alternative eating places in sydney

[kaseyoz]

I was reading a post somewhere on here about the cost of restaurants in sydney.

You have to see that the sydney harbour is prime location and most of the restarants are upmarket restaurants with price tags to match. this is ok for a special occasion but not so good for everyday.

 

i thought i would try and start a thread listing alternative places to eat.

 

Right at the quayside is "city extra" more an ihop/snack type of place, but has a great view of the ship when in dock from upstairs. there are also numerous cheaper restaurants within walking distance even a macdonalds if you are desperate.

 

Try getting a cab to Norton street in Leichhardt for Italian food. Many smaller cheap eats here. Find the italian Forum(just behind Coles supermarket) for wonderful ice creams and feel like you are in italy!!!

 

There are also numerous places at darling harbour with a mixed price tags. If you walk a bit further you will come to our "chinatown" almost worth a visit on its own.

 

Try taking the ferry to manly for lots of eating places including $10 steaks (not sure about that though!!)I would just get some fish and chips and eat them on the beach.

 

In the centre of circular quay is "minus 5" an ice bar where everything is made from ice, great on those 30 degree days.Only good for a drink but different and most people would just bypass it not knowing what it is.

 

Centrepoint tower has a revolving restaurant on top of it (shaped like a ships crows nest) But there are many cheap eats downstairs in the food court for a snack under $10.

 

I realise if you are only here for a day you need to just grab something quick and easy and close.This is more for those who have a bit more time.

 

any one want to add anything else.

 

karon

[Globaliser]

Great idea, kaseyoz! I will try to keep adding to this thread when I can usefully do that.

 

City Extra is open 24 hours a day, so it's very useful for that.

 

Pretty much next door on Circular Quay is an Italian called Cafe Rossini, which is also a useful economical standby.

 

If you walk around towards the Opera House, there are a few reasonably-priced bars and cafes on that side which are also good for stopping to refuel. I think it's the Oyster Bar which is right by the water's edge on that side.

 

On George Street in the Rocks (ie right next to Circular Quay) is a pub called Phillip's Foote. If you want to eat there, you cook your own steaks on the grill. Quite fun - not as cheap as doing the same thing in more suburban spots, but the location is good and convenient.

[M&A]

Karon,

 

Thanks for the info, really helpful, we will take your advice. We are going to be in Sydney for the first time in April prior to our cruise. I was a little worried when I read some of the posts about how expensive restaurants are in Sydney.

We are staying at the Marriot Circular Quay but I don't think we'll be eating too much in that area.

 

thanks

Mike

[earljr]

Are you on the Sapphire -- Sydney to LA?

[M&A]

Hi Earl,

 

Yes we are on the Sapphire - Syd to LA, we are spending 5 nights in sydney and then going to Cairns for 4 nights and flying back to sydney the night before the cruise. Our first time in australia.

[ErinH1]

Karon,

Good eating tips & advice, we could have used some reasonable places to eat at during our trip. We picked some real duds on our own and paid a kings ransom. Yes, the prices for the restaurants right by the international cruise passenger terminal are obscene and what amazed me even more was that the restaurants were fully booked the few week nights we were there. We were tired from trekking around all day and at 9:00 one night in desperation ate at the only place where we could get a seat, the Chinese restaurant. I've blanked the name out of my mind and am afraid to look it up on my credit card statement--the most expensive Chinese food I have ever seen. OK, the food was good but at those prices & bad service I did not enjoy it.

 

However, we did find a cute place for breakfast or lunch, with yummy pastries, quiche, meat pies, coffees etc. It was La Renaissance Patisserie on Argyle St. right off George St. Order at the counter and enjoy your food on the patio with the entertaining & colorful lorikeets. A little further down George St. on Hickson just before you get to the Park Hyatt was a Pancake place that our shuttle driver recommended. We had breakfast there and it was tasty, very large portions, at reasonable prices (good if you have kids). They also have ribs, pizza, crepes and other lunch/dinner items which I heard are also quite good.

 

I found Sydney to be quite expensive and almost everything was at least 10-20% more than the prices listed in the 2006 guidebooks. I think Sydney is thriving with the tourist population--a beautiful & friendly town but just be sure to bring lots of money!

[bobnsandi]

Hi Earl,

 

Yes we are on the Sapphire - Syd to LA, we are spending 5 nights in sydney and then going to Cairns for 4 nights and flying back to sydney the night before the cruise. Our first time in australia.

 

We've been watching this discussion also. We will spend 3 weeks in Australia in early 2008, including 5 days in Sydney. Then we board the Sun Princess from Sydney to San Francisco. Our roll-call discussion here on CC is awesome, to say the least. Thanks for all the great advice, we are looking forward to our visit.

 

Bob and Sandi Swanson

[Jane110]

I like the Lord Nelson hotel/pub on Millers Point in Sydney. It's just up the hill from the Rocks and Quay area. Fantastic Pub-grub.

 

Kaseyoz,

I can't believe you forgot to mention Harry's Cafe de Wheels for their famous pie and peas!

Cheap and delicious and open almost 24 hours. EVERY taxi driver knows where it is.

 

Lastly there's a terrific and popular pub on the shopping street, is it called Jacksons?

