By definition, a larder means a room or a large cupboard that's used for storing food. And woah,…read moredoes this shop live up to its name. The Larder is a beautifully arranged store full of gorgeously packaged products that will have you wondering whether you're buying something just for its pretty jar or for the actual product itself. It does make for handy gift shopping though (whose mum doesn't love a block of French chocolate or Blue Mountains handcrafted coffee?). They stock a really great range of Australian and international cheeses, Hunter Valley olive oil by the litre, and top brands like Christine Manfield, Byron Bay Chilli Co and Toby's Estate. If you're on your way to a dinner party or BBQ and need to take along a token offering, grab a loaf of Brasserie sourdough or a cheese platter. The specialty grocer store opened after the owners returned from France and realised how difficult it is to find all the quality local and imported products you wanr in the one place. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable and clearly love what they're doing. There's plenty of parking available, just look for the green and white striped storefront.

Looking for some fine ingredients? Stop here…read more They've got some fine cheeses, breads, pastas, sauces, and more. Lots of artisan-produced foodstuffs from Australia and around the world. Good stuff for gifts to foodie people, or when you need to lay out bits and bites that need to impress. You can also buy quality olive oil in bulk - in their or your own containers - that is much closer to cheap bottled brands. Nice!

Our Dram Nation whiskey tasting was using this venue and it was certainly very good. We were able…read moreto have a good chat with the barman about whiskeys and bourbons and found the staff to be really friendly. Our whiskey tasting finished with sliders which were also very good. We will definitely come back here to put them through their paces.

Awesome new bar in the Hills! We dropped in for a quick lunch and tried the fries and the NY…read morecheeseburger spring rolls.The service was really friendly and the place is decked out really well with a mixture of big long bench tables and little booths. There wasn't much of a crowd at lunch but staff were setting out all the reserved tables for the night and it looked like basically every table had been reserved! Pretty comprehensive drinks list and although the food is fairly simple it comes out fast, is fresh, and reasonably priced if you're sharing between a few people. I'd never tried a cheeseburger spring roll but they're basically all the ingredients of a cheeseburger in a deep fried roll - yum! Between this place and Empty Lane up the road the hills are starting to get some decent places to have a drink at.

Its like a fabulous Melbourne Wine Bar in the heart of Manly!…read more The wine glasses are the perfect size (none of this ridiculous small stuff here!) for you to smell the wine you are about to taste and the wine list is heaven. The staff are all well trained and willing to offer suggestions or even let you taste if you are unable to decide between wines. We came through on a lazy Sunday afternoon whole family and a plus one so a group of six and they easily fitted us, outside where we could watch the world go by - blankets incase we got cold but this location is out of the wind so we were fine. The bar inside is long and skinny, allows for conversation without becoming deafening. Friendly staff dropped by for a chat, ensuring we were comfortable and happy. We will be back for the cheese and the jazz!

From the owner: cured meat and cheese with an extensive, exiting international wine list to match.read more

We live locally and go here regularly. The menu is short and as a wine bar majors on dishes that…read moreyou can share. But the chef is great and the quality of the food absolutely outstanding. Try the lamb shoulder.

Missed going for a year or so because of wine bar name, nothing wrong with a wine bar if that's…read morewhat you're looking for. Finally visited after learning they also served food, and the food was very good, interesting without being too clever, very tasty and priced fairly. Servings well proportioned, perhaps a little small if you're looking to satisfy a rugby player or two (best send them across the highway to the Pymble Pub). And of course the wines were very good. Very friendly host and team. Great addition to eating options in the area.

Convenient location and nice atmosphere inside. Not much to look at except a street view but the…read moreinside makes up for that with a warm welcoming feel. Enclosed decking with heaters and rugs ensures you are warm. Great coffee using Toby's Estate beans. Friendly staff and relatively endless steam of locals and regulars getting their coffee and breakfast fix!

