The latest reviews of Sydney restaurants by the Australian Good Food Guide. http://www.agfg.com.au/ en-au Copyright Australian Good Food Guide Publishing Pty Ltd rss@agfg.com.au (AGFG Webmaster) webmaster@agfg.com.au (AGFG Webmaster) Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:09:25 GMT Open your mind, delve into a wonderland of edgy, raw style and discover the delight that is Studio NEON, one of Sydney's most inspirational underground dining experiences. Photography studio by day and communal dining experience by night, Studio NEON is an artistic vision of fashion, design, music and culinary charm; set in an industrial warehouse studio, candle lit chandeliers, mismatched chairs lining a communal table, exposed brick and thick picture frames tacked to cream walls set the scene for dim lit dining. Stacked speakers make up the legendary wall of sound, where tunes can resonate through the space as you enjoy the fusion of secretively savvy style and epicurean share food. Dishes at Studio NEON may include salmon, wasabi, housemade pickled cucumber and ginger, soy gel and rice. http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydney-eastern-suburbs/waterloo/restaurants-dining/studio-neon http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydney-eastern-suburbs/waterloo/restaurants-dining/studio-neon A store with more, Psonia Shopping with a Difference offers a convenient café experience, a unique San Souci store aptly fitted to the lifestyle of Sydney city crowds. Rich with unusual homeware, giftwares and accessories, this elegant establishment boasts a stylish setup; white and steel shelves and marble counter tops are adorned with the likes of imported Amber glass vases, old English teacups, gourmet pantry goods and and jewellery. Shop til you drop – right onto one of Psonia's comfortable café chairs – and recharge with coffee and freshly baked cake or a pick from the small yet satisfying café style menu. Gourmet sandwiches, foccacias and bagels all come stuffed with an assortment of fillings, and for the cooler days, warm up with one of Psonia's pies, soups or quiches. http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/st-george-area/sans-souci/restaurants-dining/psonia http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/st-george-area/sans-souci/restaurants-dining/psonia The next best thing to a Greek Island getaway is the food, so if you like Greek and Cypriot cuisine, you're going to love a trip to The Claypot Taverna in Kensington. Clean, cool and in tune with the Greek coastal theme, The Claypot's white walled entrance is trimmed with thick cobalt blue, its al fresco patio spread alongside with padded benches and brown wicker seating. Inside, Claypot's modest, minimal décor continue to resonate with the same Amalfi coastal charm, in tune with the Mediterranean menu to follow. Pass around mezze plates like loukanika (home made spicy sausages served with crushed wheat and caramelised onions) and prawn saganaki, served with feta, garlic, olive oil and tomato, before a taste of the specialty claypot cooking, filled with tender meat and seafood delights. http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydney-eastern-suburbs/kensington/restaurants-dining/the-claypot-taverna http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydney-eastern-suburbs/kensington/restaurants-dining/the-claypot-taverna For Lebanese cuisine in Regents Park, step into Shish Tawouk, a Sydney restaurant renowned for friendly service and flavoursome food. Since its establishment in 2010, this homely restaurant has built up a loyal following of regulars who spread praise for Shish Tawouk's pleasant service and quiet, old world design; textured sandstone brick and intricately patterned booths add a touch of exotica to otherwise classically set surrounds, with tables draped in white linen, partnered with high backed seating. Shish Tawouk's sizable menu features classic Lebanese dips and dishes and may include chicken shawarma – pan grilled shredded chicken on a bed of onions with garlic dip, as well as samka harah – fried fish of the day topped with a traditional spicy tahini and coriander sauce and pine nuts. http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydneys-inner-west/regents-park/restaurants-dining/shish-tawouk http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydneys-inner-west/regents-park/restaurants-dining/shish-tawouk http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydney-eastern-suburbs/darlinghurst/restaurants-dining/oxford-social-restaurant-bar http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydney-eastern-suburbs/darlinghurst/restaurants-dining/oxford-social-restaurant-bar To add a little fire to your dining destination, why not take to Chilli Cha Cha, praised by many for authentic Thai cuisine in Haymarket. Although the restaurant may