Our hacks for fine-dining on a budget in Sydney

Hack: Grab yourself a bento box

If we pocketed a dollar for every person who says Sydney is expensive, we’d be drinking on our very own, private, harbourfront deck. But if you want to dine out without selling your left kidney, we suggest going for one of the three bento boxes on offer, ranging from $40 to $69.50, that are generous enough to stretch between two diners. The ‘Sidney’ box includes a teriyaki salmon or chicken option. But if you want the full Nobu experience in one go, order the ‘classic’. It comes with the black cod miso and the seared tuna sashimi on salad leaves and shavings of radish and beetroot. There are little nigiri and cut sushi rolls of the chef's selection, and a vegetable stirfry on rice. They've even got a vegetarian option.

Hack: Small plates from Little Felix

If you're a bit of a restaurant nerd, you might already know that Felix takes some of its cues from New York brasserie to the stars, Balthazar itself a homage to the classic Parisian bistro. What you might not know, however, is that Felix's little brother, aptly named Little Felix, has fabulous small plates available from the bar from just 13 dollars.

Hack: Head to Boque by Tapavino

Tapavino have made a name for themselves as the classy Spanish tapas joint taking over Sydney. The Barangaroo outpost, Boque by Tapavino, is inspired by the fresh food of el boqueria in Barcelona. Instead of settling for just one of Tapavino's traditional mains, try a little bit of everything with the tapas plates that range from $6 to $18. To top it all off, you can take 25% off the bill on Friday if you're dining at lunchtime. Did we mention that happy hour here involves $8 sangrias? 

Hack: The pre-theatre menu or express lunch 

Aalia have not one, but two budget options so you can treat yourself to executive chef Paul Faraag's gorgeous array of Arabic flavours for less. The pre-theatre menu will set you back $75 for a drink of choice and three courses. You'll have a hard time trying to pick from the almond crumbed john dory, lamb neck shawarma or the dry aged duck to share with your date for the evening. Even thriftier, is Aalia's express lunch menu coming in at $55 per person. Feast on a spread of tender skewers and moreish mezze. 

Hack: Fish and chips from the Fish Butchery

Chef Josh Niland once let us in on a little secret: fish and chips is not actually a cheap dish to make. At least, not the way he does it, with beautiful pink ling fillets from the NSW coast, proper potato chips with the skin still on and a yoghurt tartare. But it is undeniably a lot cheaper to get the takeaway version from the Fish Butchery than it is to dine in at the elegant seafood counter of his award-winning restaurant Saint Peter next door. They've even got frozen ready-to-cook meals so you can bring a slice of luxury to your own kitchen. There's also the option to head on down to Charcoal Fish at Rose Bay and grab yourself a rotisserie Murray cod roll, doused in a rich fish gravy and dense with crisp cod crackling. 

Hack: The bar

This famous Sydney beauty is an expensive date, especially when you get a little cavalier with the impressive wine list after a few spritzes. But if you want a bite of the fancy cherry without going all in, try and nab a seat at the bar (overall capacity is 85 people right now so competition for seats is fierce). Here you can order a primer of the very same yellowfin tuna crostini that they serve in the dining room, pair it with a drink and then be on your merry way, possibly for under $50 if you play your cards right. 

Hack: Lunch

If you want to shave a few dollar signs off one of the most consistently creative fine diners in town, head to Bentley for lunch. Check out their bar menu, where you can order bites and plates for as little as $12. Glazed lamb buns spiced with harissa and garnished with chives, anyone? Yum. Then you can spend what you save on excellent wine to match.

Hack: Go the express lunch 

Snag not one, not two but three courses and a drink for only $49. Dine at any of The Meat & Wine Co venues stretching from Parramatta to Circular Quay during the week from 12-4pm. Saunter between a sticky chilli glazed pork belly and a four-cheese steak roll before polishing it all off with a lovely creme brulee – just to name a few of your many options. 

Hack: Go the banquet menu

At $65 per person, of course this isn't the cheapest meal you could splash out on, but if we're talking bang for buck - you can't go past the Izakaya set menu. Seven courses include expertly sliced ocean trout decorated with pepper and wasabi, miso eggplant (on a stick, why not?), the Japanese specialty of tonkatsu, sides and dessert.

Hack: Sit at the bar, order the burger

There are a whopping 2,682 Riedel Riesling glasses in the Rockpool Bar and Grill chandelier. But we can almost promise that your eyes won’t be on it. Nor will they be on the Deco grandeur of the dining room (and its many designer suits) or the dance of intuitive barstaff stirring Martinis. Why? Because they’ll be on your plate, gazing lovingly at the city's fanciest cheeseburger with bacon and dill pickles. If this isn't high class enough for you, the bar is also serving up fine dining classics like woodfire steak and lamb ragu for a fraction of the dining room price.

Hack: Grab lunch 

Black is a theme at Kuro, providing nothing but a luxe, elegant atmosphere. It’s there in the gleaming marble tabletops, in the food and in the cocktails. Get a taste of this artful fusion of Japanese and Western cuisine with a two course menu that dabbles in Kuro's signature fried chicken, seared kingfish sashimi and salmon confit. There are three different express menus to choose from; the first starting at $45 for two courses and ranging all the way up to $100 for five courses. 

Hack: Humble Bakery

Their restaurants are at the top of most people's date night wish lists, but the Porteño crew has opened a bakery on Holt Street called Humble. Expect sourdough, ciabatta, focaccia, baguettes, sandwiches, and salads, plus gelato that they’re making in-house for all their venues. The bakery and café is open daily from 7am.

Hack: Snacks at Charlie Parker's

It's well known that lunch at Paddington's Fred's can be a bit on the spenno side. Happily though, the snacks at Charlie Parker's downstairs come from the same kitchen and start at just eight dollarydoos. Chicken liver parfait and steak tartare go down real easy with one of Charlie's signature cocktails.