A foodie’s guide: 18 Sydney eateries to try in 2018
ALL aboard the Sydney flavour train, 2018’s going to be a tasty ride. Our food enthusiast takes us on a culinary journey of our city’s most delicious eats.
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KATHERINE Gennusa, food enthusiast and co-founder of @lickyourphone, shares her new year’s resolution list for 2018, and naturally, it’s full of the hottest places to eat all over Sydney right now.
Sydney CBD
1. Bridge Bon-Appétit
Location: 15 Bligh St, Sydney (on top of Hubert)
This is the latest addition to the uber fabulous French haunt, Hubert, right in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. Located in the mezzanine bridge above Hubert’s main dining room, the intimate 50 seat diner boasts a carefully crafted and curated offering of 11 dishes and a drinks list to please even the fussiest of Francophiles. If you fell head over heels for Hubert, Bridge Bon-Appétit is sure to keep the love affair alive.
Open: Dinner
Website: http://www.restauranthubert.com/
2. Chin Chin
Location: 69 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills
Another new-to-Sydney spot, the highly anticipated Chin Chin (originally from Melbourne), is located in the stunning 100-year-old heritage listed Griffiths Tea building. It’s high-energy atmosphere goes hand-in-hand with it’s flavour train of dishes from Massaman braised brisket curry to crispy barramundi with green apple salad and caramelised pork. They have an extensive wine list also, including a range of on-tap wines. Go on, round up the troops and make a night of it.
Open: Dinner
Website: https://www.chinchinrestaurant.com.au/sydney/
3. Donut Papi
Location: 34a Redfern St, Redfern
Cult Asian-inspired stall Donut Papi now has a permanent home after two years of selling their baked goods at market stalls across Sydney. Owners Kenneth and Karen Rodrigueza draw on their Filipino heritage for flavour inspiration, using ube (purple yam) and pandan in their creations in addition to more classic options like Nutella and peanut butter. You can expect more than just donuts here though, with a daily menu rotation of handmade Pop-Tarts, muffins, brownies, cakes, duffins (a donut muffin), fudgy cookies, playful milkshakes and frappés. Donut wait, go.
Open: Breakfast and lunch
Website: http://www.donutpapi.com/
4. Rosetta
Location: 118 Harrington St, Sydney
Sydneysiders, if you’ve not yet experienced Neil Perry’s Italian fine diner Rosetta in Melbourne, here’s your chance. Situated in Grosvenor Place, Rosetta Sydney offers a rustic, sophisticated food and wine menu with a seafood focus, pastas made fresh daily, a rooftop terrace and a mozzarella bar fit to please even the pickiest of nonnas.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Website: http://www.rosettarestaurant.com.au/sydney/home/
Eastern Suburbs
5. Bondi Beach Public Bar
Location: 203/180 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
Watch out Sydney, there’s a hot new pub in town. Opening its doors last month, Bondi Beach Public Bar (BBPB) is brought to you by the team behind Icebergs Dining Room and the Dolphin Hotel. The community-focused venue aims for a casual, old-school vibe, channelling 1970s and 80s Aussie pub culture. The menu, described as “Italo-Aussie” pub grub, definitely has some standouts and make sure to cast an eye over their carefully curated wine list too. Must try: the double-patty squish cheeseburger, all day brekkie pizza (yes, you heard right) with eggs, tomato, mozzarella, spicy Italian sausage and mushroom, and the fried chicken with pickles and chilli aioli. Keep the little ones happy with their kids menu and for something sweet grab a gelato waffle bowl.
Open: Brunch, lunch and dinner
Website: https://bbpb.com.au
6. Fred’s
Location: 380 Oxford St, Paddington
Fred’s is a farm-to-table establishment brought to you by the Merivale Group. Head Chef Danielle Alvarez and her team focus on featuring sustainable, seasonal produce, predominantly cooked by flame, coals or smoke. The venue oozes a cozy, calm, Californian vibe where diners are made to feel at home, savouring up dishes like grilled king prawns with fresh turmeric and kaffir lime butter or juicy Moorlands lamb. There are some dessert standouts also, the chocolate pot de crème for one and the macadamia meringue with yoghurt and fresh strawberry.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Website: https://merivale.com.au
7. Upper East Side
Location: 14-16 O’Brien St, Bondi Beach
Just up the road from bustling Bondi Beach you’ll find Upper East Side, one of Bondi’s newest dining venues. The decor here is super luxe and reflects its location to a tee, exuding a tropical, beachy vibe, perfect for social gatherings and dining enthusiasts. Indulge in their sit down menu filled with the likes of slow-cooked wagyu and beetroot and buffalo curd salad, or if you’d prefer a seat at the bar, opt for the crispy chicken burger with lettuce, pickles, saffron aioli & fries. If you’re keen for some weekend brunch, tuck into the pan-fried banana bread, crème fraiche & salted caramel curd.
Open: Brunch (weekends), lunch and dinner
Website: http://uppereastsidebondi.com/
Inner West
8. Happy Ending Burger
Location: 55 Majors Bay Rd, Concord
If you’ve been a long time lover of Mister Gee Burger Truck, well, you’re in for a fresh breath of burger air. Owner Gee Ozgen has expanded his burger brand into a permanent store, offering a humble, but solid menu of 3 milk bun burgers (using juicy dry aged patties), a fried chicken sandwich, various sides (go the fries covered in cheese sauce), and alternating specials. The shop rocks a different vibe with a dark, neon-lit fit out, and while it’s no substitute for the original food truck, it sure makes a great addition.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Happy-Ending-Burgers-345489832593256/
9. Peanut Butter Bar
Location: 161 Norton St, Leichhardt
For all the peanut butter ‘nut’s’ out there, your prayers have been answered. Sydney’s first ever cafe devoted to the nutty spread offers healthy, indulgent sweet treats. These guys even have peanut butter on tap. I repeat, peanut butter ON TAP. When owner Christine noticed a gap in the market for fitness enthusiasts who still wanted to indulge, she decided to bring all her peanut butter recipes under one roof. Here you’ll find dessert items ranging from gelatos to cookies, shakes, pancakes, puddings and much more (with protein and non-protein options). You can #TreatYoSelf whilst still sticking to your new year, new me resolutions, score!
