Social visit

Feeling friendly? Sydney’s latest heavy-hitter, Kensington Street Social in Chippendale, would be happy to host you any time of the day. UK celebrity chef Jason Atherton’s menu is equal parts Aussie and British, with dishes such as the English Breakfast tea and toast (think bone marrow and wild mushroom tea rather than jam and Twinings) and the Social Dog (pork sausages on buttery brioche topped with black pudding) blurring the line between breakfast and dinner. Neighboured by Automata and Silvereye, KSS may have just sealed Chippendale’s reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting food precincts.

Sardinian by the sea

Known for his regional Italian cuisine at Pilu at Freshwater, Sydney, Giovanni Pilu has kept it close to sea level at Pilu at Akuna Bay (below) opening for one service a week on Sundays with long shared lunches. Guests can expect courses including antipasto, strozzapretti with calamari and preserved lemon, whole kingfish and spatchcock with herbs and chilli. And dessert? Giovanni’s tiramisu is a winner.

The posh pub

Set in an old sandstone warehouse, Peacock and Jones (below) is continuing Hobart’s restaurant boom, with chef Jeff Workman (ex-Saffire Freycinet) sending out seasonal share food to match a Tasmania-heavy wine list. Snack on salt ling fritters with anchovy emulsion, graze on plates of raw fish with daily changing garnishes, or settle in with sirloin with smoked eel butter.

Silver linings

Bustling St. Cloud is bringing a fresh Vietnamese hit to Melbourne’s Hawthorn, mixing it up with pho, rice paper rolls and banh mi at lunchtime, and dishes ranging between traditional and bold riffs on Viet classics at dinner. Try their ocean trout cured in annatto with betel leaf, or play safe with caramel pork and soft egg.

Yass queen

Chef-owner Adam Bantock is making Yass a dining destination with Euro-style bistro Clementine. Expect big, rustic flavours with a focus on the local and seasonal – think duck agnolotti or lamb with pumpkin caponata, washed down with a wine list championing local drops.