Sometimes for dinner, all you want to do is rest easy and let the food come to you – without even thinking about what to order. Enter, set menus. Not only do you get to taste a rotation of a restaurant's greatest hits, but it also often works out to be more cost-effective – and that's a win-win in my books.
I’m constantly eating my way around Sydneytown to discover the best set menus, from casual eateries to fine diners, grouped into three price points: $65 and under; $85 and under; and $100 and under. Currently, I’m crushing on the $44 group set menu at feel-good Bar Reggio and the $65 set menu filled with fresh and bright dishes at Emma’s Snack bar in Enmore. From birthday celebrations with the family to a long boozy Saturday lunch with the gang, these set menus have you covered. So, round up your mates, make a booking and get ready to eat!
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.
How much: $44
What do you get: Inspired by the Latino food trucks in Los Angeles, this pumping Newtown joint serves up one of the cheapest set menus in Sydney. And it’s all plant-based and gluten-free. Think guacamole, tostadas, quesadillas and more – all made with local and sustainable ingredients. How good's that?
When: Dinner Tuesday to Sunday, lunch Saturday and Sunday
How much: $44
What do you get: Going strong since 1992, Bar Reggio delivers on price, taste and convenience. Plus, it’s BYO, so you can bring a couple of your favourite bottles and go to town. This set menu is great for group catch-ups and celebrations when you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg. On the line-up is garlic and pizza breads, mixed salads and pizzas and pastas. And all for $44 per person! Grazie, Bar Reggio.
When: Lunch and dinner, Monday to Saturday
Time Out tip: Bump it up to $54 per person, and you also get veal scallopine with sides, veggies and mash.
How much: $46
What do you get: Excellent bang for your buck, that’s what. Food wise, guac and chips; chipotle fries; quesadillas; fried chicken wings; nachos; and churros. Plus, more cash to spend on the important things in life – like Margaritas.
When: Lunch and dinner
How much: $60
What do you get: If you feel like heading out for lunch come the weekend, then charming Surry Hills gem Jane is a solid choice. From Thursday to Sunday, the team serves a $60 set menu featuring some of Jane’s best dishes (we're looking at you, lamb dumplings).
When: Lunch, Thursday to Sunday
Time Out tip: With $3 oysters and a $10 drink specials also available from noon until 3pm, you might as well make the most of it!
How much: $60
What do you get: The Shire’s breezy Italian diner Fior offers an ace mid-week set menu for $60 per person. Think focaccia crostini, antipasti, pasta, dessert and even a drink. Now we're talking.
When: Dinner Tuesday to Thursday, and lunch on Friday
How much: $65 per person
What do you get: A feast of Lebanese hits. Think: creamy dips, bright salads, herby falafel, kafta, juicy chicken, hand-cut potatoes, bread and more. Bringing your vego friends? There’s also a solid vegetarian set menu available. Also, Emma’s Snack Bar is BYO, so bring a bottle and get stuck in.
When: Dinner, Tuesday to Saturday
How much: $65 per person
What do you get: 8 dishes of delicious Southeast Asian fare, including dessert. We love the spicy chicken salad with numbing oil; pork skewers with paratha; chilli prawns; and nasi goreng with sambal and a fried egg. Yum town. Note that the $65 menu is only available from noon to 3pm, but if you dine outside that time there are other set menu options available.
When: Lunch Monday to Friday
How much: $65 per person
What do you get: Shared starters – like smoked chicken wings, Margherita pizza, cos salad – and your choice of mains. We’d go for the paccheri amatriciana or beer battered fish and chips.
When: Lunch and dinner
How much: $80 per person
What do you get: Cho Cho San’s set menu gets top marks for being delicious and also great value. Enjoy plates such as kingfish sashimi with sesame dressing and cucumber; eggplant miso sticks; braised wagyu claypot; and for dessert, black sesame mochi. Got a friend’s birthday coming up or a family celebration? Head to Potts Point’s gem, Cho Cho San. It’s So So good.
When: Dinner daily, lunch from Friday to Sunday
How much: $79 per person
What do you get: Say “hey” to Hello Auntie and order the feed me menu, which comes with seven courses that include the likes of beef tartare, charcoal chicken, mi goreng and papaya salad. There’s also a vegetarian option for $75 per person.
When: Lunch and dinner
How much: $70
What do you get: Out and about and hungry in Cammeray? Hit up Folly's Bar & Bistro and enjoy a great-value nine-course set menu. Highlights include fresh tuna crudo, linguini alla vodka, and crumbed pork fillet with cabbage slaw, pecorino and a squeeze of lemon (yum). Pair your meal with on-point cocktails created by co-owner and ex-Applejack bars manager Lachy Sturrock.
