10 William St

Italian restaurant · Paddington

10 William St

Italian restaurant · Paddington

5

10 William St, Paddington NSW 2021, Australia

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10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
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10 William St by null
10 William St by null
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10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
10 William St by null
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Highlights

Cozy Paddington spot serving inventive Italian small plates and pastas with an epic, mostly European natural wine list in a lively, intimate setting.  

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10 William St, Paddington NSW 2021, Australia Get directions

10williamst.com.au
@10williamst

$$$ · Menu

Reserve

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10 William St, Paddington NSW 2021, Australia Get directions

+61 2 9360 3310
10williamst.com.au
@10williamst

$$$ · Menu

Reserve

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Jul 31, 2025

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The 31 Best Places To Eat & Stay In Sydney - The Infatuation

"10 William Street is a pretty shopping strip in Paddington where furniture showrooms sit next to suit tailors, artisan jewelers, and clothing boutiques. On the other side of the neighborhood strip is this Italian wine bar, one of our favorite spots for a casual dinner with a side of people-watching. It’s a bar first and restaurant second, but the food here is just as fantastic as the wine. You’ll eat bowls of handmade pasta, giant pretzels dipped in whipped roe bottarga, and daily specials like sardines on toast or anchovies with fennel. The wine list focuses on interesting natural wines and makes it easy for you to try something new. " - Caroline Clements 33

https://www.theinfatuation.com/sydney/guides/best-restaurants-sydney
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@afar

"This hole-in-the-wall wine bar in Paddington pours experimental reds, whites, rosés, sparklings, and skin-contact orange varietals and also cooks some of the most inventive cuisine in the neighborhood. If the wine list overwhelms you—there are more than 250 choices, mostly from Italy but also from France , Australia , and beyond—the friendly staff will be happy to help. Then, scan the right side of the chalkboard menu for the most enticing pairings, from starters like the fluffy, seedy pretzel accompanied by whipped bottarga (salted and cured fish roe) and kingfish with Spanish melon to seasonal handmade pastas such as a tagliatelle tangled in nettles, saffron, zucchini, and chevre. Whatever you decide, save room for the light but boozy tiramisu."

The Best Restaurants in Sydney
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@afar

"This hole-in-the-wall wine bar in Paddington pours experimental reds, whites, rosés, sparklings, and skin-contact orange varietals and also cooks some of the most inventive cuisine in the neighborhood. If the wine list overwhelms you—there are more than 250 choices, mostly from Italy but also from France , Australia , and beyond—the friendly staff will be happy to help. Then, scan the right side of the chalkboard menu for the most enticing pairings, from starters like the fluffy, seedy pretzel accompanied by whipped bottarga (salted and cured fish roe) and kingfish with Spanish melon to seasonal handmade pastas such as a tagliatelle tangled in nettles, saffron, zucchini, and chevre. Whatever you decide, save room for the light but boozy tiramisu."

The Perfect Weekend in Sydney
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@philtoronto
🇦🇺 sydney 🦘
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@young

Best Restaurant / best ambient dining

Sydney
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Claudio I.

Google
Great place, great food, cool vibes. Spritz were good too. The main course pork was juicy and super tender! Well done. Highly recommend it.

melzy phan

Google
Super cute and very intimate wine bar. The table was very tiny and they can only really fit one dish on at a time. I personally didn’t mind it as we were sharing dishes! The wines by the glass is written on the wall The pretzel is a must order, the bread smelt soo good and hot when it came out. The bottarga complemented it really well, strong salty flavour! The beef tartare was okay, texture wasn’t that nice - wouldn’t really recommend! The balanzoni was very heavy and had a very strong cheesy taste The lamb cutlet was nice though, very tender. The crispy potatoes were nice, I feel like they could have been a bit more crispier and salted though! Tiramisu was lovely and light Great intimate place for small groups or pairs, I wouldn’t recommend this for groups larger than 4!

