My sister and I were running back to our hotel to escape the rain and stumbled across this place…read more Food was good. I chose items from the antipasto menu. Essentially the meatball, scallop with octopus and lamb fritti. Wine was good. I took a picture of the bottle. Ambience is nice. Service was great.

We weren't really looking for Italian food but made this reservation online and were really…read morepleased. At first the small blond hostess seated us in the wine bar rather than the restaurant but after inquiring, she seated is in the restaurant. (She wasn't very welcoming.) We were dressed appropriately and sober so can only assume it was due to the Opentable.com booking? Our waiter from Manchester England was EXCELLENT!!! Good food and wine recommendations and attentive throughout our meal but not intrusive. We ordered and were pleased with the pasta special. Also had tuna tartare and salad starters. They also have an extensive wine list. However, I was surprised to see $4.50 charges for sparkling AND still water. First Australian restaurant in our month-long stay to charge for still water.

Vini is a well done little wine bar, tucked off Devonshire on Holt Street. It feels like a little…read morebit of a secret, which is hard to come by in Surry Hills - the land where everyone cool knows everything cool. I went on a Wednesday night to 121BC, which is JUST around the corner from Vini and happens to be owned by the same people. They took our mobile number and suggested we grab a glass at Vini while we waited. We were set up outside with waters and small nibbles, inclusive of olives and bread sticks. Not feeling particularly decisive, we rattled off our short list of desirable wine characterizes and left the waitress with the task of selecting something nice. For me, she brought out a lovely, crisp and clean white wine which was similar to a pinot gris. For my partner she chose a nice light pinot noir, perfect for the beginning of the evening. The wine was delicious and the experience was lovely. I was only sad that we had to slurp the rest of our glasses when 121BC phoned. It's okay, I assured myself, I will certainly be back.

Look, I bag Italy a lot (thanks mainly to a certain few individuals who shall remain nameless. YOU…read moreKNOW WHO YOU ARE) but it's all done in fun and places like Vini make it real hard for me to even jest about the ol' boot. All the food & wine is written up on the walls, which are chalkboards. Someone has neat handwriting. Big points. Mega handwriting porn. A little obsessed. If you don't know your Italian wines you may as well be reading Japanese, but ask the waitress for a recommendation and away you go. We had a stonkingly good Nebbiolo, then got the roast scallops in shell, the cauliflower salad with radish, cheese and olives, and amazing pasta with pippis and peas. All exceptional in terms of flavour, ingredients, and how much I wanted to make love to them with my face. Are you on Tinder? This makes a banging date place. Should get you to at least second base. Third if you're lucky.

Casoni is a rare gem which combines attentive servers, an intimate atmosphere and epic food…read more Located off Oxford, this place will probably get you laid as a date venue. My female friend brought me here for my birthday and although I'm heterosexual, I would have said yes to anything during the squash ravioli...anything. We got the fixed menu which was nothing short of a gastronomic holiday...but like a holiday with food prepared by a chef and not your crazy aunt Rita. The Cos with Parmesan oyster mayo makes you appreciate lettuce which is something almost no one says -may I suggest the lettuce? Next was the burrata cheese with a tangy yet subtle sauce and a few crisps to dip in it. This was the worst part of the meal....because we had to share and I wanted it all to myself. Next were the Brussels sprouts with ham, chili and clearly cooked in butter (cause that's how you make Brussels sprouts great, that's how you make anything great). I kept trying to slyly look into the kitchen to see how they prepared this magic treat, on that note if anyone works in the kitchen here and wants to come show me how to make these, I will write a nicely worded letter to your mom thanking her for your presence, maybe one to your dad too! The real piece de resistance was the aforementioned squash ravioli with a perfect olive oil sauce with the crunch of pistachios and sweet potato crisps which combined the soft and delicate pasta with a rewarding crunch...full disclosure I didn't think I'd finish mine but when push came to shove I not only polished off my plate, I had the last bites of my friend's too. Lastly was the desert which I could have lived without. It was fine but considering the experience I had just undergone, I felt like a food critic sampling the best dishes in Australia only to have my palate exposed to mediocrity. The espresso martini was also not to my liking but perhaps it was simply more bitter than I'm used to. I will still go back and urge others to do the same, this place is a total 5 but I might try another desert and drink next time. Like a date who is gorgeous AND has a personality but stops being as witty near the end, everyone deserves a second chance...did I mention the ravioli ;)