Oliver's Twist is a great little cafe in Dee Why. Their coffee is delicious, the hot chocolates are…read moreamazing, but, for the past eight months we've been going there, the service has still not learnt our names, and, their assortment of foods do kit cater to allergies. When we first found this place, we knew we'd be back. Me being caffeine free, found the hot chocolate there delicious. My companion has caffeinated beverages, and, put simply, there's a reason why we go there a lot! I haven't experienced the coffee there, but, their green tea is aromatic and has just the right taste. The hot chocolates are very chocolatey, and are not to bitter like that of other cafes. The milk froth is light and fluffy, and, to top it all off, they make it look fancy. It's a shame they don't put a marshmallow in. We discovered this place at least eight months ago. And, although we have diligently given them our money for the last eight months, they still don't know my name. At other coffee shops, they greet you by your first name, and know what your order is going to be before you even order it. But not Oliver's Twist. After eight months, they don't even know my name, let alone my order. A shame really, but, I'll still give them my money. Oliver's Twist might do good coffee, but their food selection is another story. I'll start with the pros. The sandwiches are all delicious, made on a nice, toasted, crunchy bread, with the right cheese to sandwich ratio. Cafe food isn't bad, however the selection is ever changing. One day it was tarts, the next it was cakes. Now to the downs. No gluten free options, except for a jar of overpriced cookies that gave no nutritional value. The selection is good, but if you have allergies, forget it. The cafe has a gelato cart, but I've never tried it. The gelato looks nice though... Oliver's Twist is a great cafe to go to. The drinks are delicious, and, so long as you don't have allergies, the food is too. A much better alternative to the busy and pricy cafes in Dee Why, Oliver's Twist is the best cafe in Dee Why.

One of my faves pre movie at the Orpheum up the road. The gnocchi is always amazing and the happy…read morehour is great. Amazing wine list and service is exceptional on all occasions. Great vibe and sensational tunes. Overall a great experience. A must visit

My new local....a bit on the fancy side to be a local but it works! In the back is the more sit…read moredown dining and in the front is a more bar-like atmosphere. Perfect! And besides tall tables, and some wooden round tables/barrels..you can also sit right at the bar and have a straight view into the bustle of the kitchen. Definitely a place to go to with friends, family, by yourself or pre-movie (Orpheum is a few doors down). Really friendly service by guys that know their wine. Not the cheapest of places and a fancy menu for Military Road, but the atmosphere pays off. Even better, they know serve brunch and the Parmesan Truffle Scrambled eggs are to die for. Everyone at the table had them but one who had the poached eggs on toast and said "i don't regret my decision." Well that was unanimous, none of us regretted our brunch decisions. They had awesome looking smoothies and a section for 'hair of the dog' which I enjoyed. I've mainly eaten off the bar menu and have enjoyed a healthy portion of cured meats and cheeses (delicious cheese), the pumpkin nachos (really, really good. try them if they are still on the menu), and the house-made gnocchi. Give it a try....just don't sit in my seat. :)

Fantastic service and truly excellent food. This has it all beautiful outdoor seating with an…read moreoceanfront view, stellar food, and wine and excellent service.

Was visiting the beach and needed some grub so I could have energy to dodge all of the bluebottles…read more After looking at Hemingway's menu online, it definitely fit the bill for me. It is literally right across from the beach but still away from the main tourist drag. I took a seat on the beautiful patio and ordered a cider and a salade niçoise and a fondant au chocolat for dessert. The food was fantastic. The salad was great and had that bright, salty bite you expect from salade niçoise. Two complaints though are that the portion was quite small and the pricing was quite high. My dessert was also quite good. Creamy, chocolatey, and just the right amount of sweetness without going overboard. The food paired with the Manly Beach people watching was a great experience and start to a nice beach day.