Open: Lunch and dinner
Website: http://peanutbutterbar.com.au/
North West
10. Down ‘n’ out
Location: 95 Blaxland Rd, Ryde
American-style burgers have arrived at Top Ryde. After developing a cult burger brand, owners Archie Saliba and Ben Kagan decided to open their first independent Sydney store. Here, diners can expect crazy weekly burger specials with their infamous oozing deep-fried cheese patties and hot death sauce, plus delectable new additions to the menu. They’re also serving up some mouth-watering milkshakes, and with a liquor licence in the works, you can look forward to some creative cocktails in the future too.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Website: http://www.downnout.com.au/
The Hills District
11. Good Fella Coffee
Location: G07/5 Celebration Dr, Bella Vista
Good Fella Coffee offers a simple, but concise menu of salads, bagels (baked in-house daily), sandwiches and slab-style pizzas. Brought to you by the boys behind The Baron, their newest venture aims for an industrial, modern and relaxed vibe and is quickly becoming a local favourite. Drop in and try one of their crispy, light bagels paired with a superb cup of Single O coffee.
Open: Breakfast and lunch
Website: https://goodfella.co/
North Shore
12. Royal Stacks
Location: 357/1 Anderson St, Chatswood (Chatswood Westfield)
Melbourne’s burger royalty have settled in Sydney, and if you live on the north shore and haven’t tried their mouth-watering menu yet, are you EVEN from the north shore? From the ‘Miss Elizabeth’, yes she comes with truffle mayo, to cheeseymite gems with ALL that extra cheese sauce. And most importantly, don’t forget to finish it all off with one of their dreamy, creamy frozen custard desserts.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Website: http://royalstacks.com.au/
Northern Beaches
13. Daniel San
Location: 55 North Steyne, Manly
From seafood to your favourite pub classics, this Okinawa inspired Japanese Rock ‘n’ Roll bar brings fun and loads of flavour to Manly’s iconic beach front. It’s a sensory delight for all ages, decked out with classic rock pinball machines, arcade games, kids colouring tables and all your favourite rock classics and dance hits to party to on Saturday nights.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Website: http://www.danielsan.com.au/
Western Sydney
14. ALEX & Co.
Location: 330 Church St, Parramatta
It’s no secret that Parramatta has become a hot foodie hub in recent years and Alex & Co. is a new delicious addition to the bustling Church Street strip. With it’s $2.5 million luxe fitout, ex-NOLA chef Kyle Quy has constructed a modern Australian menu bursting with flavour. But don’t forget to check out their killer cocktail menu also. A must try here is the 3-hour braised lamb shoulder (to share), the garlic sourdough cob (for the wow factor, trust me) and the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ cocktail which is served out of a totally adorable teapot.
Open: Lunch & dinner
Website: http://www.alexandco.com.au/
15. Butter
Location: Shop 3, 140 Marsden Street, Parramatta
You butter believe it. The famous fried chicken and sneakers joint has found a new home in Parramatta, serving up their cheezus sandwiches, fried tofu nuggets, hot donuts and much more. Hot sauce warning: These are not for the faint hearted, so if you’re particularly sensitive to spicy food, opt for ‘naked’ or ‘OG’. ‘Fire’ and ‘hot AF’ is, as the name implies, hot as HELL, and if you happen to make the same mistake I did, just order one of their softserves to bring yourself back down to earth.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Website: https://buttersydney.com.au/
South West Sydney
16. El Topo Cantina
Location: 6 Homepride Ave, Warwick Farm
With it’s great success in Bondi, El Topo has expanded into Sydney’s Southwest, creating a casual, vibrant eatery that offers a menu filled with share dishes and street food — just how Mexican should be. Kick off your Mexican flavour fiesta with some chorizo and pea croquettes and Baja fish tacos, or, if you’d prefer to salivate over something more substantial, try the slow-braised beef cheeks with sauteed garlic potatoes, pickled guindilla chillies and chimichurri. And with over 40 tequilas behind the bar, you know you’re in for a fun night.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Website: https://www.eltoromotorinn.com.au/el-topo-cantina
17. Donut Bomb
Location: 2-18 Orange Grove Road, Liverpool
Donut Bomb has exploded in Sydney and, you guessed it, this dessert bar is dedicated to the doughy treat. From a Doffle on a stick (that’s a donut waffle hybrid), to epic donut towers, donut French Toast, pancakes, burgers (sweet and savoury), sliders and shakes, you’ll be rolling out of there. And to wash all your diet sins away, we recommended ordering the baklava milkshake, because yolo.
Open: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Donut-Bomb-1707573799474035/
18. Z.I.A Kitchen
Location: 62 Canarys Rd, Roselands
Z.I.A Kitchen is a little leafy oasis perfect for a low-key get together with friends or family. This local gem serves up The Grounds coffee and some droolworthy dishes. The blueberry hot cake has become a hot favourite among diners, gracing Instagram accounts all over Sydney. Alternatively, try the choc crackle French Toast with lemon curd, stewed rhubarb, strawberries, nut crumble and mascarpone cream or for some savoury flavour go the Wild Mushroom brekkie with poached eggs, three cheese croquette and crispy kale aioli. You’ll be spoilt for choice, so make sure you wear your stretchy pants.
Open: Breakfast and lunch