Our Food and Drink Editor’s Top Picks for Dine Out

By the end of Dine Out’s week-long run this August, I will be dangerously close to gout territory. There are just so many excellent dishes to be eaten and drinks to be drunk.

The hardest decisions of the week will be choosing where to go and when. This is my plan:

Monday August 11

I’m starting off strong, with Pantry Story’s Dine Out exclusive: the croissant handbag, filled with truffle brûlée custard. I’m betting it’ll be the must-have accessory of the fest, and I can grab my morning coffee too.

I’m clocking off at 4pm to catch two happy hours in the CBD. First, a $7 mezcal at Cantina OK, and maybe a $14 Marg too. Then a $7 digestif at Herbs Taverne, just a few doors down.

Sugar queen Rhiann Mead’s revamping the dessert trolley at The Charles with a bunch of retro classics. I’m after that cheffy take on an Iced Vovo before bed; it would be rude not to.

Tuesday August 12

Did you know you can normally only get the outrageously excellent Good Ways vanilla slice on the weekend? During Dine Out, the beautiful thing’s available all week long, and I’m having it for brekkie.

5pm is Martini time, and Bar Planet is the obvious choice. The team’s becoming The World’s Dirtiest Martini Bar for one night only, so I’ll be topping my briny pour with anchovies and stuffed olives.

I can guarantee that lunch today was a green salad at my desk, because for dinner I’m doing a bakery tour of India, led by Kolkata Social’s Ahana Dutt and Fabbrica Bread Shop’s Aniruddha Bhosekar. A bread-led set menu with plenty of wine? See you there, if you nab one of the last tickets to the second sitting.

Wednesday August 13

Mississippi Mud Pie for brekkie? I must, it’s Dine Out. The thing’s decadent – with brownie, chocolate ganache and whipped vanilla Chantilly packed into a croissant shell – and on all week at Shadow Baking.

An icon’s returning to The Old Fitz, and I’m not going to miss it. That neon teacup steaming away in the front bar’s corner is actually laksa, an early-2000s menu stalwart – and it’s on the menu for one day only. It’s available from 5pm, and I have dinner plans, so I’m getting one of the very first bowls.

I’m booked and busy for Fermenta, where the Babs gals are popping up at Ester Spirits. Briny, salty, tangy flavours, charcoal cooking and ripper drinks with that house-distilled booze. Tickets are sold out, slow-pokes, but you can join the waitlist if you’re feeling lucky.

Thursday August 14

I’m taking myself to Ricos Tacos to catch Chicago chef Jonathan “Goatboy” Zaragoza on kitchen duty, then wandering down the road to The Bat & Ball, which is becoming a Tabasco-fuelled Creole tavern for the night.

I booked for a group, so I can try all of Cam Votano’s dishes – like jambalaya-inspired smoked fish lasagne, shellfish boil and rum bananas foster – with a live Americana funk band.

Friday August 15

Today’s a big one. I’m after that standout Kosta’s special, a collab with Fratelli Paradiso chef Trisha Greentree. Golden rings of the Potts Point stalwart’s calamari Sant’ Andrea, its signature sauce and rocket on a crusty white roll – available today only.

The Pavonis are pulling out all the stops: dinner at Ormeggio, with the best-loved dishes from the last 16 years – from across all their venues. We’re talking Ormeggio’s best snacks to start, then a main from Petersham’s Postino Osteria, and A’Mare’s tableside pesto. Why have dinner at just one Pavoni venue when you could eat at all of them at once?

Saturday August 16

Saturday lunch is only made better by Ama. Rowena and Kate Chansiri already count me as a fan, but they’re serving two special bowls of “ lost noodles ” during Dine Out – available as a pair for $35, from Friday to Sunday. The zingy house-made mung bean noodles, topped with pineapple noodles, to start, then a coconutty jelly serve with salted coconut milk and shredded young coconut.

Then it’s time for an inner west crawl: starting at Wildflower for the Goldstreet Dairy sanga special. Colin Wood’s outstanding Jersey cheese is getting grilled on a roll with habanero hot sauce and cultured buttermilk.

Then it’s time for Africolas (and more PS40 drinks) at the PSGO drive-in at Petersham Public House, and a scoop of the Corner 75 cheese scone ice-cream at Mapo. Or maybe the fruity Pleasure Club scoop. Choices, choices.

Perpetually hungry, I’m looking at free Pizza Oltra slices at Bar Freda’s, then I’ll dance till late.

Sunday August 17

Sleeping in (because of said late-night dancing) before hitting Odd Culture. It’s Hey Rosey time! The little bar in Orange is big on vibes – excellent food, standout wine and a fit-out like your cool friend’s loungeroom. Chef Hugh Piper is tripping in especially for Dine Out, taking over the kitchen at Odd Culture. It’s going to be good – walk-ins only.

Nightcap? The Pleasure Club x Mapo cocktail.

Broadsheet’s Dine Out festival makes its Sydney debut from August 11 to 17, 2025, after its run in Melbourne from August 4 to 10, 2025. There are 80 events across the two cities.

dineout.broadsheet.com.au