SYDNEY'S TOP 10 RESTAURANTS
With an abundance of international cuisines and celebrity chefs, Sydney’s food scene continues to be a forever changing landscape with new comers offering a unique take on traditional dishes and well-known key players reinventing their brand to keep up with the new generation of “food critics”. The Freeman Journal has compiled a top ten list of some of Sydney’s best restaurants from the classics to the new-comers, here is what you need to know:
Est.
Set within a beautiful heritage dining room with soaring white columns and luxurious accoutrements, Est. delivers dining on a grand scale. Executive head chef Peter Doyle is renowned for his trademark contemporary Australian food, which is uncluttered, seasonally driven and executed with French-influenced precision. Supporting Peter is Jacob Davey, whom was hand-picked for the distinguished est. team after winning the Young Australian Chef of the Year at the Electrolux Appetite for Excellence Award in 2013.
Quay
Quay Restaurant is Australia's most awarded restaurant headed by Peter Gilmore and situated in the stunning dress circle of Sydney Harbour, overlooking the Sydney Opera House, city and North Sydney, Quay offers an artful experience showcasing the finest of Australian produce.
Jonah’s Whale Beach
Perhaps the only aspect that can divert your attention from the stunning view at Jonah’s Whale Beach, is the delightful menu on offer, showcasing the finest of Australian produce and flavours. The award-winning Restaurant offers excellent Contemporary Australian cuisine under the direction of Executive Chef Logan Campbell and Head Sommelier Luke Collard. Logan’s exciting menu offers Contemporary Australian cuisine with a strong emphasis on seafood and subtle Italian influences. From a cellar containing over 6,000 bottles of vintage Australian and International wines, the extensive wine list of more than 1,500 wines entices and rewards, Jonah’s is undoubtedly the best lunch spot on Sydney’s northern beaches.
China Doll
China Doll is an award-winning restaurant delivering the ultimate Sydney dining experience to guests. Residing on the historic Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo China Doll offers an innovative menu, impressive cocktail list, personalized service and spectacular views of the Sydney city skyline. Showcases a modern take on culinary traditions from China, Hong Kong, Japan and South East Asia the dedicated chefs bring together a harmonious marriage of both flavour and technique in all dishes prepared. Menu’s inspired by premium and ethically sourced produce provide a balanced menu of generously portioned, modern Asian dishes.
Aria
Headed by Matt Moran and recently undergoing a renovation and updated menu, Aria is the ultimate dining experience in Sydney, offering its food savvy clientele glorious unobstructed views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House and exquisite dishes created using only the finest of ingredients, some of which are sourced from Moran’s own private farm.
Catalina Rose Bay
Located in the heart of Rose Bay, and a regular favourite to international globetrotters visiting Sydney as well as the Eastern Suburbs elite, Catalina has re-defined the meaning of a long-lunch. This summer Catalina have launched a new menu by Executive Chef Mark Axisa and Head Chef Alan O'Keeffe focusing on sustainable produce featuring dishes such as Pan Seared Scallops with sautéed cuttlefish, basil pea puree, zucchini, prosciutto and bottarga.
Tetsuya’s
Tetsuya’s Restaurant, located in the centre of Sydney at 529 Kent Street within the heritage-listed site, brings influences of traditional Japanese-inspired style, to create a serene dining enclave in the city. Tetsuya’s serves a degustation menu, based on the Japanese philosophy of using natural seasonal flavours, enhanced by classic French technique and utilising the freshest possible ingredients. Tetsuya designed his own on-site “test kitchen” within the restaurant to enable him to create the constantly evolving and inspiring dishes on which he has built his esteemed international reputation.
Bennelong
Bennelong Restaurant is built on a site enriched with history of communal eating and telling stories. Once a tidal rock island in the heart of the Gadigal lands where Aboriginal women would congregate on the rising tide, eat shellfish by the fire and tell stories. Today the fine dining restaurant headed by Peter Gilmore offers a range of dining and bar options including an a la carte, pre and post theatre and accessible snack style menu.
Guillaume Paddington
Guillaume Paddington is an elegant French Fine Dining restaurant located in Sydney, owned and operated by award-winning French born chef Guillaume Brahimi. The 60-seat Fine Dining restaurant in the leafy Eastern Suburbs of Paddington on Hargrave St, opened in August 2014, following extensive renovations of the beautiful three-storey building to preserve its heritage features. The restaurant is sophisticated but comfortable, offering exemplary service in an elegant and luxurious space designed by Sydney interior designer, Tamsin Johnson.
The Bridge Room
The Bridge Room, owned by Ross and Sunny Lusted together with Fink Group, has opened to critical acclaim with glowing reviews from all major Australian food and entertaining publications. Lusted’s menu evolves constantly, influenced by his travels throughout Asia and Europe with many dishes prepared over binchotan charcoal and slow smoked in the Japanese Robata style. The interplay of vivid flavours and textures is a feature of his unique cooking style.
The Bridge Room is housed on the Ground Level of a low-rise 1930’s Heritage Listed building, located on the corner of Bridge and Young streets, moments from Circular Quay. The 66 seater designed by Nick Tobias features an open kitchen with custom built charcoal grill. With hand-made ceramics designed by Ross Lusted, solid oak tables and Autoban’s iconic Deer Chairs, the dining room’s relaxed aesthetic is paired with informed and attentive service.