Sydney Eat Street: Best date night food experiences
Love is in the air with Spring so what better place is there to book that first date than at this Redfern venue, which is already the perfect marriage of a brewery and an Asian-inspired restaurant. It’s just one of the many meal options — from the casual day out to something a bit more fancy, Eat Street have the restaurants sure to make your get together a special one.
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When sparks fly after that initial coffee meet-up, keep the moment alight with first date experiences that are sure to impress.
Take a tour of Sydney’s best eateries right here with The Sunday Telegraph’s Eat Street. Are you hungry for more inspiration? Follow us on Instagram. #SydneyEatStreet
ATOMIC BEER PROJECT
Same same but different. It’s rather apt that a seemingly innocuous Thai phrase can describe the concept behind Atomic Beer Project — part brewery, part co-working space and part Asian-inspired restaurant — each one unique on its own but put them together with the same objective of creating a space that truly offers something for everyone and you’ve got a recipe for success — and the perfect date.
Until now, the hunt for good beer and good food required a fair amount of compromise. It’s either an ample ale selection and stodgy pub fare or quality dining with the token imported beer on the drinks list.
As a working brewery, head brewer Nick Ivey is forever experimenting with different hops and beer styles, ensuring a constant rotation on the taps, in addition to their classic pale ale, IPA and XPA, while up a few stairs in a semi-separate space, head chef, Jordan McLeod, brings his worldly travels and an uber-impressive CV (Pilu, Ormeggio, Flying Fish and Longrain Tokyo) to the kitchen delivering scrumptious dishes that pair familiar flavours with practised creativity such as the roast pumpkin topped with scrambled egg.
This stunning creation is his take on a common household Thai meal made with the same ingredients but quickly tossed together as a stir-fry.
Plus, adds Jordan, it makes for a great vegetarian alternative to the popular meat-centric options such as lamb massaman lamb curry and barbecue chicken with yakitori shoyu glaze and yuzu-kosho, culminating in a delightfully refreshing young coconut sorbet. Everyone walks out a winner.
— 158 Regent St, Redfern; atomic.beer
MARY’S ON TOP
Wind your way through the iconic live music venue space to a rear stairwell where red stencilled Jersey salutes point the way to the AstroTurf-laden open-air rooftop complete with upturned cable-drum tables, cranking tunes and pitchers of beer.
It may sound like backpacker heaven — and indeed it once was — but in the hands of the Lansdowne Hotel’s owners and the pair behind Mary’s Burgers, Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham, it’s a subtle class-act.
Tucked in the corner, under a blue canopy, a sausage sizzle seems to be underway, but rather than a snag sandwich, they’re serving up their famous Mary’s burger, a relatively straightforward creation whose premium ingredients helped create their cult-following status.
At the far end of the space, you’ll find a tipple for every taste with cold craft beers and uptown wines.
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Loud pumping music sets the scene for a rock and roll vibe, but funnily enough, it’s not so blaring as to drown out conversation, even less so when you’re at one of the up-cycled tables near the sidewall overlooking Victoria Park and which just happens to be a prime position to catch the sunset. Hint, hint.
— Lansdowne Hotel, rooftop, 2-6 City Rd, Chippendale; marys69.com
THE MORRISON BAR & OYSTER ROOM
Nothing says romance like oysters and champagne, and while that may seem presumptuous for a first date, it’s hard to pass up The Morrison’s annual Oyster Festival which through October 31, celebrates the bounty of Australia’s coastlines.
For a quick meet-and-greet, stop in between 6-7pm for $1.50 oysters and if things are going well after that indulge in their signature snow crab, and caviar adorned Million Dollar Oyster, along with a glass of G.H. Mumm Champagne ($25).
There are a variety of other dining and tasting options, but the crowning glory for the fest is chef Sean Connolly’s epic Oyster Special menu — a curated selection of his favourite oyster-centric dishes.
To start off, prep your palette with the very regal Morrison Oyster Martini — a freshly shucked oyster and Ketel One martini presented on its own petite silver platter, and a sure sign of the decadence to follow.
From there, order a plate with six or 12 Australian oysters, available with a selection of different dressings including fermented chilli XO, kimchi vinaigrette, horseradish crème Fraiche and Tanqueray gin and tonic granita, or splurge on the Million Dollar Oyster.
For something, a tick heavier opt for entrees such as oysters Kilpatrick or a fried oyster po’boy though the menu’s main stars – spaghetti carbonara with smoked oyster cream or hold out for the two mains — Carpetbag Fillet, an oyster-stuffed grass-fed eye fillet, Dijon, Jamon and Cafe de Paris gravy or the spaghetti carbonara with oyster crème, Where the evening goes from there is up to you.
— The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room, 225 George St, Sydney; themorrison.com.au
CHISWICK AT THE GALLERY
Chiswick restaurants have long championed seasonal menus, taking cues from the onsite garden’s fresh ingredients, so it’s no wonder that Chiswick at the Gallery’s head chef, Tim Brindley, also looks to his surrounds for inspiration and in the case of their current set menu, the Archibald Dining Menu, it’s the prize-winning artists that sparked his imagination.
“Our entire Archibald Dining Menu is a great conversation starter. We worked with three Archibald finalists to create dishes inspired by their unique experiences during lockdown — what they were eating, cooking and looking forward to eating post-lockdown, as well as dishes inspired by their favourite food memories,” says Brindley.
