Whether you love or loathe Valentine's Day it rolls around every February 14 without fail, and Sydney restaurants capitalise on the day by dishing out set menus with hefty price tags. If still want to dine out on Valentine's Day but want to be able to choose what you eat, we've rounded up a bunch of the best spots to go that stick to a full a la carte menu on V-Day.
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If Italo snacks and funky wines are your jam head into 10 William for Valentine's Day. The full a la carte menu will be on offer and you're certain to feel a touch more romantic after a glass of blushing Sicilian Suscaru from Frank Cornelissen alongside a bowl of ragu pappardelle. Full disclosure – it will be very busy with other lovers.
Why not extend your general love of Argentinean dining over open flames and make it a night of love all around, because these guys won't force you into a set menu when you're trying ot impress your bae.
This Italian institution will be dishing out all the favourites – risotto all’Ametriciana, lasagne, calamari fritti, bresaola and tiramasu – all night long. Note that there's no reservations – so slip in early or try coming a little later if you want a chance on V-Day.
It's already a primo date spot, but the fact that you can rder your cheeses, cured meats, tinned seafood and excellent wines as you see fit on Valentine's Day only makes this more of a going concern.
Rather than choosing some airy harbourside venue with Opera House views, why not head to Neil Perry's special subterranean temple of spice. You'll find a menu that roams China from Sichuan to Yunnan to Guangxi. The service is breezy yet professional, and if you don't want to sit down straight away there's a bar out the front serving cocktails named after the animals of the Chinese zodiac.
Maybe Greek food is the food of love this year, but the hot tip here is don’t order everything, as much as you’ll want to. You will leave Apollo uncomfortably full. The set menu is a good call from both a budget and 'best of' perspective, but you can go your own way just as easily.
We all know that more love is found in a pub than a restaurant, so why not head to this Oxford Street boozer on Valentine's Day? Forgo any air of fanciness and celebrate romance over a golden brown schnitzel, a beer and a round of pool.
Cho Cho San has what is quite possibly the most beautiful restaurant interior in Sydney, which makes it a top notch spot for the day of love. Inspired by the izakayas of Japan, it has plenty of snacks, raw options and meats cooked over coals, and the drinks list is as impressive as the food.
Rosetta spreads out over three levels with a split-level bar, a crudo and mozzarella bar, and a 60-person outdoor terrace with harbour views. The sprawling space means you've got a decent chance of getting a table (even on one of the busiest dining days of the year) and you can order up vitello tonnato, osso bucco and cotoletta alongside Bellinis, Negronis and Italian beers.
Our definitive list of where to eat in Sydney right now. We hope you're hungry because you're going to want to sample from every one of them.
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