Tag Archives: best food

Best Food in Sydney

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Sydney lives in the shadow of Melbourne when it comes to food and coffee. Though recently with the Noma stint, there is much more to talk about when it comes to eating and drinking in Australia’s most iconic city. With a warm climate and surrounded by the plentiful sea, Sydney’s restaurants range from casual seaside hang-outs to fine dining inside the magnificent Opera House.

Master – One of the hottest openings of 2015 this Surrey Hills eatery is run by John Javier (former intern at Noma). He creates modern Chinese dishes with flair and finesse. Try the jowl peking pork with pancakes and cucumber and a side of special cabbage with fish butter.

Ms G’s – an amusing play on words (MSG) this lively thai eatery serves vibrant and moreish dishes in a reimagined multi-story building. Order mini banh mi bites to start and intensely flavoured lamb ribs.

Reuben Hills – a hip brunch spot in the trendy Surrey Hills area serving delicious coffee and tasty South American recipes.

Sake – a glamorous contemporary Japanese chain serving great seafood and high quality meat. Visit the popular branch on The Rocks.

10 Williams Street – this cute wine bar is a great place to meet friends and enjoy a glass of organic, orange Australian wine. If you are hungry the succinct menu offers a range of tempting Italian dishes and nibbles.

Bennelong – a smart new restaurant in the iconic Sydney Opera House this eatery is already garnering a lot of attention. Favourites from the Cured and Cultured menu include the suckling pig sausage roll with black garlic and the decadent cheese and truffle toastie.

Cho Cho San – a chic and minimalist modern Japanese restaurant with delicious small plates and inventive cocktails. I loved the addictive chicken karaage and the refreshing lychee & pineapple slushie.

The Shop – After an early morning surf on Bondi beach head to this tiny café for coffee and a hearty breakfast. Try the ‘breakfast bowl’, a lovely combination of quinoa, halloumi, avocado, poached egg, pickled cabbage and sunflower seeds.

A Tavola – Get your pasta fix at A Tavola, where they make all the pasta fresh in house each day. There are two branches, with regularly changing seasonal additions to the standard menu.

Ester – A creative contemporary restaurant in a dressed-down industrial space. Much of the menu is cooked in the wood-fired oven and features some quirky clever recipes by chef Mat Lindsay. The roast duck with burnt honey sauce is a must.

Acme – The name comes from the initials of the four friends who opened up this fantastic little restaurant. Reasonably priced with a great vibe, it was one of my favourite restaurants in Australia. Don’t miss the pig’s head and egg yolk macaroni and coconut rice cream with white chocolate for dessert.

Edition Coffee Roasters – There is always a queue for brunch at this Nordic – Japanese fusion café. Enjoy their premium artisanal coffee and matcha hot cakes with mascarpone and passionfruit.

Farmhouse – It’s almost impossible to get a space at this rustic communal dining experience. With just 20 seats the intimate restaurant is always full. Try to book in advance for Sunday lunch and let the knowledgeable team feed your stomach and soul with delicious homely fare.

Chat Thai – Cheap and cheerful this Thai institution now has many branches around Sydney. Head to the original eatery and choose from the vibrant and lengthy menu of Asian classics.

Bourke Street Bakery – this neighbourhood bakery first opened in 2004 and has since expanded all over the city. The unique ginger crème brûlée tart is unmissable.

Fratelli Paradiso – a lunch favourite with locals, this friendly Italian restaurant serves classic Mediterranean dishes in a convivial environment. Always full, the eatery often spills out onto the street. Order the lasagnetta bolognaise for a comforting lunch.

Aqua S – Visit this instagrammable ice-cream parlour for their bright blue sea salt flavoured soft serve topped with fairy floss and caramel popcorn.

Billy Kwong – This long-running venue is a favourite with locals and tourists. Combining Chinese recipes with unusual Australian ingredients the food is a hit and the service is very attentive. The signature crispy duck with citrus sauce stands up to its famous reputation.

Da Orazio – For a brilliant Bondi lunch option head to this Italian bistro for their huge focaccia con porchetta sandwich (marinated pork from the rotisserie, grilled eggplant, lettuce, mayonnaise and served in pizza bread). Share one between two, or maybe even three!

