the heart is through the stomach so in the name of love, check out these foodie options across Sydney to keep the romance alive with your special someone.
Take a tour of the area’s best eateries right here with The Sunday Telegraph’s Eat Street. Are you hungry for more inspiration? Follow us on Instagram.
For a chance to feature your food picture in The Sunday Telegraph, tag #SydneyEatStreet.
FLYING FISH
For Valentine’s Day, award-winning restaurant Flying Fish will be offering three special additions to its already impressive menu.
Set the scene for romance with a dozen oysters and heart-shaped potato waffles topped with a small spoonful of caviar ($60 to share). Add a glass of Moët & Chandon champagne for $22.
“Valentine’s Day is a day for indulgences,” says executive chef Peter Robertson, noting how you should take the time to savour each bite, paying attention to the burst of the tiny black pearls along the roof of your mouth, followed by a buttery taste and finally a slight taste of salt.
If it is sweets you want, Peter has also added a dessert of macerated fruits, Valrohna chocolate, malt cream and chocolate sorbet ($32 to share).
— The Star; Level G, 80 Pyrmont Rd, Pyrmont; star.com.au/sydney/
PIZZERIA DA ALFREDO
It is the mouth-watering smells of freshly-made wood-fired pizza that will lure you into this lively Italian place and once inside it’ll be love at first sight when you first spy their authentic pizza Napoletana.
Come Valentine’s Day though, co-owner Alfredo makes them even more alluring by adding a bit of romance to the evening with his heart-shaped pizzas, a charming part to the evening’s San Valentino set menu.
The generous meal also includes a glass of prosecco on arrival, an antipasto board, octopus salad, zucchini flowers plus the pizza and a bowl of gnocchi and eventually panna cotta for dessert. That’s amore! ($40pp)
— 331 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe; pizzeriadaalfredo.com.au
TAYIM
Love is in the air and on the tables at Tayim — not just on Valentine’s Day.
With his modern take on the flavours and traditions of Middle Eastern cuisine, chef Ran Kimelfeld says: “One of the things I love most about my profession as a chef is helping others to celebrate special occasions through food, and ultimately ensuring a good night is had by all. Valentine’s Day is no different — it’s my privilege to cook for couples who enjoy dining out on this special day.” Visit Tayim here.
Tucked away in one of The Rocks’ historic buildings, the gentle dim lights and sleek, unadorned sandstone bricks set a romantic tone, perfectly suited to Ran’s five-course Valentine’s Day menu which includes the likes of sumac cured kingfish, scallop skewers and a choice of three mains to share.
For dessert, he says that while chocolate is not necessarily prevalent in Israel, he insists on using it for Valentine’s Day. However, to reflect Middle Eastern ingredients, he’s included plump cherries to his dark chocolate tart which is topped with a thin piece of chocolate covered with regional fennel, caraway and sesame seeds.
— 34 Harrington St, The Rocks
HACIENDA
Let’s face it, we’ve all bumbled and fumbled our way through a first date or special Valentine’s Day dinner. Fortunately, at this trendy 1950s Cuba-inspired bar a tasty chilled cocktail is on offer to settle the nerves of the evening’s date.
Come the 14th, Hacienda has partnered up with Bumble, the social networking and dating app, and Beefeater Gin to offer you a “Frozen Pink Gin” cocktail on the house when you show your Bumble to a member of staff.
For those taking romance into their own hands, you can buy one for $22 or for $70 get two plus a flaming Bombe Alaska, the classic meringue-topped dessert.
If bubbles are more your style, order a bottle of Perrier-Jouët Blason Rose and decadent chocolates for $120.
All that, plus a sweeping view of the Harbour Bridge, Hacienda has the making of a truly special Valentine’s Day.
— Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour; Level 3, 61 Macquarie St; haciendasydney.com.au
THE WINE LIBRARY
The soft moody lighting, polished steel bar and meticulously stocked wall of wine already sets the scene for romance but it’s the affable owners — Tim Perlstone, Matt Taylor-Watkins and Sam Jones — and efficient staff that will ensure you enjoy your evening.
