Best Fine Dining in City of Parramatta Council

"Executive chef Peter Gilmore is tireless in his pursuit of what is interesting, new and Australian. His backyard is peppered with test plantations of rare vegetables, he works with local ceramicists on custom crockery and, like interstate peers Ben Shewry and Jock Zonfrillo, and he is a leading advocate for native produce. The restaurant’s theatrical tasting menus show off all this and more, bolstered by some of the city’s best harbor views."

"Nowhere at Quay is the interplay of texture and rare ingredients so striking than in a small bowl of hand-harvested seafood dressed with virgin soy sauce, aged brown rice vinegar and laver. Coating buttery scallops, crunchy baby octopus, slippery strawberry clams and crisp slivers of palm heart, the dressing enhances and underlines each aspect. As a whole, it's complete; a lesson in taste and judgement."

"When one thinks of fine dining, Quay instantly comes to mind. It could be the many awards that it has received or the fact that chef Peter Gilmore makes some of the best food in Sydney. The menu here features fantastic foods like Maremma duck served with preserved blueberries, black garlic, Kampot pepper and ice plant."

"Like Beyoncé, Madonna and Prince, Tetsuya is a legend who has transcended the need for surnames. Tetsuya arrived in Australia in 1982 with limited English and a limitless love for food, over the last several decades he has made a name for himself as one of the nation’s best loved chefs helming one of Sydney’s best Japanese fine dining spots. Working in Sydney kitchens, Tetsuya learned traditional French techniques that he would later marry with Japanese traditions to create his own unique infallible cooking style."

"When Tetsuya Wakada opened his eponymous restaurant in 1989, it’s sophisticated service and careful marrying of Japanese and French cuisines changed the game. Thirty years on, it remains one of the most elegant and on-brief examples of fine dining Sydney has to offer if a little solemn. Tetsuya’s is about balance and fastidious technique – ideals passed down to a legion of alumni who today run many of the city’s best restaurants themselves."

"Transporting its guests to Japan through both its creative, delicate dishes and its stunning design, Tetsuya’s is renowned for serving the best Japanese food in Sydney. Chef and owner Tetsuya Wakuda has previously been awarded the prestige of three chef hats 17 years in a row and has especially designed a ‘test kitchen’ in the restaurant to continue his exploration of gastronomy."

"Restaurants Modern Australian Coogee. Mimi's is something of a chip off the old block (Merivale's Bert's did fancy coastal bistro first), but it's also its own fancy beast and with prime position right on Coogee Beach it's worth making it a day trip for the views out those huge, arched windows. Dress for the occasion and make the most of it – if there was ever a time to order bumps of caviar and vodka, it's now."

"If you're on the hunt for a nice Sydney restaurant to host your celebrations, head to Coogee, where you'll find the seafront fine dining spot Mimi's. This exclusive eatery screams luxury, with gorgeous muted interiors and a trolley dedicated to all things caviar."

"Restaurants Modern Australian Coogee"

"The perfect beachside location, Blackwood Pantry keeps it light and casual. This whole place flows from inside to the outside sitting area. Pop down for breakfast with classics like French toast or lunch with a chicken salad."

"Get freshly baked croissants, sourdough sandwiches, baguettes, breakfast scrolls as well as order a selection of groceries and wines to take home from District Brasserie’s District Brasserie’s in-house Bakery and Espresso Bar. 📍District Brasserie, 2 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000"

"Indulge in elegant, a la carte dining at Omeros on the Beach restaurant, on the ocean side of the corner of Ramsgate Road and Grand Parade. Surrounded by an interior of crisp white, diners are treated... "Each meal is a culinary journey."

"If Wes Anderson and your grandmother teamed up to open a café, it would probably look something like Little Lord. Combining a pastel colour palette with homely decor, this 1950s-inspired Camperdown café curates a seasonal meat-free menu displayed on old-school chalkboards sitting on the counter. Keep an eye out for Little Lord’s legendary toasted sandwiches."

"Le Monde is a trendy cafe in Surry Hills with a great reputation for delivering delicious brunch. Known for its speciality coffees courtesy of Five Senses, this award-winning cafe is a great place to grab an espresso on the go or relax with some delicious Matcha Hotcakes. With indoor and outdoor seating, you’ll be tempted to stay awhile and enjoy their adventurous brunch menu and wide range of aromatic teas, from organic peppermint to Earl Grey Blue Flower."

"From its pastel hues that pop against checked floor tiles to the pinup uniforms, Doughbox Diner does the 1950’s diner better than anywhere else in Sydney. With several quintessentially American burgers on offer – the Sloppy Joe ($16.99) and the Chilli Cheeseburger ($16.99) are a safe place to start, while the cheese and bacon fries ($14.99) or onion rings ($12.99) will help you mop up any burger sauce left on your plate. The Crepe Cones are the houses’ signature dish, and are available with both sweet and savoury fillings."

"What makes it special: Step back in time into a Pin Up’s paradise and meet Doughbox Diner’s very own Diner Doll. Come to Doughbox Diner to fulfil your childhood dream of traveling to America just for an authentic diner experience, on steroids!. Usually at diners such as this, you would get burgers and fries."

"While some places go for a modern approach, others love to simply capture an era gone by. Doughbox Diner is your go-to if you need to indulge in authentic 60s America, all the way down to the tables. They’re also famous for their handheld crepe cones, but we drool for their banana splits!"

"Golden Century has been serving Sydneysiders with classic Cantonese fare for more than three decades. Many of its popular orders are now legendary, the pippies with XO sauce most of all. Arrive at midnight or a few hours later on a Sunday and you might see some of Sydney’s best chefs bulldozing their way through out-of-the-tank seafood, mud crab with ginger and shallot, and maybe a bizarre mix of cheap imported beer and luxury wines."

"It would be remiss not to include this legendary seafood restaurant in our top 10 – the midday to late-night venue (it’s open till 4am!) is well known for hosting hungry chefs post-service and celebrities like Lady Gaga and Rihanna, post-stadium concerts. Top dishes: pippies with XO sauce, steamed live prawns and steamed parrot fish with ginger and shallots. 393-399 Sussex St, Sydney, goldencentury.com.au"

"Located in Chinatown, this sprawling Cantonese restaurant is something of an institution. Thanks to its live seafood menu and late-night hours, it’s where the best chefs go to eat after they’ve finished their shifts. The menu is massive but you can’t go wrong with the steamed lobster or pippies in XO sauce and the salt and pepper mud crab"