(Last visited May 9, 2023.) Hanging out in Sydney on the 2nd half of my honeymoon! My wife and I…read morejust completed the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb (expensive, but 100% worth it) so now it's time to get back to partying! So we walked north across the bridge into a district called Kirribilli after we found The Botanist on Yelp. Here's how it went! Atmosphere/Appearance: Set a little off the main strip downstairs from the bridge's main street is this gem perched right on the corner. It's so cute, cozy and quaint. It looks a little small on the outside, but once you're in the door and downstairs it opens up quite a bit. You're transported into what felt like, an Italian, wine bar! The lighting was dim, the noise level was moderate, the people were friendly and there was such a chic ambiance here. I really enjoyed it. We merely stopped in for a drink since we had dinner reservations later, but this was a great place to stop. Service: We sat in the bar area of course and the bartender took excellent care of us. No complaints here. Food/Drinks: I had their S'Mores Espresso Martini which was so beautiful, well-balanced, a bit sweet, chocolatey and not very strong, but it was cool. It came with a gorgeous and super-tasty piece of chocolate that was so perfect. Value: Like any downtown big city cocktail bar, nothing is going to be cheap. My martini was $23.00 AUS which translates to $14.55. They do have full-service dinner here which looked very interesting and delicious, but maybe next time! In conclusion, I really enjoyed my time here and would come back, but I'd try something stronger next time. Cheers!

Share platters is what you'll find, which I think is perfect. It blends beautifully with the casual…read moreatmosphere, alongside with their scrumptious cocktails... Full review: purplecuriosity.wordpress.com/2016/12/31/the-botanist/

Why doesn't Chatswood have any cool bars? Like, it's growing. Exploding, almost. Nobody but oil…read morebarons and foreign princes can afford property here now. But there's no small bars, and no late-night nightlife. Mike Baird, what have you done here? And why doesn't anyone know about it? Anyway, that's clearly a digression. This place bucks the no-bar trend, in fact it's the only place worth drinking in Chatty. (Chelsea Hotel and The Orchard are both soulless). It's *gasp* trendy, if I can say that and not sound like a dag. Probably too late for that. Ah well. There's craft beers you've never heard of and a thoughtful wine list and creative (and affordable!) cocktails and lots of different places to sit depending on whether you're on a date, a corporate lunch, or a catch-up with an old friend that likes playing pool. Magical trees covered in fairy lights welcome you, there's couches, and fun outdoor areas. Come. Drink. Liven Chatswood up with the sound of your laughter and Viking-like merry-making.

Good times great place. Highly recommended! The funky…read moreatmosphere is only topped by the yummy food.

This place is fantastic…read more It's a teeny tiny wine bar with a spectacular retro feel. It's all sumptuous vintage, plush antique chairs upstairs, a book case and vinyl records you can play. And of course great wine, and also friendly staff and patrons. Perfection.

I dont know why I havent come in, as a very very local person, to The Temperance society until now,…read moreon a whim as a really half arsed attempt by the husband and I at doing the whole valentines thing. Booze brings us together. Wow. This place is very cool. The staff are rather boisterous which brings down to earth, what could easily be a very snobby little locale ( only because of the the high class booze and all those chesterfields and floor to ceiling bookshelves - sploosh) Not having a good sample to go by, this place seems a go to for girls nights, and the night I visited there was a medium sized group of ladies cutting loose and not caring who heard their hollerin. Wine is a gal's best friend and I watched as they palmed off a would be suitor with nothing more than a glance. Heros. Wine by the glass in big bowled wine glasses with a great selection, and Elvis who I presume is the owner, knows his tipples. My pick of the eve was the Alto Monte - $14 a glass but by George that wine is as delightful as a magical miniature new born fawn prancing across your tongue on a rainbow. Food is basically nibbles. Sharing platters: a cheese one, a meat and cheese one and a Vego one with Cashew cheese. Toasties including one with Brie, cranberry and Rabbit terrine. Delicious. Anyone can google the origin of the name of this place, and I think it does every justice to the moniker. I think this may become my regular hangout.