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Ante

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A cooler-than-cool sake bar with open concept kitchen cooking up some seriously good bites, Ante is walk-in only and worth waiting in line for. You might want to try a sake flight, or you might wish to part-take in some original, creative and absolutely delicious cocktails to start the night.  Using interesting ingredients with a Japanese slant, such as lemongrass infused Shochu, sake, rum and red shiso in the Enmore Road Sunset, or coffee infused shochu, Hoshiko, Cynar and walnut liqueur in the Ante Correctto, the cocktails at Ante will not disappoint and are not easily found anywhere else, so drink up.  Beef tartare, $26 The beef tartare at Ante is more like delicious beef mince, with smoky almond, capers and shaving of golden bottarga on top. It is tart, refreshing and light. Bonito Rillette, $24 Topped with shiso and rhubarb boshi, the bonito rillette is served with gorgeously crisply bread that perfectly balances the savouriness of the fish. Moreish and beautifully flavoured, gene
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Bennelong

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One of the most iconic restaurants housed in one of the most iconic buildings in the world, I was honoured to attend the wedding reception of some dear friends at Bennelong. Despite the weather being absolutely wild, it was a magical evening filled with love, laughter, and Midsummer Nights' Dream vibes. Here's the menu.  After some wonderful and decadent canapes, we begin the sit-down portion of the evening with a salad of pickled winter vegetables with rosehip, sheep's milk feta and red leaves. It is tart, refreshing, moreish and delicate.  When looking upon the ocean, one must taste the ocean. This entrée of sashimi scallops, oyster cream and pickled radish is seasoned with aged vinegar, virgin soy and seaweed. It is delicate, melt-in-mouth and gently savoury. The roasted wagyu fillet topped with cipollini onion and drizzled with wasabi emulsion is the best steak I have ever had. The meat is so perfectly cooked, the flavours so balanced, they all work together seamlessly
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Odd Culture

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One of Sydney's most exciting new restaurant / bar combo in the heart of Newtown, Odd Culture boasts an excellent wine list and one of the best value banquets I have had. When stepping into the space, the lofty ceilings immediately transport you away from the bustling, slightly crowded streets of Newtown.  The anchovy cigars caught our eye, so we ordered some in addition to the generously portioned set menu. Crispy, delicate and savoury, the already complex flavours of anchovies are enhanced further by the addition of olive and taramasalata.  Anchovy cigars, $7 each The house bread is curiously named "beer bread". It is a house baked sourdough with house butter, which is rich and generously sprinkled with coarse sea salt. The fluffy bread is a wonderful start to the meal - especially if you're also washing the food down with a couple of cocktails.  As a refreshing first course, disks of cucumber is tossed in silky preserved tofu and salted chilli. The contrasting text
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Poly

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 The fun, chill little sister to Ester (with their names combined to be a tongue-in-cheek "polyester"), Poly does share plates well. I mean, really well. The cocktails are well-balanced and interesting, and the food menu is curated and beautifully executed.  Cocktails, $23-$24 Each of the cocktails at Poly are gorgeous. Whether you are into something light and refreshing, or packs a punch, the ever-revolving cocktail list has something to suit every palette. Where you'd rather be is a pandan-based, fragrant number; golden buzz is strong yet balanced; and green with envy is a sweet yet smooth cocktail that's dangerous moreish.  Six Natural Oysters, $38 Plump, juicy Sydney rock oysters that hasn't been overly-washed, so they retain the wonderful saltiness of the ocean. Paired with a chili vinegar, they are the perfect start to the meal.  Potato bread, $10 This is a must-order at Poly. The chewy, satisfying bread is paired with a magical whipped sesame dip that we co
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Faheem's Fast Food

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FFF (as their shirts proudly display) has been serving delicious food in Enmore for years and years, and is hands down one of the best late night, cheap eats Pakistani restaurants in Sydney. With its giant tandoors and menu which entices your eyes to be way bigger than your stomach, it is somewhere you enter with a big appetite and heart full of expectation, and never fail to leave groaning with fullness and satisfaction.  Goat Korma Masala, $16.50 "Melty" is the first word to jump to mind when thinking about this rich, comforting curry. Slightly spicy, it is the flavour that packs a punch rather than the chili. Not even a drop of it was left by the end of the meal - when the goat pieces were picked clean, the sauce still had bits and pieces of meat, fat and all that good stuff.  Seekh Kabab, $12.50 Wonderfully spiced and salty (perhaps a tad too salty on its own), my favourite way to enjoy these minced beef kabab pieces is to drizzle with mint sauce (pictured below) and wrap
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Vandal

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Newtown appears to be the home of low-key vegan Mexican restaurants serving cheap and cheery set menus and good time margaritas. Since my visit to Calle Rey , I have found another restaurant cut from the same cloth. So, let them battle it out, shall we?  Within walking distance from one another (but not so close as to be breathing down each others' necks), both Calle Rey and Vandal serve $30 set menus filled with guac, tacos, corn and all the good stuff one expects at a casual Mexican restaurant. Except everything is vegan - not that those restaurants shout it from the rooftop. Both are what I'm calling "sneaky vegan restaurants" - the kind where the strong flavours and sauces disguise, rather than advertise, the fact that none of what you eat came from an animal.  Is a Mexican meal even complete without guac? Always a crowd-pleaser, this is a simple and refreshing way to start the meal.  Spicy and juicy, with a generous shaving of vegan shredded mozzarella (I'm g
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A'Mare

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Since its opening at Crown Sydney, I have had several foodie colleagues recommend A'Mare to me, so when I finally found a fitting occasion, I was excited to try their degustation menu.  First, A'Mare is a beautiful restaurant. During the day it is bright and vibrant, overlooking the waters. At night, it transforms into something elegant and sleekly intimate. Another aspect that sets A'Mare apart from other restaurants is that there are a lot of table-side service, which adds another dimension to the dining experience.  Burrata caprese The burrata is presented whole and cut open at the table, then drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with pepper. It is a rich, creamy burrata with very little salt; accompanied by green tomatoes and salsa verde.  Focaccia The bread is, of course, served warm. Springy and pillowy, with a satisfying bounce, it is accompanied by Pugliese extra version olive oil and an aged balsamic that tastes mildly bitter - presented by staff and drizzled tabl
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