Amazing food, really small portions…read more We were highly recommended this place by my brother in law, so headed over there after work on a Tuesday. The online booking process was excellent and really easy to do and change. It is a pretty easy and quick walk up to from the city which was good. We had a very friendly and knowledgable waitress who helped us with wine choices and let us know in advance that there was only one serve of the special left so we could snatch it up. Our meal was; Entrees: Beef carpaccio - absolutely delicious with anchovie mayo and Parmesan. I haven't liked carpaccio in the past but this was so tasty. Burrata and tomato salad - not for the cholesterol watchers, but the salad was tasty. All about the knot of cheese which was tasty but not too heavy. Mains: Pumpkin ravioli - by far the stand out for me, but 7 small ravioli did not make for a meal for me. It was so delicious, I didn't want it to end, but it did... Really quickly. (Special) - scampi with saffron gnocchi and ham broth. This was ok, not bad but deserving of 3 stars. The gnocchi was a little heavy and there was only 1 and a half scampi Dessert: Cannoli - this wasn't bad. Definitely a bit of a let down after the amazing entree and pumpkin pasta. Wine: - had never heard of it let alone tasted it, but it was divine. A little sweeter than expected but it was such easy drinking, even though we had light pasta it was fruity enough to complement it well. I wouldn't be rushing back given that we live across town but it was a lovely atmosphere and amazing food. I just don't like walking out of spending $55 pp on food and still being hungry. Charge a little more and give me some more ravioli!

Good food, great service, warm welcoming staff. Operating…read morehours are designed to cater for both Business and Leisure clientele.

Hello little pizza place tucked up in the Strand where you didn't think restaurants were!…read more We hit this place up after we did the Sydney Film Festival and boy oh boy am I glad we did. You see, it might be a bit on the pricey side, but this place delivers in flavour. So much so that there was a moment of moans when we each had a slice of the white pizza which had roasted cauliflower, buffalo mozzarella, truffled pecorinos called "Cavolfiore al Tartufo". It was better than .. well a lot of things and we might have taken a moment of silence to enjoy it. YUM!!! We also tried the wild boar called the "Salsicce "Mignon" di Cinghiale" - Petit Cured Sausages made with 100% Wild Boar and Black Pepper. For someone who doesn't eat pig, I made my companions order this dish. Not often you see wild boar on the menu. We also shared an "Insalata di Asparagi" - Grilled Asparagus Salad with Organic Gorgonzola Dolce Latte, Curly Endive and Lemon Agrumato Dressing. And I don't even like asparagus this had me rethinking my whole not liking it. The salad was divine, the salad dressing even better and the asparagus was out of this world. We also shared some of the cannelloni "Cannelloni col Ripieno di Zucca" - total vegetarian dish and it hit the spot. Pumpkin, mustard fruit, ricotta and parmigiano. To die for. A great little dish that would be perfect to share as an entree between two people as it comes out with 3 cannelloni wraps. We also shared a few bottles of wine that went deliciously with the meals. Blink and you'd miss it, it's on the top floor of the Strand. You walk in and there's a dark room before it opens up into a bigger room that reminded me and my companions of a gothic boudoir - or a coffin seller. Take your pick. The wait staff know their menu and can pronounce it - unfortunately we couldn't so there was a lot of giggles as we tried to pronounce what we wanted and ended up pointing. We had a lovely night followed by a lovely dinner here. The sad bit was that once you ordered trying to get a waiter to meet your eyes to try to get the bill was a bit strenuous as they all seemed to like looking at the floor instead of checking patrons. Which is why I dropped a star.

Have you ever had your pasta twirled in a giant wheel of cheese before it hits your plate? It's…read morecalled cacio e pepe, it's at Buffalo Dining Club in Darlinghurst in Sydney, Australia, and it's heavenly. I was first alerted to this momentous dining experience by an American friend who sent me a video of the action. I went to try it on a Saturday night. The spot doesn't take reservations, except for parties of seven or more and on the last Sunday of every month, and it was already packed with a two-hour wait by the time I walked up. With timely obligations, I had to leave but vowed to come back again. It turns out, Buffalo Dining Club is a perfect place to visit for lunch on a Wednesday, around 12:30 p.m. There were plenty of seats, though be warned much of it is communal in this hip restaurant that seats around 50 people altogether. If you're a twosome on the patio, chances are good you'll be rubbing elbows with your neighbor, and a substantial long table takes up much of the space in the dining room. Cheese lovers will adore Buffalo Dining Club, which imports mozzarella from Italy and has an amazing burrata appetizer ($22 AUD). The giant hunk is melt-in-your-mouth goodness with every bite. The cacio e pepe ($20), or spaghetti with salt, pepper, olive oil and parsley twirled in a massive wheel of pecorino cheese, is gooey and flavour-packed. The show is even better, as a server flashily spins the pasta for amazed eyes. The gnocchi ($20) is also top-notch, delightful pillows of buffalo ricotta dough with napolitana sauce. Getting the items mentioned and sharing makes for a perfect meal for two. The restaurant has an extensive selection of wine to pair with your Italian meal, plus strong and tasty handcrafted cocktails made with fresh ingredients. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is bustling, and the food is delicious. As raved about online and having garnered attention worldwide, Buffalo Dining Club is a worthy dining destination.