N2 Extreme Gelato – Dramatic and delicious this daring ice-cream café offers indulgent and extra creamy flavours.

Mr Wong – A great place to eat in the CBD, Mr Wong serves great dim sum and cantonese favourites, served in a lavish French colonial setting. Most memorable was the aubergine with fish fragrant sauce.

Spice Alley – A new street eat sensation offering all kinds of Asian cuisine. Cheap and authentic this outdoor market is a great place to go with a group of foodie friends.

Automata – Part of the sophisticated Old Clare Hotel this modern eatery is the first solo restaurant from talented chef Clayton Wells. The tasting menu showcases the kitchen’s imagination and creativity. It is well worth adding the optional wine pairing, as sommelier Tim Watkins really knows his stuff.

Best Food in Melbourne

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Best pastries… Lune Croissanterie – as long as you’re willing to wait (sometimes up to two hours!) you’ll be rewarded with the flakiest croissant, perhaps in the whole of the southern hemisphere. Their perfect pastry recipe was created by a rocket scientist turned chef, which explains the space theme of the bakery.

Runner up: Agathé – typically French, buttery pastries that will melt in your mouth. Pick up a pain au chocolat while strolling around South Melbourne Market.

Best breakfast… Tall Timber – found in the Prahran area, Tall Timber offers great coffee and innovative breakfast recipes. After you’ve had your morning meal wander around the charming independent shops nearby.

Runner up: Cumulus & Co – a favourite with city workers, I’d recommend stopping by to grab a freshly baked lemon curd madeleine to go.

Best brunch… Top Paddock – the perfect weekend hang-out for a leisurely brunch with friends. Don’t miss their famous blueberry and ricotta hotcake with berries, organic maple, seeds and double cream.

Runner up: Seven Seeds – known as much for their exemplary coffee, this hip roastery also serves delicious and hearty morning fare.

Best set lunch… Saint Crispin – I had my favourite Melbourne meal at this modern Australian eatery. Open for lunch Friday to Sunday, you can sample three courses of the chef’s exquisite creations for a fraction of the full dinner price. Before your meal, try the “Snap, crackle and pop”; a magical combination of puffed pork crackling, dashi, brown sugar and white sesame. 

Runner up: Circa – found in the stylish Prince Hotel in St Kilda, this minimalist restaurant offers a reasonably priced In’n’Out lunch menu of 2 courses with a glass of wine for $35. The food is clever and contemporary with imaginative flavour pairings.

Best dinner… Coda – this award-winning basement restaurant is stylish and slick. All the Vietnamese-inspired food is tempting. I suggest ordering half-portions so you can taste a wider variety of dishes, the unique blackened quail is especially good and I loved the fresh and vibrant hanoi roll. 

Runner up: Townmouse – a small, neighbourhood restaurant that is nice for a drink or for dinner. The menu changes regularly depending on seasonal produce. Particularly memorable were the goat’s cheese profiteroles.

Best for sharing… Supernormal – there is often a queue for this popular fusion restaurant. Have a drink at the bar before devouring indulgent dishes such local oysters, roast duck bao and velvety wagyu beef. 

Runner up: Movida – this characterful tapas restaurant has now got several branches. Visit their original venue in the heart of the CBD for a few of their signature small plates. I loved the bocadillo (brioche, duck liver pate and PX foam toasted sandwich).

Best thai… Cookie – those in the know head to the 1st floor of the Curtin House building for the city’s best Thai food. Be sure to order the addictively good betel leaf wrapped pork skewers.

Runner up: ChinChin – be prepared to wait for a table at this lively eatery. The huge menu can be overwhelming so ask your waitress to point out a few favourites. I particularly liked the spicy corn and coriander fritters, with housemade chilli jam.

Best homemade pasta… Tipo 00 – this new pasta bar is thrilling the Melbourne locals, and it’s a struggle to nab a table at the intimate venue. Sit at the bar and enjoy a bowl of the homemade pappardelle with braised rabbit, marjoram & hazelnut.

