paw

Hi will be touring Sydney later this month. Have some questions to ask.

1) Want to try some Australian seafood. Any good restaurants with nice habour views to recommend? Budget is about A$30 per pax.

2) How about Newcastle? Can't seem to find good places for dinner there.
3) How is CityRail from Sydney Central to Newcastle like? Will be commuting in the evening to and from Newcastle. Standing room only or are there seats?

Any help appreciated. Thks.

Alan

Hi, paw!

I can only help with the last of your queries: the train service between Sydney and Newcastle is fast and frequent. You will have no problem getting seats coming TO Sydney in the evening; leaving Sydney in peak hour (say, 5 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.), you would be wise to arrive at the station 10-15 minutes before the scheduled departure, just to be on the safe side. At other times, no worries.

margo_oz

Seafood restaurant, with harbour views, at $AUD30/head. - Ain't no such thing - to my knowledge.

You can try the fish markets (NICE harbour view is questionable!) at Blackwattle Bay (take light rail). Otherwise, your best bet is take-away fish and chips somewhere - e.g. Manly, Bondi, Balmoral.

Seafood restaurants are expensive, (yes - I know we live on the sea!) and harbour view doubles the price.

All the recognised seafood restaurants would be twice your price, as a minimum, unless you eat one course only, and do not drink alcohol.

Neil_Oz

In Newcastle I'd just wander along Darby Street, Cooks Hill, which is walking distance from the city centre and features a good choice of cafes and restaurants - although I don't think any fall into the "fine dining" category.

johhj_au

In Newcastle try Scratchleys on the wharf.

paw

Thanks for your replies.

So I suppose seafood with harbour views in Sydney is out for me, unless I up my budget for that. And certainly I will try the fish and chips.

Will look out for cafes in Newcastle along Darby Street and Cooks Hill and Scratchleys. Will be having a dinner at Newcastle before returning to Sydney by train.

Just also wanna check:
For the day-pass on Cityrail that costs $6.80 where travel is restricted to 11 inner-city stations, is the ticket usable from 9am to 4am next day?

Lyndie

The Brewery restaurant on the wharf right near the railway station is a good place to eat seafood in Newcastle. Food is VERY good. Scratchley's is superb location however expensive and food and service disappointing. Did not meet our expectations at all!

margo_oz

If you have a day pass, it's for that day only - unless there are multiple day passes. The $13+bus, train and ferry day pass is probably a better deal.

One place you may get seafood, with a harbour view, is Watsons Bay pub restaurant. I think it's owned by Doyles (whose restaurant is certainly not in your price range!) It's a casual outdoor eating place and there's probably some sort of seafood on the menu (I haven't been there for years)

paw

I have heard and read about Doyle's and yep, it is not within my price range, but I am considering that since $30 per pax seafood dinner with seaview is out of the question.

Is Doyle's really worth it? Heard that the food isn't that great, but being the oldest seafood restaurant, it is crying out loud on my wish-list. If I were to give it a go, it would have to be at the Quay, as I will not be visiting Watson's Bay.

How about Wolfie's? I am also thinking about that since I have heard that its food and view is as good.

Looking forward to a wonderful time in Sydney now that my accomodation and tours are fixed.

stevelondon88

Yeah, I second the Sydney Fish Market. Not a restaurant but the sheer variety of seafood on offer is mind-boggling, and all at very low prices.

Be careful if you decide to feed the seagulls with scraps outside. You will star in your own version of 'The Birds'!

margo_oz

I don't think Doyles is worth the exorbitant cost - but then, I don't eat there.

Is Wolfies one of those places around the Rocks area on the waterfront? Those I've been to have been uniformly below average - and not cheap. Again, you get what you pay for. Decent seafood in a waterfront restaurant will be expensive.

Neil_Oz

Paw, how's this for an idea? Just head down to Chinatown, buy a bottle of wine at the nearest liquor outlet, e.g. the pub at the bottom of Dixon Street, if it's still there, sit at one of the outdoor tables and order a couple of dishes of scallops, prawns or whatever (assuming there's two of you) and some steamed rice, pig out and watch the world walk by. You should get out of it for less than $30 a head (wine excluded, but that's $15 a bottle for a decent drop). No harbour view, but you get screwed for that, and you can get it all day just by walking around.

DropBear

I love the fish markets !! I always take a bottle of wine from my local bottle shop but they also have a bottle shop at the markets along with a deli for some cheese or bread if desired.

The choice is fabulous from freshly shucked oysters to sushi to full on seafood platters. We always eat on the pier and sometimes the pelicans turn up. Never spent more than $40 for two but then we really pigged out.

Watson Bay hotel is pretty good on a sunny Sudney afternoon but very packed. Haven't been there since they finished the renovation though. Have spent a lovely afternoon there though buying seafood from the take away at the end of the pier and relaxing in the park. We had bbq squid if I remember and it was as good as any top notch restaurant.

My favourite though is Larb Pla from the local Thai. Have no idea the brand of fish though, but the lemongrass, mint and coriander flavours send me to heaven and all for $12 !!

Les

Margo,
Yeah, Wolfies is one of the restaurants along the water at Circular Quay, but it's further toward the bridge from the ferry piers (opposite side from the opera house), not in the first group of art-deco places.
I don't eat seafood, but my wife and I had a wonderful Chateaubriand, sitting outside at Wolfies. I'd recommend it, but I can't speak for the seafood.

paw

Thanks guys. Neil's idea is good. A cheaper way to enjoy the food and view at the same go. Will be going to the Fish market for a look at Oz famous seafood. One week away and I am getting more and more excited with each day.