*Warning: the menu was simple; mostly cheese, prosciutto, and sides, not much protein at all. The…read morewhole point of coming here was to try their signature pasta dish: CACIO E PEPE! Though it was obviously not as good as Rome, it was pretty delightful in its own unique way. The al dente pasta was twirled in a giant wheel of pecorino cheese, table-side! Then I was able to enhance it with the house-made pepper jam (provided at the table). We also tried the house salad (fresh and well-dressed) and San Daniele prosciutto ribbons, while sipping some crisp Pinot Grigio - all good complements to the heavy pasta. Overall, my sisters and I enjoyed our carb lunch al fresco that day!

A very cozy Italian restaurant with lovely staff amazing dishes. It does get crowded and…read morereservations are a must in advance. Way in advance... Enjoy!

The menu choices are very good for this restaurant. The opening hours are convenient, however the…read morerestaurant is in a somewhat difficult location. Overall great European food and atmosphere. The atmosphere brings a welcoming ambiance.

Flynns is the place you can go to week after week and neither the menu nor the wines get tired or a…read moreplace you can take that special person for intimate dinner. Just outside of the bustling Crows Nest hub, Flynns is in an ex dry cleaners building and has been beautifully restored (even with some of the old original brickwork) to give it that Italian/european flavour. It's built along two split levels, with an outside deck, classy bar (where Ive had many a beer or wine) and even couches and lounge chairs if you are really just in for a chat and a wine after a hard day at work. What makes this place so special is the attention to detail in both the food and the service. The owner is almost always there and makes a habit of getting to know his customers but also embracing them into his world. The staff are very attentive and its the perfect place for a 30 min on-the-run dinner or a relaxed 3 hour feast with 10 of your mates. Oh and don't forget the Argentinian Malbec. To die for!!!

Also known as Diner Five Five. You can't go past this place for tasty Italian food at reasonable…read moreprices. What I did find surprising for the price with the beautiful setting and decor of the restaurant where modern meets classic. No red and white check table clothes here. To the food, very nice simple dishes served with quality ingredients. If you want something with a twist, go for one of the chef's special pizza's or other dishes. For me, the Greek salad was the winner of the night. Only thing missing - some bread rolls for the table for soaking up the sauces and dressings!

I used to frequent this place when we lived in Sydney and I am pleased to say it has continued to…read moredeliver good experience to this day. Many of the restaurants and bars that opened in this area shut down but not this one. Good choice of drinks including craft beers, cocktails and wine. Food here is also quite decent and they have a tapas menu plus other bigger items as well. Service is very friendly and quick and prices are also quite ok. The bar has a lovely ambience and well suited to a romantic evening out. I love coming here and will more than likely return :-)

Hey beauty when the mood gets you down, your bottom lip's near dragging on the ground...then get…read moreyourself down to Firefly and grab yourself a Splice of Heaven beer inspired by Australia's other favourite ice cream (and possibly Dave Dobbyn but I'm not sure what he tastes like). They also have a Holdin Hay Time beer, both by Moon Dog. What a delight for a Friday night after a tough day at work. Firefly is one of the original Sydney small bars, from back when we were still referring to them as Wine Bars (what dorks we were) and it has been consistently good, outliving places along this strip like White Hart and Blue Plate. The food is share style with generous servings and the drinks list is impressive. I recommend the salt and pepper squid, pork sliders, zucchini chips. They say you should get 3 plates for two people, 5 plates for 3. This formula will leave you uncomfortably full. You can book ahead and they do have time limits on the tables but we were over and nobody seemed to care so they obviously manage their system well. It can get hot inside in the warmer months so a table outside is recommended. Now if you excuse me I'm going to get back to singing the unofficial New Zealand anthem and reminiscing about those beers.