New on the menu

Why go there

There's always something new happening on Sydney's dining scene, from restaurant openings to food trends.

Still hot is the tasting menu, a series of small-sized servings designed for sharing. Degustation meals are also popular—where chefs have the opportunity to present their finest in a string of delicately sized and flavoured dishes, perfectly matched to wines.

Surry Hills continues to emerge as one of the city's strongest food precincts, while pocket-sized Thaitown and Korea Town in Sydney's centre draw interest.

New kitchens

• ivy, City Sushi Choo is a Japanese ‘dining train' delivering traditional and contemporary tastes, Uccello offers Italian by the pool, Mad Cow is a New York-style steakhouse, and Teppanyaki is the spot for Japanese fusion. Ivy also features Ash St Cellar, a lovely wine bar offering bistro food for sharing.
• Berowra Waters Inn, Berowra Waters A gorgeous sandstone and glass shed in a bush and water setting, where you can try multi-course meals from the Mediterranean-influenced menu created by star chef Dietmar Sawyere.
• A Tavola, Darlinghurst The rustic Italian food is based on the ‘shared table' philosophy, this time the table being a stunning marble one running down the centre of the restaurant. The focus is on the hand crafted fresh pasta you'll see hanging like flags around the restaurant before opening time.
• Pendolino, City Tucked into the elegant Strand Arcade, where depending on the time of day, the elegant space morphs from café to wine bar, restaurant and olive oil shop.
• Rum Diaries, Bondi Beach ‘Fusion' tapas, rum-based cocktails, theatrical décor and a choice of rooms to dine in.
• Hugos, Manly Known for pizza, views and a high glamour quotient amongst its clientele.
• Sean's Kitchen, City Featuring an open kitchen, jamon room, cheese cabinet, bar menu and tapas.
• Steel, City A sexy space in central Sydney has an outdoor communal dining table for 40, dramatic interiors and Damien Heads of the well-regarded Pony turning his hand to working with crustaceans and live tanks.
• Din Tai Fung, City Feast on perfectly formed soup dumplings and mint and lychee juice.
• Civic Dining, City Peter Conistis's snazzy, polished, mid-city restaurant serves well-priced Greek food at lunchtimes downstairs, while the crowds flock upstairs for Consistis' famous moussaka and a drink on the outdoors terrace.
• Restaurant Arras, Walsh Bay Traditional English fare such as crab bread and butter pudding and 'Rack on black' in this charming former wool store.
• Universal, Darlinghurst Christine Manfield elevates small-plate dining to an art form. Her savoury dishes draw inspiration from across the world, and her desserts continue to astound.
• Bodega, Surry Hills Exceptional South American and Spanish tapas at night, an Argentina café serving up empanadas and churros by day, and a funky sliver of a bar for pre-dinner margaritas.
• Burlington Bar and Dining, Crows Nest English and French inspired bistro fare, an interesting wine list and traditional desserts given a twist.