Flying Banana

I know what you mean, most of the places there are designed for the tourists who stay in the Crown and don't care about cost, Automatic is actually really good value, think last time I was there $50 for three course meal and drinks for two. http://www.automaticcafe.com.au/

Once you get away from the real touristy place there are some fine restaurants in Carlton and of course Brunetti's cafe, if you have a sweet tooth then the cakes there are divine.

And Acland Street's cake shops in St Kilda are definitely a must visit!!

ozzieeagle

Just had a look at the URL, for Automatic's FB, Looks very impressive, I've always wanted to find a decent reasonably priced place down Southbank, That may be the place I go to on our next meal out.

If you are brave try one of those Vietnamese places in Bridge Rd, Richmond, Thy thy or Tho Tho, The majority of people that try those, always go back, The Decor at Thy Thy, is what one would imagine to find in a newly arrived Vietnamese Migrants house, Excepting its about 50 times bigger. It's more for people that have lived here for a while, than tourists thats for sure

HiddenPaw

I'll second that Ozzie I used to go to that one!

I do miss the great selection of Thai & Japanese restaurants now we are in the UK. Japanese is pretty hard to find over here.

Bix

I forget the name but there is a brilliant Italian upstairs at the Pier centre.

Ciao.

4lex

You can't beat Newtown for value in Sydney. Three hundred plus eateries in walking distance of the centre, just go in a full one!

My personal faves are
- Twelve. Glass and chrome cheesy decor, but great food and excellent wine list. Went as a four, cost 110.
- Atelier. Awesome french food, overpriced wine list but BYO is an option. Went as three and did BYO, cost 90.
- Cicciolina (Sp?). Italian, obviously. Generous and tasty, BYO also. Meal for four under 100.
- Thai-riffic. Awesome Thai, BYO and really cheerful staff. Been here lots - reckon on 25/person

Others
- Icebergs on Bondi. Very pretentious. Meal for two with [admittedly expensive French] wine - three hundred bucks. Tried their special twice and neither time did it really 'work'. Be seen here, but don't stay for dinner.
- Hotel Mosman. Bargain basement, and home (IMO) of the five dollar steak, which is frankly worth three times the price.

webgum

Any Perthies got any recommendations - I'm looking forward to some good asian cooking (although I've heard finding a decent curry is nigh on impossible).
Anything seafoody is fine with me.

bondipom

The wine list at the Icebergs could leave broke if you are not careful.

Anastasia Beaverhausen

Bohdi is still there. Fantastic. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I first ate in there.

Zia Marias in Arncliffe was great for a takeaway pizza (8 years ago at least)

fraser

We enjoyed a Vietnamese restaurant in Victoria st in Melbourne can't remember which one it was but you had to go upstairs.
Greasy Joes in Acland st does a great brekkie.
Wild in Byron Bay was a great restaurant with brilliant service

NJJ

My sister in law lives in newtown. there is an excellent thai place in king street we have visited for lunch a few times, costs about $6 i think for a set menu and the food is f**kin top notch, and theres loads of the stuff. Also, there's a pub down a side street near a churchyard that I cant remember the name if that is the best one in the area. theres also a bar called "Zambezi bar" or something similar on king street thats open 24 hours. its better than a lot of the other 24hour places that i've visited..

NJJ