The best restaurants for big groups in Sydney

Good for: Carnivores
The smoked sausages, one kilo t-bone and whole smoked chickens will please meat eaters of all shapes and sizes, plus, the bigger your group, the more hefty serves of meat you can order – why not try them all?
How many: For groups up to seven people you can book online and for bigger groups of eight or more you’ll need to call up. The banquet menu – at $65 or $85pp – is available for groups of four or more.

Good for: Affordable, five-star Thai. David Thompson’s Sydney venue is a buzzy, smoky, fragrant party cave where group dining doesn’t need to break the bank – there’s a $45 and $68 menu which cherry-picks the best bits and prevents any surprises when the bill arrives.
How many: You can book for up to nine without having to surrender your a la carte options, but for groups of 10 to 14 people you can opt for the set menu in the semi-private dining room. You can even get a table of 20 in the main dining room.

Good for: Dinner with party vibes and a pasta focus. They're all about the good times and the casual fun at this end of Bayswater Road. 
How many? Did you know ACME has a downstairs? Well it does, complete with its own bar and long table. On busy nights it’s used for regular diners, but you can actually rent the entire floor out for a group booking. It'll seat 20 or hold 26 standing, and you can ordr wither a $65 or $85 set menu, packed with snacks and pasta. 

Good for: People that don’t dig dictated menus. Soup isn’t a sharing food, and since ramen is their speciality, there’s no expectation of dividing up broth here. They also don’t go in for exxy set menus. You may want to try to share the snacks around though, so you can order at least one of everything, including tender chicken jerky, gyoza and miso eggplant.
How many: You can book for groups of up to 11 online, or get in touch with the restaurant directly for larger groups.

Good for: Communal hot pot dining. Who needs a show when dinner here is punctuated by some seriously quirky surprises, from meat dressed Barbies to robot waiters.
How many: If you book into the main area of the restaurant they can accommodate for groups of up to 15 spread across three tables, so why not use the spread to maximise how many different soup bases – you can play musical chairs and try them all. You can also book into one of the restaurant’s flash private rooms, which accommodate 20 people (with a minimum spend of $60pp).

Good for: Those who love some flashy Asian food.
Are you hankering to try this flashy Thai eatery but just haven’t gotten around to it yet? Seeing as group bookings are much easier to secure than walk-ins, this might be yet another instance where there is power in numbers.
How many: You can book in for dinner for groups of six or more; if you have a larger group you can opt for chef’s table (12-16); or the corner table (10-12). All these options will require ordering the ‘Feed Me’ banquet, which reads like a greatest hits of the smouldering South East Asian menu.  

Good for: A serious Italian feast, with a disco soundtrack to match. Pizzas are the ultimate share food, and the slow roasted porchetta is unforgettable. For a real vibe, you’ll also find local DJs on the decks on Friday nights (but don’t worry – it’s not crazy loud). 
How many: This light and bright Bondi dining room accepts bookings for up to 25 people online, giving you a guaranteed spot for a large group without having to hire out a private dining room or order a set menu.

Good for: Smart casual Surry Hills dining vibes. They opt for share-friendly, modern Middle Eastern here, and the round tables make group dining feel convivial in the spacious, gently industrial restaurant.
How many: Groups of six or more will need to opt for the feast menu, and you can book easily online for up to 13 people. Larger groups of 14 or more can be accommodated for if you get in touch with the restaurant directly.

Good for: Diving into metre-long pizzas. Families will enjoy the wow-factor of those huge, edible, cheesy catwalks, while older folk will enjoy raiding their cellar to source the perfect sangiovese to go with the wood fired pies – thank heavens for BYO. Happily, there are locations in Hunters Hill, Lane Cove and Surry Hills.
How many: Groups of up to 12 can book online. They can also accommodate for wheelchairs and have room for prams, too.

Good for: A big shared Greek feast, and one of the best hot cheese dishes in Sydney. Expect family-style dining with big plates of food and whole fish aimed to share around the table. You can do the Full Greek for just $65 a person – it’s all the stuff you’ll want to order off the menu and exactly the right amount to eat.
How many: This Potts Point hot spot accepts reservations for lunch Friday to Sunday; and for dinner for groups of 6-12 people at seating times of 6pm-8.15pm or 8.30pm-close. Also the semi-private chef's table seats up to 12 people and is partially joined to the kitchen meaning you get to take in all the courtside action.

Good for: Cantonese barbecue delights, live seafood and dim sum shared across big round tables. This is a time to let the purse strings fall open and order special occasion sharing dishes like giant mud crabs in XO and whole roast ducks.
How many: Like most of the restaurants in Merivale’s stable, Mr Wong can easily accommodate big groups. You can book online for parties under 14 people, and larger than that, you can contact the events team who will help you formulate a plan.

Good for: A special occasion catered by legendary Sydney chef, Kylie Kwong. Get a crew so you can order the whole crispy duck, whole chickens, and double serves of those saltbush cakes.
How many: Groups of nine or less can book online and order a la carte. Bigger parties of 10 or more will need to call up and opt for one of the three banquet menus, which are $85, $120 or $150pp. If you’re after something seriously spesh, book in for Kylie’s table, which sees the legendary chef herself pop into the private dining room to welcome guests and explain her cooking philosophy.

Good for: Family style dining with picturesque garden views. Matt Moran’s beautiful garden restaurant is going to be a hit with multiple generations (we all love a view) and the menu here lends itself to shared dining: see that famous whole lamb shoulder.
How many: Groups of seven or more will need to contact the restaurant directly, and opt for the group menu, which includes whole roasted chickens, the lamb shoulder and barramundi for mains at $80pp.