[kaseyoz]

Jane110.

can you believe i have never been to harry cafe de wheels.Yes, another sydney institution.

also the lowenbraui(sp) beer keller in the rocks is a fun place with a group and for something different.

There is also pancakes on the rocks in the rocks area that is open 24 hours a day.

any other questions please post

 

karon

[bobnsandi]

any other questions please post

 

karon

 

Thanks for the great ideas.

 

Our question is about Chinatown. We love Dim Sum (Yum Cha), so it is our intention to hit the high spots during our 5 days in Sydney. Any suggestions?

 

Also, there is the consideration of walking distance. We are staying at a hotel that is very near Town Hall (on Park St). How difficult is the walk from there south to Chinatown? Would we need a taxi? We are (currently) young enough to do some walking, but are not long distance hikers.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Globaliser]

Also, there is the consideration of walking distance. We are staying at a hotel that is very near Town Hall (on Park St). How difficult is the walk from there south to Chinatown? Would we need a taxi?

Chinatown's only a few minutes' walk from Town Hall. No worries there!

[mydream]

Its all down hill from Park Street. Going back it's uphill. Might help you walk off the dinner. Have fun.

[bobnsandi]

Its all down hill from Park Street. Going back it's uphill. Might help you walk off the dinner. Have fun.

 

Thanks for the info. Sounds good to us.

 

Regarding that uphill/downhill, is it possible to hoof it from that Park St location to Circular Quay? Or should we buy the all bus/boat/rail pass? We figure to see lots of things from the ferries, so we will probably buy the pass anyway, but we don't mind a bus from here to there, either.

 

Again, many thanks for the information.

[Globaliser]

Regarding that uphill/downhill, is it possible to hoof it from that Park St location to Circular Quay?

That's 20-30 minutes' walk, depending on how fast you walk.

 

You could take the train from Town Hall to Circular Quay, too, particularly if you've bought the pass.

[true salt]

G'day all, the best chinese in sydney is at the BBQ King, on the city side of Chinatown. The place is a dump, the food cheap and service ho hum, BUT the food is the best i have eaten, including my travels all over Asia!! This place is where I always go when in Sydney. :)

[arxcards]

King Street Wharf has several restaurants, and is close to Wharf 8 if you are em\disemberking there.

Link

[mydream]

If you get a day pass you can use it on the ferries as well as buses and trains. You can take a trip to Manly beach and joy a walk along the sand. I think it would be worth your while. Then you can choose when to walk and when to ride. Like in the afternoon when your tired form all your sight seeing. Sydney is easy to negotiate but it can be a little up hill/down hill.

Have a great time.:)

[kaseyoz]

for gloria. here is the posts on eating in sydney

[TenerifeSharon]

Any of you that know Sydney well, ever heard of a very large Chinese restaurant - with a great selection of dim sum - called Marigold? If so, where is it located? Supposedly in the Rocks area. Thanks for your help.:)

[kaseyoz]

is this the one

 

http://www.marigold.com.au/html/citymark/index.htm

 

it says 5 minutes from central station which is not in the rocks area

[Fires]

If you enjoy good quality food, at good prices some of the best restaurants are together on one small st near Hyde Park. Its called Stanley st in Darlinghurst and it's where alot of locals go out to eat.

 

Terry

[mochuck]

As soon as you get away from Circular Quay the prices become a lot more reasonable. A couple of places I would suggest (particularly if you like beer) are Belgian Beer Cafe which has quite an extensive menu and caters for just about any budget. It also specialises in mussels(yuk) but plenty of other things to choose from. Probably about a 10 minute walk from Circular Quay.

 

http://www.belgian-beer-cafe.com.au/default.asp?id=16

 

Just found this link to King St Wharf restaurants. Quite a range of prices and styles there. Bungalow 8 has great fish 'n chips.

 

http://www.ksw.com.au/default.aspx?page=3

 

King St Wharf is about a 15 minute brisk walk from Circular Quay. Or you can catch a ferry around to Darling Harbour or catch a cab. But if you're staying in Darling Harbour, very convenient.:)

[mochuck]

Cargo becomes a pick up joint later in the evening and can be very loud.

 

Kingsley's is a bit more expensive but you will get to try a dinky-di Aussie steak cooked just how you want it. It has a soft shell crab to die for. Its an entree but it is plenty with a salad for a main and only about $15

 

Nick's is also a bit more expensive but a great selection of local seafood. Have the seafood platter for 2 between 4 with an entree and salads (or chips).

 

I haven't been to any of the others, but the great thing about King St is the restaurants are all together and they have the menus with prices on display outside. So no nasty surprises when you get the bill.

 

Most have al fresco dining as well as inside dining.

 

Wine tends to be more expensive, so unless you're a conoisseur, the house wines are quite adequate.

[TenerifeSharon]

is this the one

 

http://www.marigold.com.au/html/citymark/index.htm

 

it says 5 minutes from central station which is not in the rocks area

 

Thanks, Karon, I'll have to check if this was what my sister was referring to. Any other suggestions for good chinese food -- doesn't need to / shouldn't (!) cost a fortune?

[Jancruz]

I have heard the rock oysters are great in Australia any favorite Sydney restaurants that have them?

Jan

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