El Jannah is a lebanese restaurant in Granville, Sydney.
Sydney's canonical charcoal chicken shop on South Street, Granville. Whole chickens, garlic toum that defines the Sydney garlic-on-chicken canon.
Signature dishes: Charcoal chicken, Garlic toum, Tabouleh
Must order: Whole chicken, large toum, family-size chips.
Tip: Open late; takeaway queue moves faster than the dine-in line.
Address: 62 South Street, Granville NSW 2142, Sydney
Italian neighbourhood room on Belgrave Street, Manly, Sydney. House-made pasta, Italian wood-fired pizza, the kind of beachside trattoria Manly was missing.
Signature: Pasta alla Norma, Wood-fired pizza, Tiramisu
Order: Pasta alla Norma and an Etna red.
Tip: Book ahead on summer weekends; the terrace is the trophy seat.
Gelato Messina's Darlinghurst flagship on Victoria Street, Sydney. House-churned gelato, weekly special-flavour drops, walk-in friendly weeknights.
Signature: Salted caramel and white chocolate, Pannacotta with fig jam, Doughnut sandwich
Order: Two-scoop cup of salted caramel and pannacotta.
Tip: The doughnut sandwich is a hidden Messina menu item, ask at the counter.
Modern Middle Eastern cafe on Kepos Street, Redfern, Sydney. Chef Michael Rantissi's shakshuka for breakfast, mezze plates and lamb shawarma at dinner.
Signature: Shakshuka, Lamb shawarma, Falafel plate
Order: Shakshuka and the lamb shawarma plate.
Tip: Daytime walk-ins, evening bookings; the Friday set menu is a sleeper hit.
Long-running waterfront seafood on Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney CBD. Whole grilled fish, prawn cocktails, the classic Aussie seafood restaurant by the water.
Signature: Whole grilled snapper, Salt-and-pepper squid, Mixed grill platter
Order: Whole grilled snapper with chips and salad.
Tip: Lunch service has a harbour-bridge view from the outdoor seating.
Modern Greek institution on Macleay Street, Potts Point, Sydney. Saganaki with honey and oregano, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, share-style table.
Signature: Saganaki with honey and oregano, Lamb shoulder, Spiced black-eyed beans
Order: Lamb shoulder with lemon potatoes for two.
Tip: Bookings essential; the kitchen runs late Friday and Saturday.
Late-night izakaya on Bridge Street, Sydney CBD. Wagyu tartare, sake-driven cocktails, dark room with a constant playlist of 80s J-pop classics.
Signature: Wagyu tartare, Miso eggplant, Karaage chicken
Order: Wagyu tartare and miso-glazed eggplant.
Tip: Bar walk-ins after 9pm; kitchen open till midnight Friday and Saturday.
