Restaurants in Sydney

Restaurants

In the past five years Sydney has been catapulted into international recognition for the quality of its restaurants. It now stands head and shoulders above any other city in Australia and can match San Francisco and Paris for the sheer quality of the produce and the inspiration of the chefs.

Whenever we have been away from Sydney for more than a couple of weeks, we start to crave the food at the Sailors Thai Canteen. This is a true treasure and a must-visit place whenever you are in the harbour city. Conveniently located in George Street in the Rocks, this single-table venue serves some of the most authentic and delicious Thai food that you will find anywhere in the world. It is cheap, cheerful and wonderful. Don't be put off by the thought of sharing the long table with others. There is always a lot of regulars who understand the rules. They will leave you alone if you want to dine quietly and they will let you join in the conversation if you send out the signals. If two of you are dining, order three dishes and share.

And there is another Thai restaurant that we have fallen in love with and visit all the time. The lovely, hole-in-the-wall called Spice I Am serves fresh, vibrant food at very reasonable prices.

At the top end of the market you have some real treasures. Tetsuya's is an absolute must for food fanatics. Here you will find some of the most intelligent combinations of flavours and textures that you will see in any restaurant in the world. Tetsuya Wakuda has built a reputation that ranks him alongside the world's greats.

Another favourite is Rockpool. Neil Perry has not dominated the Sydney restaurant scene for almost fifteen years by accident. After a brief flirtation with a less formal approach Perry has returned Rockpool to its rightful place in the top echelons of Sydney dining. Not only is he a talented chef, he also a discerning eye for talent in his kitchens and sources the very best produce. The fish here is always so fresh that it is breathtaking. Some of the combinations of flavours and textures on offer are surprising yet delightful. He understands Indian flavours and is one of the few chefs who can combine an oxtail jus with a delicate lobster ravioli and leave you wanting to try the dish again and again.

Another great place to try in the Rocks area is Quay. This has quietly become one of the leading restaurants in Sydney where the food is clever, enticing and comforting.

If you want to go downmarket a bit then a place that is well-worth a visit is BBQ King in Chinatown. This is the place that inspired a generation of chefs (including Neil Perry) and instilled a love of roast duck. It is chaotic here. Room after room of noisy diners enjoying some of the best roast pork and roast duck you are likely to find anywhere.

If you want to treat yourself to lunch in a stunning setting then head for Balmoral Beach and Serge Danserau's Bathers Pavilion where the food is based on the best products available and matches the relaxed, beach atmosphere.

For lovers of French food there is a real gem in Sydney. Head for Woollahra and join the queue at Bistro Moncur. Here you will experience some of the best provincial food this side of Lyon. For lovers of offal this should be your first stop in Sydney! Most visitors want to check out Harry's Café de Wheels in Woolloomooloo. Take a photo and then walk along the city side of the new wharf development and grab a table at Otto Ristorante. If you are in the Bondi area then Icebergs is a must! If you can't get in, wander to the other end of the beach and try either Sean's Panorama where the food is prepared with care and cleverness or North Bondi Italian Food with its great atmosphere.

Other places to consider are Buon Ricordo for great Italian food and Longrain in Surry Hills for great Thai food in ultra-trendy surroundings.