Martin G

Google
10 William Street has been on the Sydney dining visit list for so long, and squeezed in a quick dinner before a show in town. This is really good Italian and don’t expect standard fare…top shelf Italian. Service is excellent, very quick which was good for us, and very friendly. Clearly a very popular eatery that is tucked away in a side street. Oozes atmosphere, and feeling relaxed comes easy here. The warm pretzel and bottarga is generous in flavour and size, and followed our waiter’s advice to order the focaccia as well as we may need it to dip into the left over bottarga. The heirloom tomatoes are a delight and should not be overlooked…it presents spectacularly on the plate and on the palate…enjoy! The two pasta on the menu were so good. The mussels in the tagliolini were cooked to perfection and the flavours I cannot describe other than absolutely silky and delicious. The garganelli was superb too. This is pasta mastery. Good range of wines by the glass, and cocktails too. Mee Godard Morgan Gamay and a Tokyo Spritz were good choices. Pity we could not stick around too long, but will visit again next time in Sydney. Highly recommended. Transport: Info for visitors…We caught a cab from town ($27) and there were plenty of cabs going back to town on our return.

faith colquhoun

Google
Quite a loud bustling restaurant, but not to the point where you can’t hear anything around you; instead it gives you the feeling of a loud homely dinner with every one of your extended relatives. The atmosphere was wonderful, very catered towards wine, as expected. Our server was fantastic, and clearly was well versed in not only the food menu, but of the astounding amount of wines available. I would definitely recommend the tuna crudo, as well as the pretzel, which I am told are both quite popular items that tend to stay on the menu. As for wine, we tried quite a few, but I would highly recommend trying a few of the white wines that you can buy per glass, as well as the dessert wines. The tiramisu was also extremely well made, and while quite pricey, I would very likely buy again. Overall, a truly wonderful experience, and a very welcoming environment with intelligent servers, fast service and reasonable pricing for the high end place it is. Thank you to Millie, who was so helpful the entire night.

Begy Uguz

Google
We had dinner at 10 William Street today and unfortunately, we left extremely disappointed. We originally tried to book a table but the only available time was 8 PM, so we decided to try our luck as walk-ins. Thankfully, we managed to get seats at the bar. At first, everything seemed promising—the blonde staff member who served us was lovely and took the time to guide us through the menu, which we appreciated. We ordered a few starters and mains. However, things quickly started going downhill. One of us needed to charge her phone—we had our own charger and just needed access to a power point. When we asked one of the staff members (not the blonde girl), she was dismissive and simply pointed toward the bar, saying, “Ask them,” instead of helping us directly. It felt unwelcoming. The food also didn’t meet our expectations. We ordered the pretzel, which was decent on its own, but the bottarga on the side didn’t complement it at all—it just didn’t make sense together. Then came the beef tartare, which we usually love and have tried at many places across Sydney. This version had a strange texture and lacked flavor; it felt like eating plain minced beef. The prawn pasta was the only dish we enjoyed. We also ordered potatoes, which never arrived. We followed up on them, but they still didn’t come, so we ended up canceling. When we asked to cancel, the same unhelpful staff member responded with, “Okay, sure,” without even an apology. It felt dismissive and unprofessional. What shocked us the most was when that same staff member came over while we were sitting at the corner of the bar, picked up my friend’s gift bag that was right in front of us, and moved it without asking—just to make space for another person. We said nothing, only to realise they were making room for one of their own staff members to sit down! We were honestly shocked by how poorly we were treated at 10 William Street. As passionate foodies who dine out weekly and love exploring new spots, this was by far the rudest and most disappointing experience we’ve had in Sydney. We were so excited to try this place because of all the rave reviews and Instagram recommendations, but we ended up leaving after just 40 minutes. To anyone considering visiting: please think twice. The food was average (some even below average), and the service was surprisingly cold and careless. It simply wasn’t worth the hype.

