La Casita, Golden Gully, Alberto’s Lounge, Now On The Resy Hit List

Because when Anton Forte opens a new restaurant, you don’t ask questions—you just go. Each of Forte’s restaurants has been a hit, and with former 10 William Street whiz Dan Pepperell behind the stove, Alberto’s Lounge was always going to be special. Pepperell’s playful takes on Roman classics are unbelievably delicious, and you won’t regret ordering the Bucatini all’Amatriciana and Trippa alla Romana. The Surry Hills crowd and Tuscan and Sicilian-heavy wine list make for a particularly potent combination—just don’t blame us the next morning.

Because we’ll order literally anything Khan Danis cooks over a wood fire. Former Rockpool chef Danis has teamed with Dirty Italian Disco’s Mike Eggert to retrofit a century-old pub in Bondi with an open kitchen, wood-burning fire, and a minimalist interior and patio perfect for summer lunching. Charcuterie, Italian small plates, and freshly-baked bread are the perfect foils for a quaffable cocktail list and a superb selection of natural and biodynamic bottles. It’s what summers were made for.

Because Mexican flavours and Byron vibes are a match made in heaven. Having put sleepy Brunswick Heads on the map with the acclaimed Fleet, restaurateurs Josh Lewis and Astrid McCormack have turned to the flavours of Mexico with La Casita, a 14-stool space that’s far more casual than its sibling. Alongside Locura, the new restaurant brings a more traditional take on Mexican cuisine to Australia’s mainstream dining landscape, with a coastal theme (think oysters and ultra-fresh seafood from the region’s shoreline) as well as tacos and plenty of tequila.

Because there’s something wonderful about an unapologetically old-school steakhouse. The newest from the owners of Wild Rover and Grandma’s, Bistecca specialises in steak alla Fiorentina. The T-bone steak of Tuscan legend, it’s their speciality and sole main course, accompanied by small plates, aperitivi, and an Italian-focused wine offering curated by Saint Peter alum Alice Massaria. You can’t go wrong.

Because it’s high time Leichhardt received a great neighbourhood bar. Golden Gully delivers a lick of downtown panache to the Inner West, occupying a heritage shopfront with a pretty upstairs veranda and a mellow downstairs bar with on-trend brushed metal fittings and plush leather booths for lounging. Meanwhile, chef Emma Evans’ opening menu focuses on vegetarian and vegan dishes to accompany a list of six classic cocktails and an exclusively Australian wine list.

Because if anyone can do ramen and Japanese bar food justice, it’s Hideto Suzuki and Tomoyuki Matsuya. Two of Sydney’s hotshot Japanese chefs have joined forces for a joyfully spontaneous pop-up, with the latter slinging intricate small plates from the bar’s robata grill (the miso cod and fried chicken are must-orders), while the former’s refined ramen takes centre stage as the evening wears on. The space is tight and getting a seat won’t be easy, but few things worth experiencing are.

Because it’s a perfect expression of Sydney in 2019. Having quietly opened just before the Christmas rush, this new Surry Hills restaurant has flown under the radar thus far. The food—a contemporary Korean mashup with influences from the owners’ German and Australian childhoods—is irresistible on the plate and palate, and the industrial-luxe decor suits the neighbourhood to a tee. The soybean-dusted pork jowl with red cabbage and breakfast milk panna cotta are both perfect.

Because you’re here for a good time, not a long time. The Bar Ume guys have set up shop (for now) at Redfern Surf Club, focusing on Japanese-inflected Mexican dishes to go with the bar’s Australiana-themed list of cocktails. Think Okinawan-inspired taco bowls, spicy corn on the cob and crunchy lotus crisps that could easily have been invented for Friday nights. Don’t expect to be home early.

Because nothing beats the heat like a perfect ice cream sundae. Chef Ben Varela’s new retro diner takes to the Northern Beaches to deliver a hit of nostalgia and Miami Art Deco cool. A pastel pink interior and patio is a fitting backdrop for a knowingly retro menu of classic diner plates—make the trip for juicy burgers, aforementioned shakes and sundaes, and a smoked brisket dog guaranteed to make your day.

Because Sydney’s Italian revival has posted up on the North Shore. Castlecrag is undergoing a quiet gastronomic reinvention, and the arrival of Cento 22 adds another worthy destination to the neighbourhood. Dishes derive inspiration from Southern Italy, and produce from the surrounding region—start with chilli-slicked tiger prawns, move to handmade pasta, and finish on the restaurant’s panna cotta with berry coulis. Easy.