Quality steak and wines for under $30 per head? 10 winter specials worth going out for

Winter is coming. So, for the latest edition of Specials board, a new series helping you get more bang for your dining buck, we’ve scoured the city for some stellar winter-warmer deals. Sure, you’ll have to brave the cold. But you won’t have to break the bank.

Cho Cho San

This chic Japanese izakaya runs their annual ramen month with a limited hero ramen. From now until 21st June, enjoy this year’s rich shoyu chicken ramen for $25. The plant-based broth is made over 15 hours with shitake, seaweed, and charred kombu and tomato. A fully vegetarian version sans chicken is also available. If you want to push the boat out, you can add three slices of tuna sashimi, their famous pork katsu bun, and a beer or sake for $49.

73 Macleay St, Potts Point chochosan.com.au

Nico

Since opening in 2023, Nico — and its silky, luxurious pasta dishes — has been an excellent Italian addition to the lower North Shore’s restaurant scene. The Amalfi-inspired restaurant is now offering “Ciao Pasta Tuesday” this winter, where $29 will get you a plate of select pasta and a glass of wine. Expect warming pastas favourites like cacio e pepe, casarecce alla norma, and a luxe take on aglio e olio pimped up with avruga caviar. Pair it with a glass of one of their Italian drops for the perfect winter date night.

450 Miller St, Cammeray, nicorestaurant.com.au

Happyfield

In its sunflower yellow glory, Good Food Guide Cafe of the Year Happyfield is a ray of sunshine no matter how grey the weather. Their latest ‘Happy Eggs 3.0’ is the lovechild of a piping hot shakshuka and a warm, spicy pasta alla vodka, served with a garlic baguette for $24. And on days where head chef and co-founder Jesse Orleans fires up his brand new waffle iron (the only one of its kind in Sydney sourced from LA), he is serving up a hefty winter brekky of two waffles with deep-fried chicken tenders, Pepe Saya butter and maple syrup for $26.

96 Ramsay Street, 72 Dalhousie Streaat, Haberfield happyfield.com.au

The Lord Wolseley

This heritage pub is heating up their quiet pocket of Ultimo with their Sunday roast with a side of jazz. The gastropub has always struck a delightful mix of tradition and creativity when it comes to their pub food, and their roasts are no different. Changing up throughout winter, they’re kicking things off with a Middle Eastern-inspired slow cooked spiced lamb shoulder with lemon potatoes, roast vegetables, tahini, and mint yoghurt. For $25, it’s one of the best value Sunday roasts in the city.

265 Bulwara Road, Ultimo, lordwolseleyhotel.com.au

Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers

This Brisbane-born dedicated gnocchi eatery is offering their ‘The People’s Choice’ menu that is sure to warm cold hearts this winter. Bring a buddy and try their two most popular gnocchi dishes: wild mushroom and truffle sauce gnocchi, and the traditional, slow cooked beef bolognese gnocchi. Both are pillowy, rich and perfect for a cold night out on King Street. These two hearty bowls, plus a cannolo, come to $37.90 total.

119 King Street, Newtown gnocchignocchibrothers.com.au

Nu’u by Nativo

Sometimes the winter chills can only be satisfied by a big hunk of protein. Glebe’s cosy Oaxacan restaurant and mezcal bar is serving just that with their ‘Wine and Dine’ winter special. Every Wednesday this winter for $28 per person, receive a 400g premium flank steak with their fiery house xnipec and cascabel salsa each, and a bottle of South Australian pinot noir (shared between two). This juicy plate is backed up with a side of their take on papas y hongos, with crispy potatoes, shiitake, queso fresco and chilhuacle oil.

29 Glebe Point Road, Glebe nuubynativo.com.au

Room Ten

Queues for this wildly popular Potts Point neighbourhood haunt are worth it for the promise of their annual winter soups for $20. Their bi-weekly roster of steaming hot soups have Western and East Asian inspiration — the season has kicked off with tomato and speck soup with two crusty slices of Brickfields bread, and you can expect aromatic oxtail soup and chicken soup with vermicelli noodles to make appearances too.

Kame House

Kaisendons with fresh raw fish may be the main game at this hatted Japanese restaurant in Gordon, but cooler months call for something a little heartier. From 8pm onwards, Monday to Thursday, Head Chef Tomoyuki Matsuya serves some of the most luxurious ramen in the city from $25. Keep things classic with their Tokyo soy bowl, or try something a little more special like their ebi shio tonkotsu, spicy Sapporo miso or Yakuza Wagyu ramen.

729 Pacific Highway, Gordon kamehouse.com.au

Four Frogs Creperie

The Sydney crepe and galette stalwart has just dropped its June specials, and there’s something for traditionalists and adventurous diners alike. Their ‘Toulousaine’ galette for $23 layers Toulouse sausage, Dijon mustard sauce, slow cooked onions and potatoes — perfect with a glass of their Normandy cider. Spice things up with their massaman beef galette, with lashings of massaman sauce, potatoes, cheese and onions for $25. Check them out from June 3rd-30th.

Various locations, fourfrogs.com.au

Flyover Fritterie

The entire menu at Flyover Fritterie is like a warm hug in the depths of winter, from their steaming Indian jaffles, to their richly spiced and perfectly sweet chai. Owner Gunjan Aylawadi is levelling things up for winter with her popular ‘chocolate daal’. This toasty black daal develops its intense depth of flavour over 48 hours, and is being served this winter with an onion and thyme parantha for $28.

88 Regent Street, Redfern, flyoverfritterie.com.au