Classic Restaurants to Dine with Your Family

by OpenTable Team

Updated August 07, 2023

Hungry for a dining experience that's tailor-made for you? We’ve got you covered. Here are our top restaurant picks for your next outing. Bon appétit!

Credit: OTTO Brisbane

Lollo

4.5

4.5 (365)

$A41 to $A100

Modern Australian

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

Diners will be taken from day to night and beyond, celebrating mixed heritage and unique approach to menu curation.

Lollo is open for Dinner service Mondays through Saturdays.

Please be aware of 15% Public Holiday Surcharge applicable on all Public Holidays.

Top review

LanaK

Dined on Jan 1, 2023

Overall a very good experience Noisy but service was very goid

Il Solito Posto

4.8

4.8 (1098)

$A41 to $A100

Italian

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

One of Melbourne's most renowned Italian restaurants. Il Solito Posto is an institution. A real Melbourne Italian dining experience with a warm urban chic feel. Tantalise your taste buds with regional Italian dishes, prepared with the freshest seasonal produce and revel in the awarded wine list.

This is Il Solito Posto ..... The usual place..

Top review

Lisa

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent food, service and value! Oysters and seafood dishes especially, lovely atmosphere too.

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4.8

4.8 (1207)

$A41 to $A100

Italian

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

Trattoria Emilia is an authentic Italian restaurant focusing on seasonal produce and fresh pasta. Head chefs Francesco Rota and Luca Flammia hail from Modena in Emilia Romagna.

At Trattoria Emilia we seasonally change the menu and source a large majority of our produce from regional Victoria, our meat is organic and sustainably grown in Tasmania and Victoria and we import some of the best Italian DOC products. Some dishes that are not to be missed are our Tortelloni Emiliani and the crowd favourite salumi misti with gnocco fritto and tigelle served with mortadella mousse.

Rustic, yet refined, Trattoria Emilia boasts fantastic ambience, attentive and professional service whilst all the while remaining a great casual dining spot perfect for a quick lunch, a long relaxing dinner with friends and has always been a romantic date spot.

Top review

Joan

Dined 5 days ago

The food is exceptional. Traditional Emilia Romagna yet innovative at the same time. The chefs have a very god sense of putting flavours together and everything is done to the highest standard. We had the marrow bone and the tuna carpaccio for entre. Both to die for. And we had the lamb shoulder and a pasta special both at the next level. I didn’t think you could make a lamb shoulder roast so interesting. I had a ravioli with duck liver and potato filling and a tangy almost fruity sauce. Amazing. The waitress was very good. This is our special place. We will back for more. It’s a pity it’s not more well known. Deserves to be.

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A la Carte. Our Chef's choice is also available

La Madonna

4.5

4.5 (95)

$A41 to $A100

Fusion / Eclectic

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

La Madonna - a Good Food Guide listed day to night dining and drinking enclave dedicated to spontaneous menus, a celebration of local produce and the spirit of sustainability. Acclaimed Melbourne chef, Paul Turner playfully riffs on cuisines and technique all delivered with a creative, relaxed finesse.

Enjoy menu highlights such as Wagyu bresaola with romesco, pickled zuchinni and togarashi, pan-fried gnocchi with kimchi, broccoli and fresh curds and a signature dry aged duck dish…. with a barrel aged cocktail or wine at hand.

Or perhaps wind down after a busy day at La Madonna Bar. With plenty of comfortable couches and dimly lit corners to enjoy a cocktail, or two and a selection of snacks. Sink into a seat surrounded by wooden barrels and glass bottles ageing various cocktails, tinctures and spirits.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Sep 6, 2024

I went there for my girlfriend’s birthday and I must say I am impressed by the interactions between the staffs, the food and the atmosphere! They combined really well and top notch services! Definitely go there again!

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Experience

MFW: Bespoke Makers at Next Hotel

4.7

4.7 (1299)

$A101 and over

Steakhouse

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

Meatmaiden is one hell of a steakhouse. Bringing you the best barbecue and grill in Melbourne, our large and energetic basement restaurant and bar and down-to-earth staff make us the perfect CBD venue for intimate dinners, work lunches, special occasions or functions.

We're part steakhouse, part smokehouse - with a unique and eclectic mix of premium steaks and smoked meats. We've been fine-tuning that approach for the last ten years to bring you the best meat around - dry-ageing select local cuts like O'Connor rib eye, tending the fire to smoke grass-fed short ribs over ironbark and pairing with signature dishes like our lobster mac cheese.

