Sydney Eat Street: Where to eat as we emerge from lockdown
We’re almost there so start making those post-lockdown plans to just sit and enjoy one another’s company — with some great food and drinks.
Eat Street
Don't miss out on the headlines from Eat Street. Followed categories will be added to My News.
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 or Twitter. #SydneyEatStreet
The Bavarian
We’ve missed a few holidays over the past four months, but The Bavarian is ready to help you make up for lost time with their annual month-long Oktoberfest celebration.
The first venues to re-open will be the CBD and Manly Wharf locations on Tuesday, October 12, followed by the other 14 throughout the week.
While the festivities would typically run to the end of the month, they’ve opted to keep the German beers flowing and the oompah band playing through to November 28.
That leaves you plenty of time to get in for their famous plate-sized schnitzels or the signature Oktoberfest tasting platter with crispy pork knuckle, pork belly crackling, German sausages, and so much more ($39pp, minimum two people).
THICC Cookies
Whether it’s a pint at the pub, a backyard BBQ, or a picnic beyond 5km, everyone has a “can’t wait to do” activity at the top of their post-lockdown bucket list.
For those keen to celebrate over a get-together at home with family and friends, make the moment even more memorable with the 1kg Lotus Biscoff cookie from THICC Cookies ($55).
This unforgettable treat is perfect for sharing and way more impressive than a store-bought cake.
As for the taste, co-owner Christopher Scheldrik says: “Around the world, people are going crazy for Lotus Biscoff – and it’s one of the most popular flavours across our THICC Cookies and BIGG Brownies ranges.
“It’s actually among our top three flavours. Biscoff works so well in cookies, which is why we’ve created a super-sized, 1kg version. We listened to our cookie customers about what they love, and our team did plenty of work to perfect the ‘recipe’ and introduce this beautifully thick and gooey New York-style cookie. Why? Well, our customers deserve it.”
THICC Cookies and BIGG Brownies ship Australia-wide and delivers throughout the Sydney metro region.
Fratelli Fresh
As lazy, long lunches look set to return, be sure to get a booking in early for an outdoor table at Fratelli Fresh, a collection of casual eateries known for their authentic Italian fare, Aperol Spritz, and for some lucky locations, outdoor tables with big umbrellas and red-checked awnings.
Bring the family in for pizza and pasta, or for those looking to linger a bit longer, opt for the Festa Italiana ($59pp) — a three-course set menu that includes their generous antipasti board, two pasta dishes, a chef’s selection of pizzas, vibrant house salad, and dessert.
You can add on wagyu rump or cod al cartoccio for an additional $5pp as well as a drinks package (Aperol Spritz, beer, wine, and soda) for an additional $30pp.
If you’re after something a tick more refined, come November, Fratelli Fresh will be opening a new upscale split-level venue on Grosvenor Place, which will feature an alfresco terrace with cityscape views … and, of course, Aperol Spritzes.
The Taphouse & Elm Rooftop Bar
Things are heating up in Darlinghurst as The Taphouse, otherwise known as craft beer central, reopens with head chef Axel Chilton’s new smokehouse menu.
While other places were perfecting their lockdown lasagnes, Chilton was busy working the resident rooftop smoker trialling and testing carnivorous, vegetarian and vegan recipes such as vegetarian peach smoked corn ribs and the vegan watermelon ‘tuna’ tacos which feature compressed watermelon in soy and sesame oil.
Meat-lovers will adore the slow-cooked brisket with Texas-style rub, and the Andouille dog with housemade Andouille sausage.
“My grandfather’s southern-American roots influenced my style of cooking growing up, and in combination with my Canadian upbringing, I’ve cultivated a unique style of southern American BBQ with a touch of Canadian flair,” Chilton says.
“The Andouille sausage featured on The Taphouse’s new smokehouse menu is something you won’t find anywhere else in Sydney. We’ve found a local butcher, passed on our secret recipe, and they are custom making our Andouille from scratch each week.
“The heritage of this sausage is actually French, but once the Americans got a hold of it and threw it in the meat-smoker, it created a completely different crisp on the outside and creamy perfectly texturised on the inside sausage.
“The BBQ menu is something that we have been waiting to do for the past 6 months, ready for summer. And having grown up around this style of food, it really does have a special place in my heart; I still use mum’s cornbread recipe to this day (which is on the menu).
“Since starting at The Taphouse, I was given unlimited creative ability to design a menu using the meat smoker, and I am so happy with the results.”
There are also some timely changes at The Taphouse’s rooftop bar, Elm, with a cocktail list suited to the warmer weather. The open-air setting (something we will probably never take for granted ever again) is the ideal place to enjoy a tipple or three with drinks such as a jalapeño infused ‘Spicy Margarita’ or a passionfruit ‘Pornstar Martini’.
Of course, all the fan favourites that made The Taphouse a Darlo legend, including the Sunday roast, pub menu, craft beers and classic cocktails, is just waiting for your return.
— 122 Flinders St, Darlinghurst; taphousedarlo.com.au
Gowings Bar & Grill, Parlour Cucina
Adjacent to the regal State Theatre within the walls of the old Gowings building is the boutique hotel, QT Sydney.