Joshua Shepherd

Google
The best! Just loved it! Atmosphere and service is just impeccable. The love of the food and the pairing with wine - just so much fun. Thank you!

Sunandi Sunandi

Google
From cocktails, food, wine, etc. everything is good, service on the point. Must try they pretzel with whipped bottarga top notch. Of course, the other dish is also so good.

Charli Bobolici

Google
Our barmen Lucas showed a wealth of wine tasting knowledge, a beautiful wine list, Tokyo Spritz as a starter was quite delicious, the aroma of yuzu and the unique sour finish, orange wine with scallops appetizers and finger-licking pretzel & whipped bottarga, you may need extra focaccia bread to continue the deliciousness, pasta was also great, I wish I had more space in my stomach to order another main course, apple tart ice cream was the end, a lovely dinner.
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Stuart M.

Yelp
Our meal was uneven, but the highlights made it worthwhile. We started with snapper crudités. The fish had skin attached. Since it was sashimi, the skin should have been removed prior to serving. It was flavorful with a light sauce and small pieces of roe. Next we tried the pappardelle with goat ragu. This was a masterful dish with fresh al dente pasta, and goat meat that was free of bone and gristle, fully developed and tender. We also had the Brussels sprouts that were equally successful, with a rich dressing, and some crunch from chopped nuts. Our last item was a pasta dish featuring cherry tomatoes, and eggplant. We found it too salty, so we returned it and called it a day. The space was cramped. And I didn't find red Australian wines by the glass which was disappointing. So we left with mixed emotions.
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Dione D.

Yelp
Nice restaurant - came here on the recommendation of a friend (thanks Mo!). The space is TINY - like, smaller than NYC tiny - so get here early if you can! Luckily I was a party of 1 in a corner booth, so I had a little bit of space to myself. To start, I ordered the Ribolla Gialla, one of the orange wines offered by the glass. It was funky as expected! Then I enjoyed the Scallop 'Nduja Toast. My server said it was a little naughty, a little spicy, and totally worth it - and he was right! Best way I can describe it is by sharing a photo below. It definitely has a kick. For my main, I had a light pasta dish called Pasta Rotolo featuring tube pasta and english peas. It was yummy, but definitely very very light. I could have easily had another dish. Actually, don't get too excited about a single dish or a single wine - it seems like they aren't fast to update their menus online. Pick a few options or just come knowing whatever you have will be good! I love places that are friendly to solo diners. I was able to enjoy my meal and then sit with a second glass of wine for a bit after, taking in the scene. I was not rushed at all. (Albarino Forjas, a Brazilian white, really smooth.) At the bar, there was a group of guys tasting a bunch of wines. Couldn't tell their relationship, but they looked like either regulars or industry friends. Made the place interesting for me to observe. Oh and the server guys here are all super cute, so come enjoy a glass of wine and smile at them!
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Ted G.

Yelp
Interesting experience on a Wednesday. Service had highs and lows as you will read. Food, likewise. Might have been a 4 rating overall given that the food when served hot, or at least warm, was delicious. Arrived early for our last meal in Sydney as it was recommended as an excellent place. Yes, it is small, but that isn't necessarily bad. Since it was not long after opening, it was relatively empty. It took a lot of convincing of our server, an attractive young lady, that we needed the tiny corner table vs an even tinier round table. She kept insisting we couldn't sit there as it was for three, not two. (It's actually not even a large enough table to fit dishes for two, but yes, it was at an end and a third person could conceivably fit.) it was only after she figured we would leave that she begrudgingly and dismissively agreed to seat us at that table for 3. Was a bit unhappy that the small menu contained neither the pasta nor beer that I was excited to try, having checked out the limited menu online ahead of time. Was informed they had recently changed the menu (but obviously not updating the website). So ordered other things. The first pasta came out with a salad. Both were a similar temperature. Asked another server, one that was genuinely helpful, and he insisted the pasta was definitely not meant to be served at room temperature and whisked it away to make it again. It was very tasty and warm the second time. Another pasta, with sausage ragu, was warm when served and very good. By now the place was filling up downstairs although the upstairs was open and available as were a couple tables downstairs and places at the bar, so our being put where we were had no impact on them potentially reaching a maximum seating. By the way, the stools at many of the tiny tables as well as the bar, had no backs, so I imagine would not have made for a comfortable dining experience. I've pictured a table for two below, cropped so as not to invade anyone's privacy. But you get the point. Very good food and drink, neither particularly inexpensive, served in a funky space. Exciting for many apparently, but not us.
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Mick A.

