6 Venues 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 to childhood or home cooking.

Ultimate Aussie comfort food choices include everyone’s fave chicken parmigiana, barbequed snags, lamingtons, a burger with the lot and the humble meat pie…here are six venues to get a comfort food fix:

Discerning Perth foodies head to Espressoul on Riverton Drive East for café fare with flair and good vibes. This Riverton diner projects a bright and breezy vibe with white recycled wood outdoor tables for alfresco brunching and lunching, while indoors is warm and welcoming with well-worn brick, deep green walls and potted greenery setting the scene for lingering over a delicious meal with family and friends.

 

Stop in for all-day comfort food choices like free-range poached eggs, rocket, sautéed mushroom medley, marinated goats’ cheese and a drizzle of truffle oil, served on pane di casa, or twirl your fork around a soul-warming plate of spaghetti carbonara with bacon and creamy sauce.

Bringing you the best of both worlds in one bite, head to Red Chilli Pizza & Indian Takeaway on Henry Street in Penrith to appease ravenous hunger. Serving up a perfect fusion of delicious pizza and authentic Indian cuisine, this well-loved local restaurant is an ideal spot for alfresco dining on balmy Western Sydney days, or head indoors where tantalising aromas fill the air with the promise of delicious dining.

 

Perhaps start with boneless chicken tikka pieces or vegetable samosas and mint sauce; move onto gourmet pizzas such as garlic prawn, onion, mushroom, cheese, feta and oregano, or everyone’s favourite butter chicken with saffron rice and garlic naan.

When visiting the Illawarra region and the taste for authentic Italian cuisine calls, make your way down Bellevue Road to discover Figtree Gourmet Kitchen. As the area's longest-established wood-fired pizza restaurant, join the locals and relax in a modern interior of polished wood floors, exposed brick walls, timber top tables and black metal seating.

 

Expect to find a menu filled with gourmet pizza, freshly made pasta, hot pots and schnitzel; find comfort in a bowl of pappardelle with chorizo, chickpeas and kale, served in olive oil, smoked paprika and lemon sauce.

With a passion for European food and culture, head to Bunbury café, The Tramp Trattoria on Victoria Street, for fresh pasta, bread, desserts and much more. A cosy interior vibe of dark wood ceiling beams, trailing greenery and cabinets overflowing with temptations set the scene for lingering over a meal with friends.

 

Sticky pork croquettes make for a comforting start to your meal, served with mustard and salsa verde; before mains such as confit duck and porcini butter pappardelle, or gnocchi, house smoked bacon, cauliflower, pecorino, rocket and garlic crumb.

On a mission to provide MSG-free healthy good options while sharing the authentic flavours of Cantonese cuisine, hungry Ashfield diners head to The S Lab on Liverpool Road to refuel. Believing in the power of food to unite and create lasting connections, this Sydney diner delivers Hong Kong-style dishes and soup to satisfy all tastebuds, along with milk tea, dry noodle temptations and decadent desserts.

 

Dip a spoon into a steaming bowl of coconut chicken soup as a comforting start to your meal, then devour dry noodle choices like beef brisket, bean sprouts, shallots and curry sauce, or prawns, flying fish roe, shallots and XO sauce. 

Steep yourself in the vibrant world of spice, aroma, colour and flavour from Southeast Asia to the Middle East at INDI-KITCH on Melbourne Road in Newport. Find a chilled-out vibe of leather banquette seating, cosy wooden tables and black pendent globes setting the scene for delicious dining from early until evening; start your day with a char siu prawn omelette, carrots, bean shoots, fresh herbs, nuom choc and coconut rice.

 

Later diners take comfort in plates like green Goan chicken curry, steamed rice, roti and papadums, or pad Thai with chicken, prawns, carrots, bean shoots and egg in a special sauce, enjoyed with a glass of white wine.