5 Restaurants Where Food Equals Comfort!

We all crave a certain comfort food when we are feeling down, under the weather or just looking for a pick-me-up. It is food that provides a nostalgic or sentimental value and is quite often characterised by its high-caloric nature and association with childhood or home cooking.

Ultimate Aussie comfort food choices include everyone’s fave chicken parmigiana, pizza, pasta, Indian curries, lamingtons, a burger with the lot and the humble meat pie…here are five venues to get a comfort food fix:

Find the best of Cantonese food at newly-opened Emperor’s Kitchen on Whitfords Avenue in Hillarys. Located in Westfield Whitford City, take a break from retail therapy to refuel and recharge at this elegant dining destination where a deep red colour palette complements white-clothed tables and ornamental china vases add a stylish touch.

 

All the dim sum and Chinese dishes are prepared fresh from stratch to ensure every meal is top quality from dumplings to stir-fries and roasts; perhaps start your comfort food fix with steamed scallops, garlic and vermicelli, before everyone’s favourite sizzling black pepper beef, or lemon chicken with sides of steamed rice and stir-fried mixed vegetables.

Enjoy traditional Indian cuisine in Surry Hills at Maya Da Dhaba on Cleveland Street. With ochre-coloured feature walls, tiered lighting and dark wood furnishings, this cosy Sydney restaurant radiates warmly with a newly refurbished style. Take a seat and browse a menu of authentic delicacies, favourites and contemporary mains; perhaps begin with char-grilled chicken 65, cooked South Indian-style with curry leaves, coconut sauce, fresh chillies and coriander.

 

Move onto memorable mains such as tawa goat, with freshly ground spices, crushed garlic, ginger, tomatoes and onion, or signature Goan fish curry with a touch of coconut milk and sides of steamed basmati rice, cucumber salad, papadums and butter naan; vegetarians opt for a comforting plate of Bombay potatoes with cumin, aromatic spices, tomato and coriander.

Good old-fashioned Italian home cooking is what you’ll find on the plate at Bar Reggio on Crown Street in East Sydney. This family-owned and operated restaurant exudes warm and rustic charm just like being in Nonna’s kitchen back home in Italy with fresco-style paintings adorning the spice-coloured walls and a lively buzz of conversation in the air.

 

Pair a glass of wine with pasta dishes such as fettuccine with smoked salmon, Napoli sauce and cream, or pick up a comforting slice of Joe’s pizza topped with cabanossi, prawns, capsicum, anchovies, pineapple, garlic and oregano; perhaps opt for a Chef’s suggested plate of kangaroo fillet with wine and porcini sauce.

For flavoursome Indian cuisine after a day bargain hunting at Gold Coast’s Harbourtown outlet, head up Oxley Drive to Indian Empire restaurant. Relax by a large glass window and enjoy a feast of flavours in this charming, hassle-free family restaurant, while attentive waiters cater to individual needs, whether a high chair for little ones; or recommendations for those unable to decide between equally mouth-watering options.

 

Start with lamb cutlets marinated in yoghurt and traditional spices, cooked in the tandoor, before devouring sumptuous traditional curries like goat with potatoes and authentic spices, or Bombay beef with sides of basmati rice, papadums and cheese naan; finish sweetly with gulab jamun and housemade mango pista kulfi with cashews and pistachios.

If you are craving Italian fare with flair in Parramatta head down Church Street to find Fratelli Pulcinella. Recently moving into new premises after operating from the family backyard, relax as tantalising aromas waft from the pizza oven promising slices to tempt all taste buds along with handmade pasta offerings that would make Nonna proud.

 

Think appetisers like bruschetta with mushroom truffle pesto, provolone cheese and truffle oil, then chow down on pizza offerings topped with Italian sausage, tomato, mushrooms and mozzarella; pasta lovers salivate over plates of spaghetti with prawns, cherry tomato sauce, garlic and parsley, enjoyed with a glass of cold Chardonnay.