be small in size, its the tasty Thai fare that really packs a punch, enjoyed within a simple, satisfying setting; white seating and red sofas pair with an equally vibrant feature wall, while gathered bamboo fringing above the open kitchen adds to the exotic tone. To start, perhaps opt for crumbed prawn cakes served with plum sauce, before moving on to choose from spice infused mains like pla lui suan (deep fried crispy fish with chilli powder, ground roasted rice, mint and coriander in Thai dressing) or yum moo korb (deep fried crispy pork belly with Spanish onions, chilli with a touch of lemon and chilli jam sauce). http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydney-city-surrounds/haymarket/restaurants-dining/chilli-cha-cha http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydney-city-surrounds/haymarket/restaurants-dining/chilli-cha-cha Among the diverse eat street of Newtown snugly sits Cheeky Czech, an Eastern European eatery that delights with traditional, hearty cuisine. Splashing onto the pavement in shades of yellow and red, what this compact Czech restaurant lacks in seating numbers more than makes up for in taste. Amidst a menu of traditional winter warming dishes, you will find authentic options like Prague slow cooked beef roll ups filled with speck, onion, pickles, mustard and chorizo, served in their own sauce with potato pancakes, mixed among an eclectic cafe menu selection of burgers, pastas and big breakfasts. Be sure to beat the crowds for Cheeky Czech dinner dishes like svicklova - marinated braised beef in root vegetable sauce, served with cranberry sauce and Czech bread dumplings. http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydneys-inner-west/newtown/restaurants-dining/cheeky-czech http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydneys-inner-west/newtown/restaurants-dining/cheeky-czech Translating to "an irresistible addiction", Chaska in Neutral Bay is truly an undeniable pleasure of Indian cuisine. Scattered around the subtly understated restaurant, the dark wooden tables and chairs are carefully placed to offer a view of the open kitchen, where the chefs are busy whipping up a banquet of classic Indian fare. A popular choice for brunch, the chef's very own recipe, amritsari kulcha - naan bread stuffed with potatoes, onions and specially added herbs and spices, cooked in the tandoor and served with yogurt and freshly made butter is as comforting as it is delicious. For a taste of authentic Punjabi main meal, tuck into the fish curry, cooked in a ginger and garlic paste with home made herbs and spices, enhanced by a fragrant curry leaf and a dash of lemon juice. http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/lower-north-shore/neutral-bay/restaurants-dining/chaska http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/lower-north-shore/neutral-bay/restaurants-dining/chaska There are some that claim food tastes better on a stick and one restaurant that proves it to Sydney is Skewered in Leichardt. The smokey aroma of the charcoal grill will lure you inside welcoming surrounds, where you'll be guaranteed to leave with a skewer in each hand. Make a post work pitstop to pick up one of the meat, seafood and vegetable skewers, grilled to perfection and fused with international marinades and flavours including ginger plum pork, green olive and haloumi and lime, caper and salmon. Meatballs, chicken wings, salads and desserts are also available on the picnic style menu, so why not mix and match a selection of bites and sides to enjoy a bit of everything Skewered has to offer? http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydneys-inner-west/leichhardt/restaurants-dining/skewered http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydneys-inner-west/leichhardt/restaurants-dining/skewered Overlooking the neatly manicured lawns of the University of New South Wales, there are fewer places that make time slow down and the crowds congregate quite like Bar Navitas. Stylishly situated within the Tyree Energy Technologies Building, Bar Navitas is a bustling hub for students, teachers and café lovers alike; white chairs on the terrace, dappled in sunlight under giant trees are ideal for enjoying the warmer weather, while inside, a contemporary Italian inspired space bathes in sunlight, looking polished without being pretentious. While the display cabinet houses breakfasts, paninis and salads, the Bar Navitas menu features wholesome pizzas, sweet crepes and hearty favourites for those missing home cooking; cut into layers of vegetarian lasagne or chow down on the steak sandwich. http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydney-eastern-suburbs/kensington/restaurants-dining/bar-navitas http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/nsw/sydney/sydney-eastern-suburbs/kensington/restaurants-dining/bar-navitas