What’s on around town

• Head to El Primo Sanchez on Tuesdays for La Frontera, a special weekday Tex-Mex menu. Star dishes include al pastor nachos, prawn-ceviche tostadas (topped with fermented chilli), loaded fries, and burritos plump with Wagyu. Churros with fig-leaf cream and $10 highballs are the cherry on top.

• Making dippy eggs even sunnier, Maison Balzac just released a too cute pair of glass eggcups. Nab them at the Surry Hills store on Saturday February 17 to receive half-a-dozen free-range eggs too.

• PS40’s next Takeover Tuesday is a special one. A chef (with Attica credentials) from hot Melbourne wine bar Bar Liberty is bringing his Australian-Polish plates north on Tuesday February 20. Bookings essential.

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• Tiny offering, big vibes: Bar Morris has a new daily menu. From 3.30pm to 5.30pm, it’s Piccolo Hour: small snacky bites alongside a happy list of drinks. Italian Gildas, citrusy olives, house-made pickles and more come with $4 piccolo beers, $5 wines and a trio of $10 spritzes.

• CBD Italian joint Secolo Dining has moved to Balmain, taking over Fabbrica’s old kitchen in the Exchange Hotel. And like at Fabbrica before it, there’ll be house-made pastas and antipasti galore (think focaccia with roasted bone marrow, and Sardinian anchovies).

• Don’t pack your lunch next week: Fishbowl is delivering $5 serves of its OG bowl – protein plus kale, beets, seaweed salad and that more-ish sesame dressing – via Doordash from Monday February 19 till Sunday February 25.

A self-love special

• While it’s not food-related, the Valentine’s Day pop-up by Ilo can feed your soul. The sexual wellness house brought vibes to the people of Bondi with its Climax Courier: providing 15-minute – “faster than the 333” – deliveries across its range of toys. Missed out? Broadsheet readers can use the code BSVIBES for 30 per cent off and free express shipping site-wide until 6pm on Sunday February 18.

What we covered this week

• First look: Pantry Story started as an Instagram bakery in 2020, but now it’s come to life on Parramatta Road in Stanmore. Go early: devotees are already queueing for its famous “brochi” (brownie mochi), brisket hand pies and kimchi-cheese focaccias.

• Bartiga is healing one Broadsheet editor’s relationship with Double Bay. Along with said editor, the locale has grown up in the last few years. This latest opening takes over the old Cafe Perons space, with a Malaysian-inspired menu from a former Tetsuya chef.

• Now closed: Crown Street wine bar and restaurant Bartolo closed suddenly last week after five years. While no public comment has been made, the venue’s Instagram has been set to private and the website now directs diners to Big Poppa’s, the Darlinghurst pasta place from the same team.

• Beloved Annandale cafe Cornersmith is closing this month. It’s the corner spot where food scraps are preserved for a house range of condiments, local producers star on the menu and coffee is traded for home-grown veggies. “We tried bloody hard and while our passion and purpose hasn’t changed, our bodies, brains and bank balances are a bit exhausted,” the husband-and-wife team announced.

• The duo behind Sydney-based creative agency Buffet Digital, Sophie McComas-Williams and Nikki To, tell us what’s tasty in our city. Dumplings in Potts Point? Pizza in Thirroul? You’re in for good things only.

• Fish sandwiches are so hot right now – we’re jonesing for fried fillets between soft, white slices, and some of the city’s best have us hook, line and sinker. Here’s where to catch the best in Sydney.

You might’ve missed

• First look: Sydney Common is the luxurious new restaurant making a very strong case for hotel dining rooms. There’s a view of Hyde Park, a fire-powered open kitchen and stunning mortadella-filled agnolotti.

• Chase summer’s tail at Martinez, where the French Riviera and a knockout bouillabaisse await. The Hinchcliff House team’s breezy venue boasts a terrace bar with Harbour Bridge views, and an ace pair of happy hours.

• The Cantina OK team’s underground bar is here: Centro 86. Look for the sign on Pitt Street, and then make a move up the laneway to find five Margaritas and 100 hand-selected tequilas until 2am every night.