Eat. Stay. Love

Where to spend your Dine & Discover vouchers. It’s no secret that dining, arts and tourism businesses around Australia have been hard hit over the past year or so. Which is why Visit Sutherland Shire welcomes the Federal Government initiative to provide every NSW resident aged 18 and over with two $25 vouchers to dine out at restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs and clubs that are registered as Covid-safe.  Two $25 vouchers can also be used for entertainment (at arts venues such as The Brass Monkey) or for recreation (hello Bundeena Kayaks).

This list is just a starting point: we hope you spend your NSW Dine & Discover vouchers all around the Sutherland Shire when they drop as there are so many great restaurants and cafes to choose from. Following are a few eateries offering everything from set menus that will make a little go a long way to all-you-can-eat options and indulgent a la carte menus that may require you to put your hand in your hip pocket, too.*

Wallet-friendly menu at Fratelli Fresh
The set menu at Fratelli Fresh represents exceptional value even without the government’s eating-out incentives: for $35 per person you can enjoy entrees such as stuffed zucchini flowers and salt and pepper calamari, mains like linguine pasta and grilled chicken salad and hazelnut tiramisu and gelato for dessert. Although the Dine & Discover vouchers don’t apply to alcohol, the Fratelli Fresh happy hour is three hours long, making a night out with family and friends more wallet-friendly.  fratellifresh.com.au

Go with a group to Giro Osteria
Give nonna and nonno a call, round up the cousins and get them all to reach into their hip pocket for the $55 menu at Giro Osteria, in Cronulla, which gives you the choice to select two main courses (either meat/fish/poultry) for your table to share such as lamb shoulder, caponata, and salsa verde and served with sides (we see you roasted potatoes, pancetta, rosemary). giro-osteria.com.au

Knock-on effect at 3 Doors Down  
When the food is subsidised, it’s worth timing your night out at 3 Doors Down to coincide with discounted drinks such as the aptly titled Covid Blues (comprising Altos Plata tequila, fresh lime Curacao, agave and Triple Sec). You can also order buttermilk chicken, grilled salmon tacos or braised lamb shoulder off the a la carte menu at the speakeasy-inspired bar or trust the chef to feed you with the $55 set menu. 3doorsdown.com.au
 

The Den Engadine
Embrace the government’s Out & About scheme and avoid doing the dishes by heading to The Den in Engadine. Named after the fact it is located in what was once a rather insalubrious pocket of Engadine, The Den doles out a range of burgers robust enough to survive gruff treatment from tradies, as well as small bites and tapas that have broad appeal and reasonably priced mains that are a draw for families.  facebook.com/thedencafeandbar

Sharing is caring at Cronulla Kitchen
Cronulla Kitchen serves nourishing options from breakfast to dinner (the Buddha bowls are next level) as well as food that can be plonked on the middle of a table for everyone to tuck into. We love that. The group dining menu for family and friends includes olives, halloumi, tzatziki, hummus, bread, squid, aioli, saganata prawns, feta, lamb tacos, Greek salad and chips ($35 per person). Or opt for the full lamb shoulder with Greek potatoes, and pickled onions ($45 per person). Booking required. facebook.com/cronullakitchen/

Okami Japanese restaurant
Over-indulging tends to look a tad more elegant when wielding chopsticks. The Okami franchise has opened its doors near to HAM in Cronulla and judging by the queues, locals are loving the all-you-can-eat-style menu for $34.80 a head. Walk up an appetite along one of the Shire’s many walking trails before tucking into traditional Japanese dishes such as sashimi, agedashi tofu, tempura prawns and chicken teriyaki. okamirestaurant.com.au

Northie’s in Cronulla
Hospitality group The Sydney Collective have vowed to double the value of the dining vouchers it receives if you spend them at any of its eight venues in NSW, which includes Northie’s in Cronulla. When you get hold of one of the vouchers, which will be distributed via the Service NSW app, you can head into the hotel and see how the mood takes you. Our money’s on the mains such as chilli salt squid and chips, falafel and hummus bowl or the Johnny Cash chicken burger. Northies.com.au

Baba Ghanouj
Follow the aroma of za’atar-dusted flatbreads wafting from a hot griddle at Baba Ghanoush, which is hidden away in a corner of the South Village in Kirrawee. In addition to rounds of warm, fresh flatbread, diners enjoying the vegetarian Baba banquet ($45 per person) will receive olives and pickles, baba ghanouj, hummus, labneh, tabbouli, batata b kezebra, arnabit meéleh, and falafel. babaghanouj.com.au

Albi’s Taverna
Tuck into delicious plates of salt and pepper squid, arancini, zucchini flowers, Nonna’s meatballs and more, with Albi’s 10-course bottomless lunch or dinner. You will be treated to two hours of unlimited bubbles, rose, cabernet sauvignon, pinot grigio and Italian beer for $79 per person (lunch), $85 per person (dinner Sunday to Thursday for a minimum four people) and $105 per person (dinner Friday and Saturday for a minimum of 10 people).   albistaverna.com.au

The Brass Monkey
Kill two birds with one economic stimulation stone by enjoying dinner and a show at The Brass Monkey where the quality of the Middle Eastern share plates vies for attention with acts that range from reggae and hip-hop to  folk music and includes local legends such as Caravana Sun and Jackson Carroll. Bookings required to reserve your spot at one of the best bars in the Sutherland Shire. Ticket prices vary.  brassmonkey.com.au

*Note: the vouchers are for food, not alcohol. Check before booking that the venue is currently accepting the Dine & Discover Vouchers and that it has been registered as a Covid-safe business. To participate in Dine & Discover NSW, you must have a MyServiceNSW account. You can download the Service NSW app now and register for a MyServiceNSW account.