Our carefully-curated wine list focuses on some great Australian winemakers, with six taps of craft beer and quirky cocktails completing the line up.

You will find Meatmaiden on Little Collins St - walking distance from Flinders St Station and Parliament Station, the MCG and Rod Laver Arena and entertainment venues s

Top review

Chantelle

Dined 3 days ago

Fantastic food, excellent service, great atmosphere. Definitely recommend to other and we will be back next time we’re in Melbourne!

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Whisky Dinner: Secret Sauce w/ Casa de Vinos

Cecconi's Flinders Lane

4.7

4.7 (1154)

$A101 and over

Italian

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

"Everything you want from a sophisticated city Italian restaurant is right here: atmosphere, admirable service, a menu long enough to allow for real choice, an expansive drinks list, flattering lighting, carpets and tablecloths to ensure that sound levels are low enough for a proper conversation."
Enjoy signature dishes - Seafood linguine, Veal Cotoletta and signature steaks from the Josper

One Hat – THE AGE GOOD FOOD GUIDE
2006 - 2023

Top review

Kaye

Dined 1 day ago

Best linguini with seafood in town. Service first class. A dish was reconstructed to a guest’s preference. Piece de resistance: a dropped expensive earring was rushed to the door on our exit much to our relief and gratitude.

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Experience

3 Course Fixed Price Menu

Coal Cellar + Grill

4.5

4.5 (188)

$A41 to $A100

Australian

Adelaide City Centre

About the restaurant

Coal Cellar + Grill, Hilton Adelaide’s signature restaurant, is at the height of dining sophistication in the heart of the city.

With a focus on South Australian produce, the modern grill menu is a food and wine enthusiast’s playground! The menu has a balance of seafood, vegetarian and meat dishes including the show-stopping signature tomahawk steak – served with grilled vegetables and a selection of homemade sauces.

Complement your meal with a wine from the impressive glass-encased cellar, home to over 500 wine labels including bold Shiraz’s from the world famous Barossa Valley to crisp Clare Valley Rieslings!

Unique to Coal Cellar + Grill are three private dining rooms which surround the restaurant. These rooms are perfect for small private dinners to cocktail functions or working meetings.

The Lobby Lounge is the perfect setting for pre or post dinner drinks, a relaxing coffee, tapas and cocktails.

For large groups we offer an alternate menu – contact us for more information.

Top review

Parakram Raj

Dined on Sep 3, 2024

The ambience was exactly what I was after and the food was fantastic.

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Experience

Express Lunch Menu

Experience

Pre-Theatre Dinner (Booking Required)

Experience

Feed Me Experience

Noi Vietnamese Eatery

4.7

4.7 (1532)

$A41 to $A100

Asian

Fullarton

About the restaurant

NOI Vietnamese Eatery is a next generation Vietnamese family restaurant. We'd like to deliver great food with fresh Australian produce and Vietnamese flavours.

The team at NOI aims to share with you what tasty Vietnamese food means to us!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 3 days ago

This is one of our favourite restaurants and it just seems to get better and better every time we go there. This time around we celebrated our Wedding Anniversary and they made our night feel very special. The food was on another level.

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Popular dish

Banh Trang Pork Belly

Popular dish

Twice Cooked Pork Belly

Popular dish

Chilli Crab Noodles

The Dining Room by James Viles

4.5

4.5 (866)

$A101 and over

Modern Australian

Sydney CBD

About the restaurant

Located right on the edge of Sydney Harbour with the Opera House just beyond your fingertips…it doesn’t get any more Sydney than The Dining Room.

Our produce-driven menu is paired back, sustainable and unmistakably Australian, and shares center stage with unrivalled harbour views. Relaxed and elegant, enjoy the freshest of
seafood, seasonal Australian ingredients, and a selection of fine wines and locally crafted beers and spirits.

Lunch and dinner reservations are highly recommended. Our popular window tables are available at a surcharge when booking and subject to availability. Dress code is smart casual.

Top review

BigJ

Dined on Feb 23, 2024

Experience was generally quite good. Couples should be placed away from family and group tables. We were place inboard having to look over groups commanding the best view. This was despite the groups spending more time inwardly focused with conversation. Being inboard takes away from the ambience and experience. More considered and thoughtful table placement for a couple would have been appreciated. The restaurant had quite a few children in it, which took away from us as a couple having a child free moment. Decor and environment is tasteful and as you would expect for a Hyatt.

