What is the best 'el cheapo' restaurant for a date in Sydney? Why is it so good?

Question

I am not looking for fast food restaurants, so let me know some quality places and what makes them so great!

Answer 1

got to agree with the thai in Glebe - you can't get in the door some nights - and sorry, but Wet Paint is NOT el cheapo. Seriously though, try the Noodle King in China Town for the best dumplings in the world, and it's such a crazy weird place you'll have loads to talk about. Saigon Bay on Oxford street is an old favourite, and has an atmosphere that you can trick your date into thinking you're not being a tightarse!

Answer 2

A date should be fun so I’d go somewhere that is friendly and lively like Radio Cairo in Cremorne.  Great food, with a spicy lilt - think African, Sri Lankan and Asian - at a reasonable price.   It’s busy every night of the week, and the small bar in the middle of the restaurant gives it a really relaxed feel.  It’s definitely not one of those “couple” restaurants where you feel like you have to whisper all the time.  

It’s also right across the road from the Cremorne Orpheum, so why not finish your date by catching a film at the famous art deco cinema with its fantastic “levitating” Wurlitzer organ.

Answer 3

Definitely the best “el cheapo” restaurant has to be Montezuma’s.  It is a Mexican restaurant in a few locations - Crows Nest, Manly, Parramatta. The food is very tasty, it is cheap and the portions are big.  

They give you jugs of icy water, so you don’t have to buy drinks.  When you go to the bar to get it you could pour in a small amount of cordial (perhaps a real lime flavour…not the bright green one!!) to make it taste even better.

If you have an Entertainment Book (costs $60 and pays for itself after 2 or 3 meals out!) there is a buy one get one free voucher in there which makes a cheap meal half price!  

This book is great cos it even has 2-4-1 meals Sydney's finest restaurants so it looks like you are taking her out to a really expensive place, but you are getting it half price!

Answer 4

For a vietnamese meal, Le Colonial @ Castle Towers. For $25 you can order a plate of meat, veg and noodles to make your own steamed spring rolls. They are soooo good to share.

Answer 5

You are in Sydney and you want to go to a cheap restaurant?

What a waste!!

Whip out that credit card and go to Doyles!!!

Answer 6

Centerpoint Tower is not bad about$55 and the view if you are on a date will get you high (get it) but if you want something really cheap and nasty try Mamma's Kitchen at Broadway and Chinatown the food is pretty good but its cheap and nasty like the staff that work there

Answer 7

Look no further than Wok on Thai, Glebe Point road (nr junction of bridge road). This is a place that is never empty. The aromas of fresh lemon grass, thai basil and corriander hit you the moment you walk past. Arguably one of the best pad thais around and the penang curry is amazing...great portions, fantasically fresh food cooked by thai's the authentic way. Simply divine... and the cost $7 for anything on the menu for lunch and for dinner most mains are around $10 BARGAIN. You would need to check your date rates food above swanky places to eat. This is a hustly bustly place, watch the chefs as they work, its simple chairs and tables. Oh and if it doesnt go that well, they have free papers daily to read!!

Another good one is Oscars, on Bridge Road, near Darling harbour. Its a bar/pub/restaurant, they do great deals in the week including lobster and champers for under $20, lots of s**y sofas to cuddle up with your date on after your meal.

If its a sunday - easy! $5 entry into Hugos Club, $5 cocktails and $5 pizzas for the award winning melt in your mouth morsels of delight!! oh and DJ spinns the decks. The place is absolutely packed so get there for 8pm get your spot and dont leave!!

Answer 8

There is a great place in Manly.  It's called Artichoke Restaurant (Central Avenue Manly).  Good prices, art studio upstairs and live music.  It's small but funky.

Answer 9

The Wet Paint Café in Bronte is great. Pretty cheap, fantastic Cajun/Aussie food and good service. Its candlelit and romantic - great atmosphere for a date.

Make sure you get a table at the front if you're on a date - the back is a bit pokey.

Answer 10

The Diamond Chinese Restaurant in Sutherland!

Friendly staff, small and friendly atmosphere, exquisite food and extremely reasonable pricing!

They do a mean takeaway as well, with a huge bag of prawn chippies for orders over $20.

842 Princes Hwy Sutherland NSW 2232

ph: [phone]

Answer 11

Unas in Broadway - biggest chicken schnitzels I've ever seen!

Answer 12

LABBIII....  Id have to say the cheapest of all el cheapos would be the great golden arches or maybe if you want to go a little further u might go to the sweet colonel

Answer 13

There are loads of good, cheap Thai restaurants in Sydney - just take a look around your local area and you should be able to find one. Spice I Am on Wentworth St in city is my personal fave - great food and busy but enjoyable atmosphere.

However my overall fave 'el cheapo' place is Macleays Pizza on Macleay St, Potts Point - excellent 'old style' pizza albeit with cheap decor, it has been there for years, you can see citizens of Kings Cross wandering past so its always insteresting, and after you've had some cheap, excellent pizza (all large size pizzas are under $20) you could go to one of the great bars in the area

Have fun!!

Answer 14

Sitting out on the balcony of Bill and Toni's at 74 Stanley Street, East Sydney watching the world go by in the street below.  For the bargain price of around $12 you can get an enormous bowl of spag bol with free bread, orange cordial and lettuce salad.

Answer 15

A great el cheapo restaurant for a date is Erciyes.  It is a Turkish restaurant that has the best Middle Eastern food (think abundant  BBQ'd meat, Turkish bread, dips, salad, and then sweet pastries etc) I tasted in Sydney.  The food is mild so don't worry about too many spices!

On a Saturday night there are a few belly dancing shows which make for a really fun evening and all at a cheap price.

409 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills.

02 9319 1309

Answer 16

The "Montien Tong" Thai restaurant in Cronulla is great. The food is delicious and very cheap . You can dine either inside or out. My favourite meal on the menu is the roast duck and pineapple and prawn green curry. Plus they are open daily.

Answer 17

I am a Queenslander and have only ever been to the Sydney airport, so that is my answer unless you'd like to pay a visit to Queensland in which case there are thousands all over the state.  I am sorry I cannot directly answer your question but would like to contribute none the less.

Answer 18

Sushi Suma Cleveland Street Surry Hills. Great Japanese food. Pretty informal but a bustling place. If your date ahsn't been there it's like unveiling a secret spot. Helps create impression you're in the know.

Answer 19

Frank's Pizzeria on Parramatta Road, Camperdown. Hands down the cheapest feed EVER, great pizza, cheap self serve drinks from the big fridge and good old fashioned wooden tables and chairs. There's bottle-o across the road for BYO. I went here on my first date and have been with the guy now for 18 years.

Answer 20

I know a small restaurant, which is in the Hungarian club on Smithfield Road.   The food is nice and simple, and really cheap.

Not a great deal to choose from on the Menu, but what you get is great servings and worth the price.  But if you want something a little more intimate, I really can't help you.   Sorry Labby

Answer 21

Captain Cook Hotel, 162 Flinders St, Darlinghurst.

$7 Steak every night, plus has a Beer Garden for summer.  Steak is reasonable and they have paper tablecloths you can draw on if there is an uncomfortable pause in conversation.

After dinner, stroll over to Fox Studios for a movie.

I probably wouldn't take princess there, but a down to earth girl will most likely have a good time assuming your personality can pull you over the line.