Best burger… Tuckshop Takeaway – set up by ex-Fat Duck husband and wife team, this cute corner shop serves some of the best burgers I have ever tasted. Everything is homemade, from the bouncy brioche burger buns to the nostalgic sodas and shakes.

Runner up: 8bit – with a new venue in the CBD, it is now easier to get your 8bit fix. The juicy and indulgent burgers are classic and tasty, and there is a retro arcade game to play while you wait for your order.

Best Chinese… Hutong Dumpling Bar – Amid the chaos of Chinatown is this celebrated Chinese eatery. Order a few portions of the wondrous XLB dumplings and pick a local wine from the very reasonably priced list.

Best pizza… Innocent Bystander – A short drive outside the city to the Yarra Valley, Innocent Bystander are known best for making delicious wine. I encourage you to visit at lunchtime for the delicious woodfired sourdough pizza and to take part in a wine tasting.

Best ice-cream… Gelato Messina – the mecca of ice-cream, this much-loved institution has spread across Australia. The Italian-style gelateria makes successfully inventive flavours; salted caramel and white chocolate is the most popular.

More on Melbourne’s best restaurants here.

Best Food in Queenstown, New Zealand

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Queenstown is the tourist capital of New Zealand and consequently has some of the best dining experiences in the country. From high-quality fast food to reasonably priced fine dining, there is a restaurant to suit every budget and occasion in this beautiful, buzzing town.

rata

Rata by Josh Emett

I recommend heading to this special restaurant at lunchtime when it is less busy and you can choose from the bargain set lunch menu. I enjoyed a refined three-course meal, with complimentary additions from the chef, for just $38 (about £17). Particularly memorable was the delicate white onion velouté with mushroom tortellini and crispy pancetta.

sherwood

Sherwood

This new venue is a great hotel for design-conscious travellers, but locals know it for its destination restaurant. Creative chef Ainsley Thompson presents inventive comfort food with a twist. Opt for their Tantric Dining menu with matching wines, to sample the best dishes. I loved the addictive creamy polenta with smoked tomato salsa, and the beautifully light rosé wine from Central Otago, which they buy by the barrel and bottle inhouse.

sasso

Sasso

Chef Rob Essenburg has recently taken over the kitchen at Italian restaurant Sasso and will soon be refreshing the menu of classics. The atmosphere is relaxed and the food is vibrant and tasty. The stand out dish was the comforting homemade spinach & ricotta ravioli with pancetta, pine nuts, parmesan and butter sauce. To accompany your meal choose a local wine like the Mount Edward Riesling.

Amisfield winery

Amisfield Winery

A little out of town, this boutique winery produces some of the best wine in the region. Once you have tasted the variety of reds, whites, sparklings and rosés, head through to the dining room for lunch. We tried a few exquisite seasonal dishes, my highlights included: Wild Nettle Tortellini with fresh cheese mousse, sage, lemon & garden spring tendrils; and the Organic Chicken with verjus, parsley & Hogan’s gully miners lettuce. The strikingly simple dessert of Brulée poached pear, pinot gris, yoghurt ice cream & hokey pokey was sensational, a perfect mix of tart and sweet tastes. The knowledgeable waiters will assist with the ideal wine to have with your food, my favourites were the light white Fumé Sauvignon Blanc 2014; and the Lake Hayes Noble 2013 dessert wine, though the vineyard is most known for its Pinot Noir.

fergburger

Fergburger

This burger venue is an institution in Queenstown and recently they even extended the pavement to accommodate the huge Ferg queues! Made with high quality local beef and freshly baked buns (Ferg bakery is next door) surprisingly the burgers do live up to the hype. Order the classic Fergburger with cheddar, or a slightly more exotic Swine Burger with avocado and bacon. Fries are delicious too, served with creamy aioli.

madam woo

Madam Woo

This trendy Malaysian eatery is a great evening hang-out when groups of friends visit to enjoy the cocktails and flavoursome cuisine. Order the turmeric chicken grilled satay with peanut sauce and pickled cucumber, or the Woo family favourite – Malaysian beef Rendang curry served with Nasi Lemak and an assortment of traditional condiments.