Australia Restaurant Tips by filipdebont

Restaurant Name: The Zinc

The man behind the desk of our hotel (Maclaey Apartments - just across the street), advised us to cross the street.

There we found The Zinc, a modern looking cafe which was serving breakfast (and other meals - I think).

There was also a big terrace, in order to have your meal outside. But this was not the right time of the year - it was too cold and too wet.

Breakfast was ok, a good plate - as it was our first breakfast in Australia, it was hard to say something on the price, also sometimes a big city is a bit more expensive then elsewhere . . .

I had scrambled eggs with bacon and toast and a cafe latte.

Favorite Dish: Scrambled eggs with bacon and toast - 9.50 AUS $

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Theme: Breakfast
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (02) 9358 6777
Address: 77 Macleay St, Potts Point
Directions: corner with Crockwall Crest

Restaurant Name: Fountain Cafe

At the end of my first day of sightseeing in Sydney, I decided to have dinner in the neighbourhood of my hotel. So I walked along Macleay Street, and I noticed a big terrace at a small square with a fountain.

The fountain was the (famous ?) El Alamein Fountain. (In order to remember the battle at El Alamein in Egypt during the Second World War).

The big terrace was heated with big gas burners, which was not superfluous, as it was raining very hard and it was pretty chilly.

I order a T-bone steak - New York style with baked vegetables and potato pancakes. The meal was delicious.

As it was my first time visiting Australia, I wanted to try some local beers. So I did choose the Hahn beer. I do not know why (maybe it was happy hour), but the waitress brought two bottles, I had ordered only one, and paid also one.
But that was not a gift as the beer really tasted very bad, I believe this was the worst beer I did drink during my Australia roundtrip (I must also add that it was a Light beer maybe that was one reason)

I also thought wow, if this is the taste of Australian beers, well I will be drinking lots of Coca-Cola for the next weeks, but no no, luckily, I did discover some tasteful beers during my trip.

The service was quick and friendly.

Favorite Dish: T-Bone steak - New york style with baked vegetables and potato pancakes (Price : 19.80 AUS dollars)
(10 AUS dollars = +/- 6 euros or +/- 7.5 US dolars)

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Theme: Diner
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 02 9358 6009
Address: 18 Darlighurst Road
Directions: near El Alamein Fountain

Restaurant Name: Opium Den

The second evening, again we decided to have dinner, not so far from our hotel. Most of us were a bit tired, by the jetlag, and by the long day of sightseeing.

So we did choose this modern looking Thai restaurant along Macleay Street.

There were a lot of great dishes on the menu.

The service was great, en was the background music.

One thing was a bit strange to us as they did not serve wine or beer, you only could get water. If you wanted something stronger, you needed to bring it yourself, from a bottle store.

Like this we did buy some bottles of Coopers Pale Ale beer.

Favorite Dish: My favourite dishes were:

- Goong Spring Rolls (4) - Seasoned chicken and King Prawn wrapped in crispy pastry served with sweet chilli sauce) - 9.90 AUS$

- King Prawn Fried Rice (Thai Style fried rice with King Prawns) - 18.90 AUS$

(Exchange rate : 100 AUS$ = 60 Euro or 75 US$)

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Theme: Diner
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 02 9331 - 1991
Address: 2/89 Macleay St Potts Point
Other Contact: Fax : 02 9358 - 3332

Restaurant Name: Goldplanner Motor Inn

The night we stayed in the motel in Bathurst, the owners of the motel prepared a great Barbecue for us.

There was plenty of meat (sausages and beef), and also different kind of vegetables.

There was a kind of campfire, and that was necessary as it was very chilly over there.

The food was delicious.

The beer and the wine were bought buy us, along the road we did stop at a bottle store in order to buy some drinks. This time I went for A VB (Victoria Bitter - a good pilsener)

Favorite Dish: A good Barbecue dish with cold prepared potatoes, bread, coldvegetables, lots of baked onions and sausages.

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Theme: Barbecue
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Terrace Cafe / Bar

So day 5 : visiting the Blue Mountains

We visited Scenic World in Katoomba, where we did a hike down the valley. We returned via a steep rail track.

After this sightseeing adventure, it was time to eat something. Near the big souvenirs shop of Scenic world, there was a restaurant and a terrace bar / cafe.

We did choose the terrace cafe as there was not so much time left to eat. So this time no big meal, just time for a sandwich.

The service was good and quick, after ordering they gave you a kind of plastic stick with the number of your order on it, and when your order was ready, this "thing” started to vibrate.
This was kind of funny as it was the first time we did see this (later on we had more of these vibrating things).

