Sydney is a city that’s truly come into its own—gastronomically speaking. From waterfront seafood establishments to hip, modern Australian eateries, there’s no shortage of fine dining options when it’s time to unwind after a long day of meetings or to entertain clients in this bustling metropolis.
First stop? Yoshii on Harrington Street for a blend of modern cosmopolitan and traditional Japanese cuisine. Head chef Yoshii Ryuichi is a true master of Japanese fare —from traditional sushi making to innovative, avant-garde dishes like the deep-fried tooth fish tempura with citrus pepper flavor; the sea urchin egg cup; and the milk fed veal carpaccio served with Japanese mushrooms and warm dressing are not be missed!
It would also be a sin to visit Yoshii and not try his sushi, picked up fresh from the fish market daily. Whether it’s traditional nigiri or inventive samplings like the Tasmanian smoked salmon with passion fruit kimizu sauce, Yoshii is a natural talent at the art of sushi making. He pays every attention to detail and ensures his customers’ dining experiences are near flawless. He’s also fine tuned the ability to pair the best sakes with his courses.
For hearty Italian fare, there’s no better place than Buon Ricordo in Paddington—it’s widely regarded as the best Italian restaurant in the country. Neapolitan owner and chef Armando Percuoco is a traditionalist and perfectionist—he’s not interested in the fame of being a celebrity chef but rather in the sheer joy of serving exquisite Italian cuisine for his guests.
Menu standouts include the crumbed veal rolled with spinach, nutmeg and parmesan, grilled and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. The baked figs with prosciutto with gorgonzola; lamb cutlets, grilled and served with an eggplant parmigiana; and, the meat lasagne are other winners on Armando’s menu. The food is so delectable, so rich in flavour that guests just can’t help from coming back to Buon Ricordo. In fact, one diner has had lunch there every Saturday for the last fifteen years.
Luke Mangan’s glass brasserie in the Hilton Hotel serves the utmost in natural and modern Australian cuisine. The chic, modern establishment features 13 metre floor to ceiling glass wall, and is not just a favourite among Sydney corporates for the scene and extensive wine collection but for Mangan’s distinguished dishes like the organic egg omelette with blue swimmer crab meat, enoki mushroom and herb salad, miso mustard broth and the Hiramasa Kingfish sashimi, ginger, eschallot, Persian feta. glass is a bustling, chic restaurant that’s perfect to impress VIP clients with an array of meat, seafood and fresh produce with an endless assortment of wine.
