Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Suggestions for really good restaurants in Sydney

I know it's a subjective topic but I'd like suggestions for really nice restaurants with good local food and ambience. Thanks.

http://www.smhshop.com.au/food-reviews.php

Tetsuya's is always up there. Quay is quite nice, excellent view and relatively speaking, not too expensive. Altitude is good too.

Aria is also rated highly, but I found that food and service average, then again, I haven't been there for a while.

Thanks, Leumas. I'll check them out.

There are really only 2 really good high-end restaurants in Sydney: Flying Fish and Tetsuya (with the latter double the cost of the former and next to impossible to book). The rest (such as Rockpool) are mostly disappointing. Sydney has many fine cheap local restaurants -- much easier to get a fine $50 meal there than a fine $150 meal. Of course the best food in Sydney is in Melbourne :)

There are really only 2 really good high-end restaurants in Sydney: Flying Fish and Tetsuya ...

Gee, only two?

I think we need to know what the OP's tastes and budget run to before jumping to that conclusion.

Personally, my tastebuds are more than satisfied by a large number of Sydney restaurants. Many more than two anyway ;)

Gee, only two?

I think we need to know what the OP's tastes and budget run to before jumping to that conclusion.

Personally, my tastebuds are more than satisfied by a large number of Sydney restaurants. Many more than two anyway ;)

I think he may have forgotten to add "IMO", I've been to Flying Fish 4 or 5 times (never my idea) and have never thought it was that great.

Thanks for the replies, everyone. It doesn't have to be the fanciest or most expensive place. If anyone knows of a great $50 meal I'd be happy to try that. I want something organic to Sydney with good food. Price is not the main barometer as much as quality and overall experience.

You may want to check out this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/australia-new-zealand-south-pacific/978801-sydney-restaurant-suggestions.html) recent thread.

I also was at Becasse (http://www.becasse.com.au/)this week, and noticed they have a $65 three course lunch menu. Well worth it IMO.

I still think the Friday set lunch (http://www.restaurantassiette.com.au/page/friday_lunch.html) at Assiette for $35 is one of the best deals in Sydney (they've just been awarded two hats).

Oh, so you meant "really good value" as opposed to fine dining. That is something that Sydney shines at. Some choices that you probably won't find in your research (they are all small, crowded and kept as a secret):

Mint (moroccan) http://www.cafemint.com.au/

Miso (Japanese, very cheap, in world trade center and astonishingly good) http://www.masuya.com.au/en/index.html

There is a GREAT italian cafe near Star City casino but it only has a few tables and 2 or 3 dishes a night .... you eat what they cook and it is always fabulous, forget the name but it is a couple of blocks from the casino and always jammed.

Whenever a pub in Sydney offers GRILLED flatheads (not fried) it has invariably been quite good. This has become my acid test for pub food (get a nice meal for $20).

Anything anyone writes on FT is IMO or even IMHO sometimes, as nobody who actually knows can post here .... one of the rules of the web and non-disclosure agreements :)

Of course some write things sometimes that aren't even in their own opinion :) :) :)