Favorite Dish: Ham Cheese Foccacia - 8.50 AUS$

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Theme: Fast Food
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 1 Violet street, Katoomba

Restaurant Name: Belluci's

Our driver / guide showed us the direction on the map where a lot of restaurants were located, like this we arrived in this neighbourhood.

This Italian restaurant looked very modern, the staff was very helpful.

And the most important the food was delicious.

There was only one but . . . as we were sitting near the entry door, and this door did not close entirely every time someone entered or left the restaurant, it was kind of chilly / windy.

So if it is cold outside, do not sit near the door . . .

There was a big variety on pats and pizzas. (See the website for the menu)

My choice was : Gourmet Pizza Carnevale : Pizza with a selection of meats including pepperoni, ham, bacon and cabanossi with our home blend of barbecue sauce.

Favorite Dish: Gourmet Pizza Carnevale - 15,90 AUS$

(10 AUS dollars = +/- 6 euros or +/- 7.5 US dolars)

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Theme: Italian

Phone: 02 6257 7788
Address: Corner of Cape & Woolley St, Dickson ACT 2602
Website: http://www.bellucis.net.au/
Other Contact: Fax : 02 6257 7717

Restaurant Name: Tanswell's Commercial Hotel

After a long drive we finally arrived in Beechworth.

We had dinner in the Tannswells Commercial hotel (which had also a restaurant).

After we made a choice from the menu, we had to go to a back room to command our food (and to pay it). Also for the drinks we needed to pick them up from the bar in the next room.

At first this was a bit strange, but afterwards it looked very handy, as sometimes it can be difficult to obtain separate bills whenever you go eating with a big group.

The plates were well filled and the food tasted very good - so were the beers.

Above the bar there was a copy of the armour of Ned Kelly.

This was a nice place to spend the evening.

Favorite Dish: Mixed Grill : A massive grilled selection of steak, saussage, chop, bacon, eggs and tomato served with gravy. served with chips and vegetables. (20.90 AUS $)

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 30 Ford Street, Beechworth

Restaurant Name: Beechworth Bakery

As we wanted to visit Beechworth early in the morning, we needed an early breakfast. So the Beechworth Bakery was the ideal place for that, also it was near our hotel in the same street - and it was open from 6am to 7pm.

There was a great choice on cakes and sandwiches, so indeed it was not so easy to choose.
The service was great and pretty quick

I went for the toasted sandwich on thick bread with bacon, eggs, and cheese and to drink a café latte in a Mug.

After our early morning visit at Beechworth I returned to this Bakery to buy some chocolate cakes and some delicious croissants to eat at lunch.

PS : Motto on the paper napkins : Treat your body like a temple, have another cake - Tom O'Toole

Favorite Dish: Bacon, Egg and Cheese Toastie - 5.20 AUS$
Caffee latte in a Mug - 3.40 AUS$

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Theme: Breakfast
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (03) 5728 1132
Address: 27 Camp street - Beechworth 3747
Website: www.beechworthbakery.com
Other Contact: enquiries@beechworthbakery.com

Restaurant Name: Kellys Cookhouse Cafe

So on Day 8, we stopped in Glenrowan for lunch - Glenrowan the place where the local hero Ned Kelly was finally caught.

In Glenrowan there were several places to eat, we where with a big group so we did split up, like this we all got our food quicker then to eat all in the same place.

I had my lunch at the Kellys Cookhouse cafe. I was not really hungry so I did choose the Hot Roast beef Roll with some chips and to drink a café latte

After lunch there was still some time to sit and relax and enjoy the sun, och the warmth of sun did so good especially after a very cold morning walk in Beechworth.

Favorite Dish: Hot Roast Beef Roll - 4.50 AUS$
Chips - 1 AUS$
Cafe latte - 2.50 AUS$

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: along the main road in Glenrowan

Restaurant Name: Errols

After the rooms were divided, the laundry was done; we decided to go out for diner.

We crossed the busy Victoria Street and like this we arrived in Errol Street - a street full of bars and restaurants.

We did choose to eat at Errol’s. This restaurant looked modern and spacious.

There were plenty of delicious dishes on the menu to choose.

I started with Nachos - corn chips topped with melted cheese, tomato salsa, sour crème and avocado dip

My main course: Chicken Parmagiana - topped with Napoli sauce melted mozzarella served with chips and salad

It was delicious . . . and my main course was too big, I could not eat it all, however I am (was) a big eater, it was too much . . .

(The Greek salad in the photos was eaten by my room mate Jan)

Favorite Dish: Nachos - 9.50 AUS$
Cicken Parmagiana - 17.50 AUS$

2 Victoria Bitter - 10 AUS$ (5 AUS$ per drink)

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 03 9326 6610
Address: 69 - 71 Errol St North Melbourne