Yelp
Tucked away in Paddington you find this fine Italian joint....a terrace house converted into a restaurant, offering up and down stairs eating. It has a neat wine bar downstairs which all adds to the vibe. There is a real casualness in the way you seat to eat...particularly downstairs. Four of us huddled round a small table downstairs, sometimes opting to eat off our knees....there are a few higher and larger tables downstairs, and upstairs too, however for us it was all part of the experience...... So we shared a number of dishes starting off with the 'signature' pretzel with the anchovy dip...so good, and then we enjoyed the Octopus with tamarind and celeriac, mackerel, and three great pasta dishes...all really yummy...the scialatiella with mussels and pork, the ricotta gnocchi and the tagliatelle with pork ragu, and we had the brussel sprouts and the citrus salad along side........this was great eating, excellent ingredients and food 'made with love' ... There is an excellent wine list too. There is a mild arrogance in the waiting style here. While the service is good there is a 'this is how we do it here'... type of style, which I imagine will not be for all....needless to say, we had a great experience and look forward to our next visit.
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Tresna L.

Yelp
Good ol' Benny B huh? He knew I was going to love this place and made sure it was on our eating schedule when I paid a quick visit to Sydney. Maybe it was the delightful wine list featuring loads of European drops and unusual varieties including a number from the Jura and some orange/cloudy wines. Maybe it was the chalkboard menus with a diverse selection of drinks by the glass, or the olive trees upstairs on the balcony. Maybe it was the cosy atmosphere, tables almost touching one another and a feeling in the air that everyone was there for one big dinner party. Or perhaps it was the food menu, small in comparison to the wine menu but certainly just as impressive. From anchovy dip with pretzels to fried calamari, olives, beetroot/ricotta salad and plates of puttanesca spaghetti; the food really hit the spot. Was it the Fernet (!) icecream we had at the end that pushed me over the edge in to downright love for 10 William, or a combination of all these things? Either way, I wish I lived around the corner so I could pop in here for quick snacks, leisurely meals or late night glasses of wine. Big time love.
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Melissa L.

Yelp
The menu is small, but well executed. Arrive early, the space is small. Good wine list! Amazing dishes/flavors. I absolutely loved the potato croquettes-YUM! Best tiramisu I've ever had in my life (and I've had a lot). If you are in Paddington/Sydney, be sure to check this spot out!
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Ed L.

Yelp
Why do I LOVE this restaurant? 1. You feel at home - the service is consistently great, and it has this cosy brasserie style 2. The food (italian-ish) is not pretentious at all but absolutely outstanding. They use the best ingredients, spice them up with some creativity and almost every meal tastes like nothing you've had before. I would recommend sharing as many little dishes as possible rather than going for 1 main per person to make the most of it !
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James D.

Yelp
Quaint little Italian in Paddington. It's a little cramped downstairs for anyone pushing 6ft but they did have a nice room upstairs, however the action is on the lower level, you can also sit at the bar. Simple yet beautiful beef ragu and a great portion of delicately fried whitebait stood out. Cans of peroni, liked that. Pleasant and quick service. Decent prices too. Would recommend.
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Christina X.

Yelp
I love little quirky wine bar and this has to be one of the best in Sydney. The food was so delicious. Tapas style plus a few mains. We have the beef carpaccio with anchovy, potatoes, sardines and pappardelle bolognese to share. Highly recommended the pappardelle it was cooked to perfection! Ambience was perfect, staff all attentive and pretty good looking!! I would definitely come back!
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Zvezdana O.

