We want to have good seasonal food at more mid-priced bistro style places in Sydney $50-60 Aus or less. We are staying in Paddington. Any ideas?

Ripples

Bistro Moncur is hard to beat, Woollahra is adjacent to Paddo.
http://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydn.../review/p2.htm

Bistrode in Crown St, Surry Hills. Like Bistro Moncur, it's more than $50 for two. There are some very good pub restaurants in Paddington: Four in Hand and Grand National. They would also be more than $50 for two.

To eat well at that price, try ethnic restaurants: Uchi Lounge (Japanese), Il Baretto (Italian), Mahjong Room (Chinese), Spice I Am (Thai). These are all in Surry Hills.

I mean $50 Aus each- that is about what it costs in SF for that type of restaurant. Anymore ideas. Spice I am is on the list.

If you are frugal with wine (something I never manage) then there's probably quite a lot more to choose from in that price range. Jimmy Liks (Victoria Rd, Kings Cross), Bistro Lu Lu (Oxford st Paddington), Bird Cow Fish (Crown St Surry Hills) also Billy Kwong (ethical produce as well as very fresh seasonal modern Chinese).

zinfanatic, it's best not to make the assumption that restaurant prices in Sydney should reflect those in SF. Quite apart from the fact that the costs of doing business here tend to be higher, you don't have to pay a 15-20% tip or a state sales tax. (If you must tip, 10% is plenty.)

I'm not familiar with the places under discussion, but in general BYO restaurants are much more common here than in the US, and you won't be made to feel cheap if you take advantage of that. You'll pay corkage (screwage?), but it can still makes a fair difference to your dining costs.