When: Dinner Tuesday to Sunday, lunch Friday to Sunday
How much: $78
What do you get: Seriously delicious Turkish and Middle Eastern fare in a chic Redfern setting. Think salty halloumi, onions stuffed with minced beef and rice, marinated lamb rump skewers and more.
When: Dinner Wednesday to Sunday, and lunch on Saturday and Sunday
How much: $79 per person
What do you get: Jimmy’s shared mezze, which includes tasty eats like perfect falafel with tahini and parsley; zucchini salad with tomato, onion and seven spices; hummus; fries; chicken shish; baklava with pistachio and walnut; and even more (this is the big mezze, you can spend even less with the basic one for just $55!).
When: Lunch and dinner
How much: $79
What do you get: Freshwater’s rocking Mexican has an equally rocking set menu. Enjoy multiple courses chosen by the chefs, which may be octopus with pickled turnips, prune mole and confetti coriander; and fish tacos with coleslaw and peanut matcha aioli.
When: Lunch and dinner, Tuesday to Sunday
How much: $79 per person
What do you get: A two-course menu at one of Sydney’s best restaurants. And for $10 you can add dessert.
When: Wednesday to Friday, lunch and dinner
How much: $79 per person
What do you get: Million-dollar views of Bondi with a selection of NBF hits. It's one of the best spots to watch the sunset, too.
When: Lunch and dinner
How much: $89 per person
What do you get: Get stuck into delicious Turkish cuisine at Maydanoz with a set menu that includes lentil kofte with lettuce leaf, radish, and pickled chilli, barbequed Tilba haloumi with honey, sesame, and rosemary ash, and tencere style chicken served with bulgur pilaf, chilli, and tomato.
When: Lunch and dinner Monday to Friday, plus a Saturday night dinner
How much: $90 per person
What do you get: Shellhouse’s swish ground-floor bar Menzies is offering a set menu with delicious share-style plates. And for an extra $8 you can add on dessert.
When: Lunch and dinner Monday to Friday, plus a Saturday night dinner
How much: $95 per person
What do you get: No less than seven fab courses, which may include things like coral trout crudo with finger lime, and chilli; campanelle with pea, basil, smoked stracciatella and almonds; and Jack’s Creek black Angus steak with condiments. Round up your gang, stat.
When: Dinner daily, lunch Friday to Sunday
How much: $95 per person
What do you get: Head to Bondi’s Italian gem Totti’s and get the set menu with a side of fun. It comes with antipasti, pasta, mains and desserts. And yes, the famous wood-fired bread, too.
When: Lunch and dinner
How much: $95
What do you get: Set menus tend to offer value, but you usually have limited choice – not at Sailmaker. Their generous three-course sustainable-seafood-focused offering (which includes unlimited tapas) is less of a “set” menu and more of a “choice” menu. On arrival, diners are invited to pick from the Mediterranean tapas table. Then you choose from a huge array of entrées and mains – and finish with choosing from a sweets trolley.
When: Dinner – Thu-Sun from 6pm to 9.30pm
How much: $99 per person
What do you get: Woollahra’s gorgeous institution Chiswick offers a share-style set menu that you’ll want to check out. While the menu changes seasonally, you can count on enjoying local produce, colourful veggies and lots of flavour.
When: Lunch and dinner
Time Out tip: Chiswick is always a good time, but we reckon the dining room shines best at lunch, where you can admire the verdant kitchen garden.
How much: $98 per person
What do you get: North Sydney’s excellent, colourful and feel-good restaurant Rafi offers a set menu perfect for celebrations and catch-ups with friends. The menu is seasonal, so it changes often – but expect beautiful produce and big flavours.
When: Monday to Saturday for lunch
How much: $98 per person
What do you get: Seven Med-inspired dishes, all designed to share. The menu changes seasonally, but you may enjoy things like stuffed zucchini flowers with preserved lemon and ricotta, and grilled king prawns with fermented chilli and parsley. Bopp and Tone is a great option for a CBD work lunch.
When: Monday to Saturday for lunch
How much: $99 per person
What do you get: Darlinghurst’s Italian joint Harry's by Giuls has a set menu of all the hits: arancini, burrata, prawn pasta, pappardelle, pizza and tiramisu. Yum.
When: Lunch and dinner
How much: $99 per person
What do you get: Three courses plus sides (share-style desserts included). We’ve got our eyes on the bread-crusted barramundi with smoked potato purée and the duck a l'orange.
When: Dinner Wednesday to Sunday, lunch Saturday to Sunday
Discover Time Out original video
