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Where to find Sydney’s best crepes
08 Feb 2023
08 Feb 2023
Date night eats that won't break your heart, or your budget
Looking to surprise your special someone with a romantic dinner? Maybe your budget is looking a bit more neon-lit rather than candle-lit. Alas, poor Romeo! Nope, no need to stress. These 5 budget-friendly romantic restaurants in Sydney will be sure to impress your Juliet, and best of all, they won’t put a big dent in your wallet.
Nothing says romance more than an Italian dinner for two. Alberto’s Lounge checks all the boxes when looking for budget-friendly romantic eats in Sydney.
A moody, soft-lit dining room immediately gets the romantic vibes going, and we haven’t even got to the food yet!
Just a heads up. You may want to warn your date beforehand; you are going to fall head over heels in love with Chef Daniel Pepperell and his irresistible Italian menu.
Burrata with eggplant scapece is a delectable way to get the night started, followed by a main of spaghetti marinara. For dessert? You can’t go past the house-made gelato. Belissimo!
With mains starting from only $25, Albertos Lounge is proof that you don’t need to spend a fortune in this city for a romantic dinner date that will impress.
Dish Cult recommends the $26 linguine with parmigiano reggiano. Chefs kiss!
You know what they say; opposites attract. Sometimes though, it can make booking a restaurant a headache. Especially if your partners taste buds are polar opposite to your own.
Ashley St. Cellar Head chef Sam Cole delivers a cracking European-inspired menu, taking influence from French, Italian, and Spanish cuisines. There’s enough variety here to satiate those star-crossed lovers with black hole sized taste differences.
Tuck into roasted pork belly with honey vinegar, or for seafood lovers, pan-fried Murray cod with salsa verde.
Best of all? Most mains are between $20 to $30. Not bad for a romantic slice of St Germain, Paris, right in the heart of Sydney CBD.
Dish cult recommends the $23 cuttlefish casarecce.
Looking to turn up the heat? Spice up your love life at Long Chim, easily a contender for Sydney’s spiciest (and most delicious!) restaurant.
Lovers of fiery foods will be in for a real treat here. Michelin-starred chef David Thompson delivers a mouth-watering Thai menu which, dare we say it, may just be the best Thai to be found in all of Sydney.
You and the apple of your eye will embark on an aromatic, sensory journey, transported straight to the streets of Bangkok. Set in a hip, industrial space with quirky wall art by Thai artist Sath. Long Chim is ideal for an on-trend, budget-friendly romantic restaurant experience.
It’s all good here. Deep-fried pink ling fish with three flavoured sauce, pad prik khing chicken and a hearty mussaman curry of lamb, sweet potato, peanuts and shallot. Food fit for a Thai king or queen.
Just make sure your date can handle the heat!
Dish Cult recommends the $19 spicy green papaya salad with peanuts and dried prawns.
A secret menu that can only be read by using UV light. Tick
A sleek, refined dining room; dark-timber tables, polished concrete and moody lighting. Tick
Kick-ass punchy Vietnamese food. Tick
Executive Chef and owner Cuong Nguyen combines his own Vietnamese heritage and a clever creative flair to deliver modern Vietnamese that will hit you like an atomic flavour bomb.
Hello Auntie’s menu is juicy and absolutely tantalising to behold. Diep tai chanh (scallop ceviche with pepper berry cauliflower puree), bo la lot khom nem (angus brisket MB2 wrapped in betel leaf grilled over charcoal) and bun ga sa nuong (BBQ lemongrass chicken vermicelli) are all popular crowd-pleasers.
The real star of the show here, though, is the price-point. Mains start at $19, making Hello Auntie a fantastic option for romantics looking for a gigantic flavour-hit that won’t hurt the hip pocket.
Want the Dish Cult recommendation? Go with the $19 pho ga chien (12hr brined boneless fried chicken in beef broth noodle soup).
Not every couple’s romantic date night idea involves candles and an overly serious, moody dining space.
Rounding out our top romantic restaurants on a budget in Sydney is something for those looking to take a walk on the wild side.
Meet Mejico, where it’s all about the zest of life and also trying to fit in as many tacos and tequila as humanly possible!
Of course, the weapon of choice at this establishment is delicious modern Mexican. Mejico runs with a market to table ethos, so expect the menu to reflect that. The extremely fresh ingredients do all the talking here.
Start your night off right with guacamole made fresh at your table, along with beef brisket empanadas or alternatively grilled halloumi with chimichurri.
It’s not a Mexican date night without tacos! Select from either achiote beef brisket, chargrilled mushroom or confit wild salmon. Or hey, don’t let us stop you. Choose all three at once!
Eat your heart out (and some seriously delicious tacos) at this lively Mexican joint, for a budget-friendly romantic restaurant option with a twist (of lime).
Did somebody say tequila!?
Dish Cult recommends the $12 chargrilled mushroom tacos.
Looking for more Mexican? Mejico has also been featured in Dish Cult’s guide to Sydney’s top Mexican restaurants.