Yelp
Stepped in here last night for a glass of wine and a quick bite to eat - everything was perfect. It's a tiny little place just off Oxford Street, if you blink, you'll miss it. It had the potential to be super pretentious, but actually wasn't AT ALL. The staff were super nice and very accomodating and even the other patrons were really friendly and cool. The place had a really great vibe. We ordered the "caprese" salad (the quotes are theirs) - an otherwise traditional caprese salad with fresh oregano and basil and the delightful little surprise of beetroot added! I had possibly the best olives I ever had in my life here and a yummy tuna tartare. The wine was great too, but I'm not knowledgable enough to ponitificate about it, lol. The one we had was from the Rhone Valley. Sniff. Definitely my favourite wine bar in Sydney. I had a perfect experience here.
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Ellie J.

Yelp
Super happy about this discovery as it is one of the best dining experiences I have had in Sydney. 10 William Street is an Italian-inspired or Italian fusion restaurant: Italian mixed with awesomeness. Simple menu with outstanding food. We ordered: -Cosberg bagna cauda ($10) - Cosberg lettuce leaves served with bagna cauda (a warm dip from Italy made with garlic, anchovies, olive oil and cream). This was a very unique starter and didnt at first look appetizing (a giant plate of lettuce leaves) but surprisingly delicious! -Dry aged cheese burger ($24) - SO good. Patty was cooked medium rare and the burger just melts in your mouth. -Steak tartare - Excellent quality steak, pretty light on the salt/ingredients but good. -Market fish, soybean, truffle ($30) - BEST FISH I HAVE EVER HAD! Fish cooked to perfection served with a mindblowing sauce! -Pappardelle bolognese ($25) - heard great things about this so we had to order it. It was a very simple but tasty bolognese. -Mezze maniche, prawns, vodka ($25) - We already ordered 2 bolognese so the server suggested we try this and I'm so glad we did - a spicy pasta served wit a tomato vodka sauce and prawns. yum! -Tiramisu ($11) - creamy and delicious. Great way to end the meal, despite how stuffed we already were. Also I noticed they served Iggy's bread as part of their starter which is an indicator that they know good food (Iggy's is the best bakery in Sydney, but more of a small hole in the wall that isn't as well known to the public as it is to bread fanatics). The tables are small and it's a bit cramped in here but that didn't bother us. Came here with a group of 8 people. EVERYONE in the group was a fan of the food (and 2 of them are regular customers who dine here weekly). The wine we had was fantastic as well (although can't remember the name). A++ for the chef. I'll be back!
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Alecia W.

Yelp
From the people who brought us the much loved Fratelli Paradiso in Potts Point comes this little Italian bar and diner just off the main drag in Paddington. The seating area is truly tiny, so get here as fast as you can after work to make sure you'll have somewhere to park yourself for a few bevvies. The selection of food items advertised on the blackboard was tempting - we opted for some croquettes, and a pathetically small lasagne. Delicious as it was, the price tag was far too hefty for such a teeny tiny dish that didn't appear to be intended as a bar snack. Our waiter was knowledgeable about the selection of wines on offer, keen to advise on what would best please our tastes. Though my group and I ended up with a bottle of Marlborough pinot noir, I'm to go back and try out their Euro cocktails, like the classic Negroni or Campari with fresh orange juice.

Dom A.

Yelp
10 William Street is just that. A little wine bar at 10 William Street in Paddington and you need to look out for it because it's quite small and you can walk past it without knowing it's there. Although with the amount of people crammed in there you'd be hard pressed not to notice it. Like most popular small places it's probably best to go midweek or if you do decide to go on a Friday or Saturday to get there early as space is quite limited. Once you do get in you can't miss the blackboard with what wines are on offer. If you're like me and don't know anything about wines, I just shut my eyes and pointed at one! There's a pretty cool bar menu as well and my sambo (sorry, panini) soaked up the wine well. If you go when it's busy, waiting for a drink (or seat!) can become a bit tiresome so it'd be worth going on a school night to check it out because it's certainly worth a visit.

