cafe

cube
george st, sydney (opp. town hall)
contemoporary minimal style with a bit of funk.
nothing highly recommended to eat, all cakes + coffee is standard, mocha is not bad, just a nice chill out atmosphere, especially in the lounge area at the back. has a bar so its a nice place if you want to talk over a cocktail instead of a coffee.

bad mannor's
glebe pt. road, sydney (behind broadway)
great selection of cakes, coffee is ok, large for the price

best have:
hazelnut chocolate mousse cake
italian baked cheesecake
hungarian baked cheesecake
other must haves:
almond + walnut snail (its a little roll, great with coffee)
ricotta or chocolate cannoli
eggs florentine (breakfast)

max brenner's chocolate bar
oxford st. paddington
double bay (nice & big, mains served here)
the funk of chocolate. patteren truffles and parlines, funky tin boxes and warm runny chocolate licks.
best have:
suckao - with mixed chocolate drops (choose 2 from white, milk + dark).

best have:
suckao - with mixed chocolate drops (choose 2 from white, milk + dark)
chocolate souffle
strawberry fondue
other must haves:
chocolate lick
mocha
dark chocolate frappe

the french patisserie
the rocks, sydney
top line range of cakes which are sooOoooooOOO delicious and gorgeous looking. each (well most of them) cake is named after a famous artist. coffee is ok but the quality of the cakes make up for it. has a little cosy outdoor court yard. great for arvo cake + coffee.

best have:
strawberry vanilla slice (very very rare, on odd occassions only)
strawberry cheesecake
van gough
gauguin
other must haves:
all other cakes

dough
king st. newtown
qvb, lower groung floor (near esprit men, nine west, michael niegrin)
funky bakery with some very interesting cakes.

best have:
charlotte slice (a chocolate hazelnut mirangue slice) - with coffee
other must haves:
tiramisu slice
strawberry tart

barcino
mount st., north sydney, sydney
snuggest, tiniest, little coffee bar, with the most exquiste, smoothest coffee. because the coffee is so fine, only one sugar (probably even half a sugar) is enough. mmmMmMm... yum.

best have:
cappucino
latte
flat white
short/long black
anything with esspresso in it

*one sugar required only, if not less

casual dining

juju
bayswater rd., kings cross, sydney
japanese

best have:
tuna salad with wasabi mayonaise dressing
chikuwa cheese
Gyu (raw beef with egg yoke)
calpis chu-hi (calpis + jap vodka)
grape chu-hi (kinda like ribena + jap vodka)
other must haves:
takoyaki gratin
sukiyaki

kenta
lmilitary rd., neutral bay, sydney
japanese

nice cosy little place for dinner or lunch with dinner/lunch sets enough to stuff you till you become a round ball.

best have:
katsu curry set
grilled salmon set
don't touch:
grilled octopus/calamari

asuka
clarance st., sydney (under BT building)
japanese

large menu of entrees, very casual and convieniently located. its not anything to crave for but a decent place to have a meal.

best have:
its all about the same, nothing particularly outstanding

masuya
o'connell st, sydney
japanese

masuya would have to be one of my favourite jap restuarants until the prices went up and the menu was downsized and bookings must be in a 6-8pm or 8-10pm slot. the sashimi platter was once excellent in terms of size/quality vs price but not anymore price wise... however, if you are ever there, here's what to do (some items may have been downsized from the menu already):

best have:
kyumamoto oysters
scampi sushi (sushi a la carte)
salmon toro (sushi a la carte)
rainbow roll
eel roll
oriental hotpot (coconut + miso soup base)
other must haves:
sashimi platter for 2-3
sake steamed pipis

kyushu
glebe pt. road, sydney (behind broadway)
japanese

best have:
raw beef (entree)
stuffed mushrooms (entree)
sashimi (entree)
deep fried Oysters (main)
other must haves:
unaju (main) - eel on rice
tempura (entree or main)

sushi suma
cleveland st, surry hills, sydney
japanese

cheap, quick & easy. must book!!

best have:
dinner sets
agadashi tofu

encasa
pitt st., sydney
spanish

this is my favourite spanish place, probably because its very decent for its price and the cosiness of the place. there are a couple other spanish places which are very good except they are a bit more $$. they have a good tapas range and its a very good place to go with a few friends for a couple jugs of sangria and some tapas.

best have:
scallops with saffron (tapas)
potatos with aoli & salsa (tapas)
garlic prawns (entree or main)
steak with prawns (its an additional $3)
other must haves:
sangria

wood & stone
crown st., surry hills, sydney
woodfire pizza

best have:
smoked salmon
honey ham, figs & pineapple pizza

newtown thai
glebe pt. road, sydney (behind broadway)
thai

very relaxed casual thai place, decent pricing and fast.

best have:
choo chee prawns
other must haves:
pak kee mau

hurricane's
bondi, sydney
ribs ribs ribs

the only place for whenever you feel like a rack of ribs or a hearty grilled chicken. bookings essential...

best have:
ribs.. why else would u come?
c har grilled chicken salad
other must haves:
steak & rib combo

sappore
italian forum, norton st, lichardt, sydney
italian

there is one favourite here...

best have:
spagetti vongole

machhiato
crn pitt & liverpool st, sydney
cafe food

best have:
chicken ceaser

cellini's
qvb building, town hall, sydney
cafe food

this place does the most amazing ceaser salad!! if you ever want ceaser salad... this is the place!!

best have:
chicken ceaser

fine dining

yoshii
harrington st, sydney (crn essex st. and harrington st.)
japanese modern australian fusion
yoshii has only has 2 courses to choose from ($90pp or $110pp).
taste wise, you might find some of the flavours a bit too creative, yet most of it is very very interesting and very good. the presentation is absolutly phenomonal. well worth the experience.

best have:
green tea brulee (dessert)

blue angel
darlinghurst, sydney (not on street level - its underground)
italian lobster specialist


best have:
lobster marco polo
lobster marcello

bistro lulu
oxford st., paddington
modern australian
i think this place is a bit overrated. the food is average so the price is a bit pricey for its standards.

est.
george st. sydney (above The Establishment bar)
modern australian
very clean, crisp, poshy glam but not tacky and comfy dining area, very vogue or vanity fair feel. great for couples. well presented food, taste wise - nice food noting distinctively imaginative or inspiring tho except for the souffle which comes with a wonderful wine or champange sorbet which was very very delicious.

best have:
scallops (entree)
trout (main)
souffle & sorbet (dessert - $19.50)

rise
george st. sydney (above The Establishment bar)
fusion : japanese/modern australian
highly recommended. rise has the creativity you will experience at yoshii (perhaps not as glam, but nevertheless still extravagant) however it is much more affordable. the menu is seasonal, however the soft shelled crab starter ($5) is definitely a must. the quality of the entrees and desserts are much higher than the mains so it is ok to have 2 entrees... or 2 desserts :)

best have:
soft shelled crab taco (starter)
sweet potato mont blanc (dessert)