“It’s an experience that we can all relate to, to some degree. Our main is inspired by Tianli Zu’s (her painting is of former director of Art Gallery NSW, Edmund George Capon AM, OBE) love of Australian seafood — barramundi features alongside beautiful vibrant vegetables of zucchini and broad bean — the best that spring has to offer.
“Our dessert is inspired by Jane Guthleben’s (her painting is of Annabel Crab, a former journalist also known for her cookbooks and cooking shows) love of chocolate — both in and out of lockdown. We have created a decadent Valrhona chocolate mousse with almond and orange, sure to fix any chocolate craving.”
The Archibald Dining Package options include either two courses consisting of a main and dessert, plus exhibition ticket ($64) or three courses consisting of nibbles, a main, dessert and exhibition ticket. With food and entertainment sorted, that should leave you with plenty to talk about.
— Art Gallery of New South Wales, The Domain, Art Gallery Rd, Sydney; chiswickatthegallery.com.au
PET-FRIENDLY
Because pups are part of the family.
THE CLOCK
Smack dab in the middle of Surry Hills, The Clock has been an institution for more than 100 years, and with a relatively recent up upgrade to both the decor and the menus, plus an expansive dog-friendly courtyard, looks like they’ll be a local favourite for 100 years more.
— 470 Crown St, Surry Hills; clockhotel.com.au
PIER ONE
At the foot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with a stellar view over the water, it’s no wonder that one of this boutique hotel’s best features is the inspiration for its signature cocktail, The Sunset Spritz.
Grab a seat at one of the tables that run the length of the pier, order some seafood and share plates from the onsite “food truck” then settle in for the afternoon with Fido by your side.
If you’re a guest of the hotel, your fur-baby can have his own bed, food bowl, water bowl plus a minibar loaded with dog-friendly snacks.
— 11 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay; pieronesydneyharbour.com.au
VEGAN
Rather than resorting to the one token meat and dairy-free option on the menu, make a booking at these dedicated plant-based restaurants.
BODHI
Shrouded by towering fig trees in a park behind St Mary’s cathedral, this award-winning vegan restaurant, famous for its Pan-Asian cuisine and meat-free yum cha makes this the true definition of a hidden gem.
— 2-4 College St, Lower Mezzanine, Sydney; bodhirestaurant.com.au
ALIBI BAR & KITCHEN
Nothing is as it seems at Alibi, a tres chic restaurant and bar inside what is essentially the expansive lobby of a five-star hotel.
Situated on the upper level of the posh Woolloomooloo wharf, the menu is the brainchild of Alibi co-owner, Matthew Kenney, a celebrity chef, and forerunner of the plant-based cuisine, which means he’s plenty of time to perfect dishes that are both stunningly beautiful and remarkable delicious that range from the bright green kimchi-dumplings topped with a sesame and ginger foam to the jewel-toned cakes of their high-tea offering.
— Ovolo Hotel, 6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo; alibibar.com.au
WINE
When “red, white or bubbles” just won’t do.
THE WINE LIBRARY
For fans of the fermented grape, The Wine Library ticks all the boxes for date night. Its sleek steel fixture, soft lighting and ceiling-high wine-stocked shelves set the scene, while affable Master Sommelier Tim Perlstone provides suggestions in a manner that is both educational and approachable.
The accompanying menu could stand on its it, but with such an extensive wine selection to be had, Tim is on hand to help select and accompanying wine that suits both the food and the palette.
— 18 Oxford St, Woollahra; wine-library.com.au
HAND-PICKED CELLAR DOOR
It may be a tick too soon for a weekend getaway, but in the meantime, the cellar door experience can be had in Chippendale’s Kensington St food precinct.
Get the conversation flowing with a personalised tasting session of six different wines or do your own analysis with flights of four or six wines which can be complimented by a bespoke charcuterie board
— 50 Kensington St, Chippendale; handpickedwines.com.au
BIBO WINE BAR
While you may want to wait awhile before bringing your date home to meet the parents, you could start off with a meet& greet with the extended family, or more precisely, a place that treats you like family.
At this award-winning restaurant and wine bar, there is quite the pedigree in the kitchen, front of house and behind the wine collection, but one of bibo’s best attributes is something they don’t have – pretences – which is a true blessing when first dates can be stressful enough,
— 7 Bay St, Double Bay; bibowinebar.com.au
WHAT’S FRESH
LEO SAYER OUT OF LOCH-DOWN PERFORMANCE AND THREE-COURSE MEAL
Okay, so maybe this isn’t first date material, but it sure sounds like a lot of fun.
Head down to the Southern Highlands for a weekend of song, dance and a paddock to plate feast with pop icon, Leo Sayer. Taking advantage of the open space, particularly with concert venues and crowds still off-limits, Sayer will perform two shows — Saturday evening, October 10 and Sunday afternoon, October 11 — at The Loch, a working boutique farm run by chef and author, Brigid Kennedy.
Each performance starts with a welcome drink and using ingredients sourced from her farm, three courses which include a tasting plate with such tasty morsels as baby damper rolls and Spring lamb, followed by a choice of slow roast beef brisket, or Robbo trout. (Tickets are $185pp).
Should you miss out on this one fear not, as there are more events in the works.
— 581 Greenhills Rd, Berrima; theloch.net.au