Here you’ll find both luxurious accommodation and dining options that have respected the space’s architectural elements and embraced the art deco and Gothic design.
At Gowings Bar & Grill, the expansive dining rooms has the energy of an after-hours New York steakhouse with a well-lit room featuring hardwood floors, tan leather chairs, and an array of artwork reflective of Sydney in the roaring ‘20s.
There’s an expansive open-kitchen that gives sight to the seasonal bistro-esque menu that extols the origins of the ingredients’ producers such as wagyu from Mudgee, lamb from Cowra and scallops from Abrolhos Islands, WA, while the bar serves up classic and signature cocktails as well as their famous Negroni fountain. Downstairs on the ground level is Parlour Cucina.
Its lobby setting is surrounded by art deco elements, including glass cabinets with mannequins adorned in theatrical costumes reflective of the adjoining theatre. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Parlour Cucina has the casual intimacy of cafe tables lining the Riviera with Italian fare that ranges from fried calamari and charcuterie boards to cheese plates and Tiramisu.
There are also a number of Stay-and-play offers to be had, making it all that much easier to have a full night on the town.
— 49 Market St, Sydney; gowingsbarandgrill.com.au
Employees Only
There’s an aura of excitement that comes with the moodiness of a dimly-lit cosmopolitan cocktail bar, but Employees Only takes it to the next level with eccentric burlesque entertainment, psychic readings, and a restaurant menu that’s on par with their renowned cocktails list.
And just to remind you of what you’ve been missing, Employees Only is offering 50 per cent off your entire bill Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm-7pm throughout October.
That means you can enjoy the likes of dukkha-crusted lamp rump and beef tartare alongside their classic EO Manhattan – Woodford Rye Whisky with EO Rosso Vermouth, Grand Marnier and Angostura bitters. Book in soon, though, as this offer will fill up fast.
— 9A Barrack St, Martin Place, Sydney; employeesonlysyd.com
I Maccheroni
Blink, and you’ll miss the nondescript front door, so trust your senses and follow the intoxicating smell of authentic Italian food to find this culinary gem.
At I Maccheroni, Michelin Star-trained chef Marcello Farioli serves up classic Italian fare, emphasising sustainable cooking practices using seasonal and local produce to create such dishes as spinach and Parmigiano Tortelli with burnt butter and sage, and a beef cheek ragout.
To get the whole experience, opt for the set menu or, better yet, make a booking for one of their curated wine dinners.
— 3 Jersey Rd, Woollahra; imaccheroni.com.au
Stitch Bar
We’re all after a catch-up with friends, but if you’re on the lookout for something special you can all do together, why not try a private cocktail class.
First, though, you’ll need to hunt for Stitch, a pocket bar akin to the late-night haunts of New York’s bohemian neighbourhoods is “hidden” at the bottom of a staircase off York Street, behind a faux tailor’s shop (thus the name “stitch”).
Once inside, you’ll find an American diner-inspired menu and a drinks list featuring US spirits. Hunker down with the crew in your own private space for some light snacks and an intimate tutorial on making two different cocktails ($69pp)
— 61 York St, Sydney; houseofpocket.com.au
The Pacific Club Bondi Beach
After months of separation, there is so much to talk about and what better way to do it than over a Bottomless Brunch along Bondi Beach.
Every Saturday from noon, enjoy a four-course set menu along with two hours of limitless prosecco spritz cocktails and select wines. The dishes, designed to be shared, include delights as wood-fired king prawns, Vanella burrata cheese, and a 200g eye fillet with shoestring fries.
— 182 Campbell Pde, Bondi Beach; thepacificclub.com.au
Tasty Towns Gelato
Meet up with friends for a sweet reunion over housemade gelato, sorbet, stroopwafel and macarons and this new gelataria in Rhodes.
Using traditional methods taught at the renowned Carpigiani Gelato University and only the freshest of ingredients and seasonal fruit, owners Tommy and Wilke have created flavours that range from classic vanilla, chocolate, and hazelnut, to Asian-inspired matcha, taro and black sesame, as well as their signature flavour, Speculaas, a Dutch spice mix with a crunchy speculoos ripple.
So, when it’s time to get the gang back together, just head on down to Tasty Towns.
— Shop G18/6 Walker St, Rhodes; tastytownsgelato.com
WHAT’S FRESH
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
We may not have been able to travel, but fortunately for burger lovers, the cult-worthy burger chain, Five Guys has been able to make the journey from the USA and landing in Penrith.
The menu is simple; it’s basically burgers and fries, but with 15 different toppings on offer, you can create something modest or completely mind-blowing.
Be sure to add an order of overflowing fries and a milkshake to complete the experience. You’ll then see why this humble burger joint started by a father and his four sons outside of Washington D.C. has grown to over 1500 outlets worldwide.
— 123 Mulgoa Rd, Penrith; fiveguys.com.au
Winter warmers to celebrate the season
Everyone is happy to see the sun peeking through the clouds, but winter’s not all bad. Bid farewell to the colder days with one last hurrah of warming fare.
Sniffing out Sydney’s best truffle desserts
Save the best for last. As truffle season comes to a close, be sure to indulge in some sweet treats featuring the annual earthy gem.