As the cost of living continues to bite and affordable dining deals become increasingly hard to come by, one Sydney hospitality group is serving up a winter offer that’s too good to pass up.
From June 1, Sydney Restaurant Group is rolling out up to 50% off dining across its portfolio of Sydney venues. Running for two months, the promotion will see restaurants including Ripples Chowder Bay, Ormeggio at The Spit and NOI Petersham offering discounted set menus, with many venues also welcoming diners to BYO.
From Balmain and Summer Hill to Manly and Cronulla, SRG runs some of the most iconic (and aesthetic) restaurants across the city. Venues including Ripples Little Manly, Summer Salt and Ormeggio at The Spit have become favourites for their waterfront settings, breezy coastal interiors and unmistakable European summer energy.
While the promotion has become an annual tradition for Sydney Restaurant Group, this year marks the first time two of its venues (Akti in Woolloomooloo and The James in the CBD) will take part in the dining deal.
The Managing Director of SRG Hospitality, Perry Drakopoulos, expressed his excitement about the deal, stating, “We want people to book the table they’ve been thinking about, and we’ve made it very easy to do that.”
SRG is best known for its portfolio of waterfront restaurants, which naturally come into their own during the warmer months but can see trade slow as it gets cooler. With these discounted set menus, the group is aiming to entice diners out of hibernation and show them that waterfront dining can be enjoyed at any temperature.
The offer
The offers vary slightly by venue, with most restaurants serving discounted set menus for $62.50 pp across selected lunch and dinner services.
The following restaurants will offer a three-course set menu plus a choice of sides for $62.50 per person: Akti, The Fenwick, The James, Vineria Luisa and Postino Osteria.
Chiosco By Oremggio, Noi, Ripples Chowder Bay and Summer Salt will offer the same as above, and also encourage diners to BYO for a fee per bottle ($18-$20) depending on the venue.
The cheapest menu on offer is at Ripples Little Manly, with a three-course set menu plus a choice of sides for $55 per person. BYO is also available here for $18 per bottle of wine.
The most expensive (but still heavily discounted) menu is at Ormeggio at the Spit, which is offering a four-course degustazione with bread for $99 per person.
The dining experience at Akti. (Images: Isabelle James).
Waterfront dining at Akti
We sampled the menu at Akti, perched along the Cowper Wharf Roadway in Woolloomooloo. Highlights included the fresh tuna with cucumber and dill, the market fish of the day (salmon), and a beautifully balanced lemon cake served with vanilla and honey.
We also opted for the slow-cooked lamb shoulder, available for an additional $15 per person. Arriving at the table still steaming and fragrant with rosemary, it was a worthy upgrade and one of the stand-out dishes of the meal. Sides of pickled savoy cabbage and fried potatoes in thyme oil paired perfectly.
Known for its fresh seafood, indulgent mezze plates and Mediterranean feel, the Greek restaurant pairs its Euro-summer-inspired interiors with stunning waterfront views. They’ve also got outdoor heaters if you want to sit outside by the water in the cooler months, meaning that waterfront dining doesn’t have to be confined to the summer.
Standout menus
Set menus differ from restaurant to restaurant, intended to reflect “the best of each venue.” Although we would definitely recommend a trip to Akti, these are the other dishes included in the promotion that caught our eye.
At Ripples Chowder Bay, highlights include pan-fried gnocchi with Dijon dressing, spinach, parmesan, and rosemary, alongside Daintree barramundi with soy and ginger.
The Fenwick brings ‘nduja and taleggio croquettes, scallop crudo with kimchi dressing and Ravioli with mascarpone, peas, zucchini flower, and pine nuts.
Petersham’s Noi will serve up vitello tonnato with anchovy crumble, and casarecce bolognese.
The James will offer lobster arnold bennet and steak tartare to start, with mains including monkfish with mashed peas and thyme tempura and beef cheek with cauliflower and Kampot peppercorn sauce. There’s also the option to upgrade to the signature beef Wellington.
To book a table at one of these restaurants, click here.