OTTO Sydney

4.3

4.3 (314)

$A101 and over

Italian

Woolloomooloo

About the restaurant

OTTO celebrates people, place and la dolce vita. Situated in the spectacular surrounds of the Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo, OTTO has an undeniable reputation as one of Sydney’s most respected dining institutions. At the heart of the restaurant is old world hospitality and long-standing relationships held with a fiercely loyal clientele. Approachable yet refined service greets modern Italian cuisine, alfresco dining and trademark waterside views. OTTO is the quintessential Sydney dining experience and has remained a local favourite for over 17 years.

Top review

JohnD

Dined on Jun 13, 2024

A favourite in Sydney. The service and food were typically very good.

Zafferano Trattoria Mediterranea

4.5

4.5 (141)

$A41 to $A100

Sicilian

Paddington

About the restaurant

Here at Zafferano, we like to keep things a little old school, from sourcing to serving, our key values remain.
Simone, the Head Chef and co-owner of Zafferano grew up inside the kitchen of his family's restaurant in Porticello, Sicily and brings that passion and authenticity to his food.
We combine local, fresh, seasonal ingredients with passion and tradition, to create a menu that is endlessly devoted to flavour and quality. We have a love for food, for the whole experience. We believe in celebrating just how powerful food can be, from the seed to the plate. Because connection through food is our mission.
Our space is intimate with only 38 seats and the overall vibe of the restaurant really transports you to Sicily with an outdoor courtyard that feels like a traditional Italian piazza.
We have a few signature dishes however the Risotto Marinara & Spaghetti Marinara are definitely at the for front of our menu.

Top review

Lise

Dined on Aug 23, 2024

We had a lovely night dining alfresco with a lovely choice of pasta and salads with a lovely waitress. Highly recommend.

Kitchens on Kent at The Langham Sydney

4.1

4.1 (660)

$A101 and over

Breakfast

Sydney CBD

About the restaurant

Dear valued guests,

Kitchens on Kent will be taking some time to reimagine its future offering, and in the interim will no longer be offering buffet lunch or dinner together with afternoon tea. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience or disappointment this may cause for any plans you had to dine with us.

From Monday 6th November 2023, our offering will change, serving daily breakfast for hotel guests only.
A La Carte lunch will be available on a request basis in our Harbour Room (Monday to Friday) whilst our Observatory Bar will offer A La Carte dinner seven nights per week as well as lunch on weekends.

All bookings that are affected will be fully refundable and our team are in the process of contacting all guests with more details. For any specific issues or requests, please email tlsyd.kitchensonkent@langhamhotels.com

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Jan 1, 2023

Can here for NYD with my mum as a treat to her and we very much enjoyed ourselves and the food. We are looking forward to coming back and eating once again at your lunch buffet. So much on offer and such a good variety of cuisines and drinks included within the price 10/10

Perspective Dining

5.0

5 (40)

$A101 and over

Farm-to-table

Fortitude Valley

About the restaurant

Perspective dining is a modern gastronomic tasting menu experience, a closed-door 12-seat chef table dining space, our chefs will take you on a unique culinary journey. Perspective Dining will offer cutting-edge tasting menus seasonally from 3 courses to 9 courses, a plant-based menu as well as a protein-based menu. Perspective Dining will be collaborating with local farmers and suppliers to ensure that our vision of uncompromised, no holds barred excellence and sustainability is showcased in our food.
Perspective | Lunch Thursday to Saturday
12:30pm
Food and wine pairing 140
Just the food 80
Perspective Dinner 9 courses
6:30 pm
Food and Wine pairing 300
Just the food 195

Top review

Naomi

Dined 4 days ago

A simply beautiful experience. The food - spectacular. The wine pairings - perfect. The intimate space - precisely what was called for. The stories that went with each course made the whole night, and the kindness and generosity of the chef was glorious.

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Experience

Perspective Dining: Dinner - choose menu in Add On

Experience

Perspective Dining: Variations share-style lunch

Experience

Eucalyptus Room: Sweet Symphony, a sugary soirée!