Security A.

Yelp
The guys in the engine room here are from Italy and they know their stuff, if the food disappoints, it may say more about you than their Italian view of food. Dropped in late on a Monday night with a couple of mates, one of who was a local. Being Monday there were seats available, we got served quickly, the food and the company were excellent. If you came here to eat and were really hungry, then ( as a non-foodie) you probably don't get it. It's a cool place to hang , the food in interesting and made with passion, the service is great, it won't damage your waistline and if you live in this 'hood 10 William St will probably help the value of your property. Mille grazie 10 William The venue seems to appear twice on Yelp!
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Chris U.

Yelp
Disappointing attitude and service. I found the staff a little militant when asking for a particular table. With customer service sometimes I wonder if a tipping incentive service would serve better.
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Kimberly J.

Yelp
Really nice beef tartare with watercress. A fine blend of flavours and textures to satisfy. Interesting wine list too. I would have had two more courses and wines but the person serving was really unenthusiastic. I didn't want to bother him. I'll be back, but sit in another section.

Lana R.

Yelp
Went here for my birthday dinner and was deeply disappointed with the attitude. Asked for a table (upstairs), which was in the corner - because wanted a private conversation with my partner plus, given it was my birthday, wanted a table a bit further away from the other tables where you can actually hear other people's conversations. I appreciate the place is small and that's just how it is, but they did have a table available but wouldn't give it to me simply because it was for three people and there were only two of us. So I left without ordering and felt quite disgusted by the stinginess and poor attitude of the business. They were saving a table for three (although it was not reserved for anyone particular) but lost my business tonight and in the future.
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Rob W.

Yelp
Great little local and far less snobbish than the nearby Wine Library. Get in early as this place is often bursting at the seams, which says a lot about what's on offer, namely a tasty variety of dishes and an always interesting selection of wines, mostly imports, by the glass. A few bar seats offer best option for singles. Do not come here for a quiet tete-a-tete!

Mon C.

Yelp
My favourite bar / restaurant in sydney! The food is amazing... it seriously doesnt matter what you pick its all great! and the drinks, be it wine or cocktails are also all amazing. Its crowded with limited space and waiters can be blunt.. but its all part of the experience! LOVE it!
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Julia I.

Yelp
This newish small bar used to be impossible to get into, but the hype has finally diminished a little so it's possible to actually get a look in most of the time. Just off Oxford Street, down from the Paddo Inn, 10 William is in an unassuming yet wonderfully convenient position. Close enough to the action but hidden from the beaten track so as to avoid attracting masses of passing foot traffic. Cosy into a small timber table or perch up at the bar and make instant friends with the charismatic Italian barman. Renowned for their negronis which pack the usual punch through skinny straws. Just watch your cocktail count though because too many if these potent puppies can take their toll come the a.m. The chalkboard specials evolve daily, so the fare is always a surprise, but regular fixtures include the arancini balls... oozing molten cheesy goodness and served with mustard fruits jam - a perfect sweet n spicy accompaniment that will have you ordering another serve before you can say "mmmmmmm". A nifty snack in the salami and cheese chunks for $6 is deliciously rustic, simple... and almost free. Dim lighting fuses with funky music for an air of cool romance that's hard to vacate.

Roz B.

Yelp
Don't get put off by how crowded this place looks. It is always packed but I've never had to wait long for a seat. The menu is small, but changes frequently and I can always find something tasty. The wine list is extensive and good. I love how they line the bottles up on the walls. Ive stopped in a few times just to grab a glass of wine and the waiters have always been pleasant and never seemed annoyed that we weren't getting food as well. It's a little pricey, but it's Paddington so it's to be expected.