Sydney Restaurant Tips by astro_kerryn

Restaurant Name: Newtown, Enmore & Petersham Restaurants

The food here is fantastic, I can't rate it highly enough, the staff are so friendly and helpful, the atmosphere varies, depending on what area you sit in. Upstairs, out the back or at the front with the cushions and candles, all feel like a completely different place, when you try a new area you forget you are in the same restaurant. This place is very inexpensive, and not really for the luxury traveller, providing more authentic Thai food as opposed to Australian/Thai gourmet fusion food that you might see at a very expensive restaurant. The food and value is worth it if you are prepared to overlook the average decor.

A group of two to four can share and experience the entree's, mains and desert ofr around A$20 a head including as much rice as you want. And its BYO!! Mains average around A$10-12

Favorite Dish: I love them all but the Octopus has to be the best!

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Theme: Other
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 61 2 9550 6840
Address: 91 Enmore Road, Newtown
Directions: About a five minute walk away from the train station on the right hand side of Enmore Road. Not that far from the Enmore Theatre

Restaurant Name: Aria Restaurant

Modern Australian cuisine created by celebrity chef Matt Moran. I have been here for lunch a few times, and for an exclusive degustation dinner which included wines selected by Matt Moran. Matt came out with each of the 12 courses, poured the wine he had chosen and discussed his selection and the dish he had made. He said he goes out every morning to the fish and fresh food markets to select the fresh ingredients for the day drawing his inspiration from the freshest seasonal produce. The degustation menu he served us was absolutely divine! My favourite was a creamy lobster meat bisque with salmon roe that took almost two days to make!
Every time I have had lunch at Aria, I have enjoyed it, and usually have the crispy skin Barramundi or another fish dish.
However almost everyone I have been with has been offended by the service. For me, the attitude is exactly what I would expect from a restaurant that is more about image, fame and ego, as well as good food of course! Someone has to pay for the Armani suits on the Maitre d, so the clientelle tend to be business people and the waiters act accordingly............four girls gossiping too loudly and drinking too much champagne, will naturally lead to service issues in a place like this!!
This restaurant aint cheap! The view overlooking Circular Quay and the Bridge is great and the food is worth it!

Favorite Dish: Any seafood dish!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 61 2 9252 2555
Address: 1 Macquarie Street, East Circular Quay
Directions: This is in the first building in Macquarie Street as you come up from the Opera House & Circular Quay.
Website: http://www.ariarestaurant.com.au

Restaurant Name: Darling Harbour / Cockle Bay Restaurants

The Malaya serves nonya cuisine, which had its origins in the union of Chinese seafaring traders and the women of the Malay Straits, but the menu also stretches to Singaporean, Indonesian and Chinese dishes. The atmosphere is anything but traditional with wood veneer and enough stainless steel to satisfy any industrial designer!
It overlooks Darling Harbour, facing the Maritime museum and its hub of wharf activity.
This restaurant seems very popular with groups and can be quite noisy, but interesting.
The food itself was generally good, with quality ingredients. The scallops ere fresh as were the Kapitan prawns. The noodle dish with chicken was fantastic. The wine and beer menu was quite extensive. Lunch for three including a couple of glasses of wine and two course came to around $160.

If you don't want to engage in deep conversation this would be ideal for a romantic dinner enjoying the view and the bustling atmosphere of a Friday or Saturday night for a reasonable price. All the noise and bustle of a hawkers' market in a waterfront designer setting.
Entrees $9-$15; mains $14-$26; set menus from $35 per person.

PARKING
Kings Parking, 2 Market Street, Entrance on Sussex Street.
Mon - Fri 7am till Midnight, Sat 9am till Midnight, Sun 9am till 10pm.
(5 minute walk to The Malaya)
Kings Parking stations offer a 50% discount all day Sat & Sun or from 5pm 7 days a week to patrons of The Malaya.To benefit from the offer have your ticket validated at the restaurant.

WALKWAYS
Footbridge leads to Lime Street from the Corner of King Street and Sussex Street.
FERRIES
Ferries run regularly to Darling Harbour from Circular Quay, Milsons Point, McMahons Point and Balmain. Alight at Sydney Aquarium, walk North towards King Street Wharf then take stairs up to street level.
(5 minute walk to The Malaya)
WATER TAXI
Alight at King Street Wharf then take the stairs up to street level.
Phone 02 9555 8888 for reservations.

WALK FROM TRAIN - WYNYARD OR TOWNHALL

Favorite Dish: Kapitan prawns, steamed scallops, Anything on the list of signature dishes.

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 02 9279 1170
Address: 39 Lime Street , King Street Wharf
Directions: See above

PLUS...................

MONORAIL
Alight at Darling Park and follow footbridge to Cockle Bay Wharf, walk north along the board walk around the Sydney Aquarium to King Street Wharf and then take stairs up to street level.
(5-10 minute walk)
Website: http://www.themalaya.com.au/index.html

Restaurant Name: BBQ King

On entering this restaurant you are visually accosted by images of dead, bald chickens lined up in row after rows, or deap red ducks on hooks, hanging in multitudes with limp necks. If the pictures on the walls dont put you off, then you probably won't mind the rundown decor, or the fact you had to queue for half an hour to sit at a wonky table!

All this aside, BBQ King does live up to the hype food wise. The Peking Duck entree is the best I have EVER had, anywhere in the world! The prices are fantastic and this is a great venue for a get together with friends. The serving sizes provide good value, and the service is quick and given with a smile, but don't be offended if the staff don't stick around and chat, this place is SUPER busy!

Favorite Dish: Peking Duck entree all the way!!!

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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (02) 9267-2586
Address: 18-20 Goulburn St, Sydney

Restaurant Name: Doyle's Restaurant

Family tradition seeps through the legend of Doyle's, from the 1880's five generations of the Doyle family have been cooking up fresh seafood caught in the rivers and ocean surrounding Sydney.
I have been to Doyle's at Circular Quay, which was ok, and of course Doyle's at Watson's bay which was better! I have held a couple of events at Watson's Bay, and the room upstairs, with views of Sydney and the Harbour is fantastic at Sunset, with Champagne in the hand and a fresh lobster salad! They also have a great cookbook on offer with fantastic modern and traditional seafood recipes. The best thing I have ever eaten there was a very large bug tail salad to die for!!

Favorite Dish: Bugtail salad, the Mussel's, the Stuffed Prawns and pretty much everything else!

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Theme: Seafood
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: (02) 9337 2007
Address: 11 Marine Parade, Watsons Bay
Website: http://www.doyles.com.au/

Restaurant Name: African Feeling

The food is fantastic, very subtle flavourings and the hugest prawns I have ever seen! The service was a bit slow, but for the decor and prices, we were expecting that. Definitely worth a shot if you want to try some truly satisfying African food! The prices were pretty good as well

Favorite Dish: Giant king prawn dish............divine!!

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Theme: African
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (02) 9516 3130
Address: 501 King St