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Lunch specials

Rice Face dishes at Palisa Anderson's new food-court eatery.

Come for the rice bowls, stay for the pandan Ice Magic at Chat Thai’s new food-court diner

Rice Face is serving some of the best value lunches in the CBD, and owner Palisa Anderson says her chicken rice stands up to the greatest she’s tried in South-East Asia.

  • Bianca Hrovat
14/20

The Charles’ new Italian subterranean supper club is the place to split a spaghetti

Yes, it’s another Italian restaurant, but this basement restaurant is drawing the Gen Z crowds with its Rat Pack “swagger” and ramped-up theatre.

  • David Matthews
Beef flank wonton noodle soup.
13/20

The wonton noodle soup at this BYO Chinese takeaway has been recognised by the UN

Like all “proper 𝄒90s suburban” eateries, Canton Noodle House in Riverwood offers almost everything, including this soup.

  • David Matthews
Claret Club.
14/20

Wine bar downstairs, restaurant up, this spot from gun sommeliers is revitalising Stanley St

Owners Harry Hunter and Bridget Raffal bring experience from three-hatted Sixpenny, Where’s Nick and Bentley to their new labour of love, which feels a little like the caves à vin of Paris.

  • David Matthews
Tuna, kingfish, and salmon sashimi arrive wreathed in dry-ice fog against a sculpted backdrop of cucumber and radish.

Chowon

A suburban paragon of value and technique.

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Mishy's, Surry Hills.
14/20

Mishy’s is like a big-hearted dinner party. So why aren’t more people talking about it?

With hand-selected market fare, $600 worth of crystals and a menu reminiscent of Three Blue Ducks, this beautiful, sunlit restaurant has a bright creativity and personality all its own.

  • Bianca Hrovat
Bar Local Drop is an extension of wine delivery business the Local Drop.
14.5/20

This all-day wine bar and its handwritten little black book has our reviewer hooked

Lunch, dinner or snacks and drinks at Bar Local Drop can stretch happily from “a quick one” to “one more” to “we might as well”...

  • Dani Valent
Sour cherry pie.

Savour the ‘unbeatable tongue-twang’ of fresh fruit pies at this nostalgic bakery cafe

It’s all about fruit, not sugariness, at Miller Street’s Blessed Fruit Pies, which bakes its juicy, glistening sour cherry, blackberry, blueberry and mixed berry pies each morning.

  • Lenny Ann Low
Good Food hat15.5/20

Discover a tucked-away 12-seater jewel that goes beyond its Japanese roots

You can still go hard on the tempura at Haco. But its intimate omakase experience now also embraces grilled meats and international flavours.

  • David Matthews
Warm tofu noodles.
14.5/20

‘Warm hug for your stomach’: This eatery takes three days to make its tofu noodles

This Hurstville venue is one of the few places in Sydney serving the traditional and “unapologetically bold” cuisine of Myanmar.

  • Helen Yee