E'cco Bistro

4.6

4.6 (916)

$A41 to $A100

Modern European

Newstead

About the restaurant

Nationally acclaimed and award winning E'cco Bistro was founded in Brisbane in 1995 by one of Australia's most celebrated chefs, Philip Johnson. For the past 25 years, Philip and his team at his landmark bistro have taken a sure yet simple approach by serving unpretentious food to the delight of all diners alike, this has cemented E'cco's reputation in the culinary landscape.
Having relocated from its original location in Brisbane CBD to the fast growing inner-city residential mecca, Newstead, E'cco has been positioned to prosper for the next 25 years and beyond.
As Philip says "We do as little as possible with the best ingredients available."

Top review

LionelM

Dined on Oct 28, 2023

Fabulous service the steak was outstanding as was all the food. Very hard to find anything that could be improved on.

Palette Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (262)

$A101 and over

Modern Australian

Surfers Paradise

About the restaurant

A unique fine dining experience with a fully curated wine list and locally sourced ingredients. Situated in the stunning HOTA Gallery, Palette offers a unique blend of art and food on the Gold Coast. Dayan and his team in the kitchen will extend your art experience, taking inspiration from artworks on display and major exhibitions to show just how naturally art and food blends.

Top review

Natalie

Dined on Sep 7, 2024

Outstanding experience, and the food is the centre-piece to the all-around fantastic evening out. The knowledgeable staff, the detail in the design of the food, the chef's attention to perfection and the atmosphere are well worth the price you pay.

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Experience

High Tea

Hero ACMI

$A41 to $A100

Australian

Melbourne CBD

About the restaurant

Hero's menu reflects, award winning chef, Karen Martini's love of cuisines from all over the world, techniques and produce used to create them, but overall, it showcases Karen's cooking ethos of simply using and highlighting the absolute best of Victorian seasonal produce.

Hero overall is uncomplicated and accessible contemporary dining with a European twist. Expect good sized portions, a special experience of different flavours, colours and textures, with the same being said about the atmosphere. Hero is somewhere you can sit back, work your way through the menu, and take in and reflect upon Melbourne’s famous food and art culture over specially selected wines and cocktails.

An all-day menu will run from 12pm until late daily, providing travellers, movie-goers and business lunchers with a reliable haunt at any time.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Sep 28, 2023

Really enjoyed our experience at Hero. Atmosphere, food, amazing service all rolled into one at a price that wasn’t too over the top. Highly recommended.

Zushi Surry Hills - Omakase

4.7

4.7 (25)

$A101 and over

Japanese Speciality

Surry Hills

About the restaurant

Omakase means, “leave it up to the Chef” so let Chef Han take you on a tantalising journey of 20 courses, using the finest local Australian and Japanese produce.

OMAKASE MENU FEB/MAR 2024
Sweetcorn cold soup, truffle olive oil, paprika
Potata Pave, scallop, sea urchin, kombu
Ika Somen, calamari noodle, ikura, cucumber, bonito jelly
Chawanmushi, paradise prawn, mentaiko, sweetcorn
Abalone Tempura, abalone liver sauce, asparagus, pecorino, sushi rice
JPN A5 Wagyu steak, grilled medium rare, JPN A5 Wagyu Steak, foie gras, leek, wasabi
Sorbet
Omakase Nigiri
Southern calamari (Shark Bay WA)
Konbujime snapper (NZ)
Scallop (JPN)
Akami zuke (SA)
Scampi (WA)
Blue mackerel (Wollongong)
Salmon belly (TAS)
Bluefin tuna O-toro (JPN)
Sea eel (JPN)

Chef’s Signature hand roll +$20
Miso soup
Seasonal Fruit
Genmai Cha

*This menu can change subject to availability of ingredients. Sorry, we are unable to cater for allergies or dietary restrictions.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Jul 18, 2024

The value for the amount of food we received was worth every dollar. $200pp for 20 dishes that tasted great with great vibes all round.

Nikkei Bar and Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (398)

$A101 and over

Peruvian

Surry Hills

About the restaurant

Nikkei features Japanese-Peruvian styled share plates alongside a 40-strong wine list and Peruvian and Japanese-inspired cocktails.
Nikkei are people from Japan and their descendants that live in a foreign country. It also specifically refers to the cuisine of the Japanese-Peruvians which started more than a century ago when the first Japanese immigrated to Peru in the late 1890s, combining Japanese techniques and flavours with Peruvian produce.
We look forward to sharing Nikkei with you.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Jun 15, 2024

Great food and service, wish it wasn’t closing down.

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