While the expansive collection of wines may seem intimidating at first, master sommelier Tim Perlstone has scoured the globe, seeking out family-owned boutique wineries and produced a list that he says “has a balance of entry up to premium wines”.
Of particular note is the 65 different wines available by the glass — all of which Tim is happy to explain and recommend as to what is best suited to veteran chef Matt Taylor-Watkins’ (Bently, Monopole, Felix) dishes.
While there are many go-to dishes on the menu, such as the kingfish and trout rillettes, locals often defer to Matt and simply order “Matty’s Menu” — a tasting menu which usually features some favourites but also dishes he may be experimenting with or seasonal ingredients picked up from the markets.
For Valentine’s Day, Matt has prepared a delightful six-course meal with a glass of champagne on arrival.
There’ll be two sittings, the first from 6pm-8pm and the second from 8.15pm onwards.
— 18 Oxford St, Woollahra; wine-library.com.au
MUST TRY
LATIN AMERICAN FEAST
In Latin America, Valentine’s Day is a day of love, not just for your partner but also for friends and family.
So whether you opt to dine with your special someone or gather the caring people in your life, you’ll be spoiled with an eight-course sharing menu starting of with a special hibiscus and grapefruit margarita followed by such dishes as with such dishes as ceviche tacos, salmon carpassion with a passion fruit reduction and espresso duck breast.
Finish off the romantic fiesta with a Peruvian chocolate fondant with chocolate churros and blueberry and a box of artisan Sweet and Stone chocolates to take home. ($99pp)
— Tequila Mockingbird, 6 Heely St, Paddington; tequila-mockingbird.com.au
THE DINING ROOM, PARK HYATT SYDNEY
With the Opera House illuminated in the background and city lights off to the right, this elegant harbourside hotel is the ideal spot for a perfectly cosmopolitan date.
Enjoy a four-course meal, starting off with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Rose on arrival.
You’ll have a choice of three mains including pan-seared Cone Bay barramundi, charred Muscovy duck breast and the vegetarian option, slow-cooked eggplant. Finish it off with a Pavlova topped with red summer fruits, vanilla and yoghurt and strawberry consommé.
(For details visit http://bit.ly/2HU7Ydp)
— The Dining Room, Park Hyatt Sydney, 7 Hickson Rd, Sydney; hyatt.com/Park/Sydney
12-MICRON
The romantic staple of champagne, strawberries and cream is cleverly deconstructed in this stunning dessert.
Using a variety of fruits, particularly the ripe red berries, each is prepared differently to give the dish an interesting range of textures then topped with a champagne mousse.
It’s the grand conclusion of their five-course meal which includes a glass of Krug Grande Cuvée on arrival. It’s available through to February 17.
— Tower 1, Level 2, 100 Barangaroo Ave., Barangaroo; 12micron.com.au
THE ROCKS
Make it an evening of exploration as you wander hand-in-hand through the cobblestoned streets and rugged sandstone walls taking advantage of an abundance of Valentine’s Day specials in this historic neighbourhood.
Start off with a cocktail looking out to the iconic Opera House or rooftop venue, Mrs Jones, above one of Sydney’s oldest pubs.
Continue on for dinner at one of the area’s award-winning eateries such as contemporary Japanese restaurant, Sake or wood-fired surf and turf at Pony Dining.
— The Rocks, Sydney; therocks.com
GIVE THEM YOUR HEART
True love shows itself in many forms but there are really few better ways than with a delicate and delightfully artistic cake.
You’re sure to win over your Valentine with two special edition desserts — a heart-shaped cake with guava mousse, the dense pudding-like matcha creameux topped with a deep red grapefruit gel or a brown butter mousse, salted caramel, licorice cream log.
— KOI Dessert Bar; 46 Kensington St, Chippendale
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