Sydney Australia Restaurants - Sydney Cuisine

A taste of Down Under

Sydney offers a mix of familiar and exotic. While there's a McDonald's on almost every downtown corner, you're never far from a wide range of unique culinary options. Outdoor cafés dot the harbor, Glebe bursts with fine dining opportunities and there's plenty of Australian wine to wash it all down.

To get an idea of what Sydney has to offer, be sure to sample the following:

• Aussie Cuisine - Adventuresome eaters will want to sample some of the more unusual menu options like kangaroo, crocodile and rattlesnake - don't let fears of unpleasant flavors keep you from missing what could be a limited opportunity. Exotic as these animals might be, they taste vaguely familiar. Kangaroo could pass for beef, crocodile is a cross between chicken and calamari, and snake resembles rabbit. If you want to experience genuine Aussie cuisine without pushing your gastronomic envelope, order pavlova. This delicious meringue dessert is a classic dish from Down Under - without making you feel like you've run through the cast of Disney's Jungle Book.
• Thai - Whether you pop into a take-away kiosk or dine in full opulent Siamese splendor, Sydney does Thai cuisine justice. Smoky green curries, tender pad thai, sweet coconut soup and other authentic dishes can be matched to any budget.
• Chinese - Chinatown offers a truly authentic Asian experience, from the street to your plate. Ducks hang in the windows, and you'll be handed menus that require a bit of guesswork to translate. And don't be surprised if you spot a celebrity or two. Mick Jagger is rumored to head to here whenever he's in town.
• Seafood - As home to the world's largest natural harbor, it's not surprising Sydney does seafood exceptionally well. Local catches are always fresh and innovative chefs provide endless variations on the theme.
• Wines - No matter what you order for dinner, there's an Australian wine that pairs beautifully. With so many wineries in the region, you'll be hard pressed to sample them all. While the reds are deep and layered, the whites can be surprisingly light. If you look for familiar names like "Yellow Tail" or "Little Penguin" you won't find them - these wines are bottled for the North American market. Whether you opt for recognizable vineyards or want to experiment, it's almost impossible to go wrong.