Dany Karam’s one-man mission to transform Southwest Sydney’s dining scene heats up with the opening of Magma. The grand steakhouse is one of three venues the chef is opening in the multi-million-dollar Cabravale Club Resort, where fire-licked meats and seafood are served in surrounds to rival any CBD fine diner. The ex-Black Bar & Grill chef has built an equally ambitious steak menu, including exclusive cuts from the Blackmore family. 1 Bartley St, Canley Vale; cabravale.com.au/dining/magma

Venetian-inspired steakhouse Grill Americano Sydney has welcomed its first guests in the gleaming dining room inhabiting the heritage-listed former Qantas House. It’s a bigger, more bombastic take on the Melbourne original, and represents a bold move on the Harbour City by restaurateur Chris Lucas. 1 Chifley Square, CBD; grillamericano.com/sydney

European-style bistro South End is now open on the quieter southern end of King Street, led by a trio of hospitality veterans. Chefs Hussein Sarhan and Alex Tong and front-of-house Paul Guiney count cult Sydney and Melbourne restaurants and Michelin-starred overseas venues on their CVs, including Fred’s, Ester, Skye Gyngell’s Spring in London, Ho Lee Fook in Hong Kong and Melbourne favourite Embla; combining their skills in a seasonally led menu. 644 King Street, Newtown; southendrestaurant.com

Martin Place has welcomed yet another new restaurant. Epula, from the team behind CBD tapas bar Tapavino, sits inside the heritage-listed GPO. The menu cherrypicks the greatest hits from a range of Mediterranean cuisines, with small plates such as salt cod croquettes and duck paté alongside larger mains like mushroom lasagna. GPO, Martin Place, Sydney; epularestaurant.com.au

After a short closure, the space formerly occupied by vegetarian bistro Flora has reopened with a new look and menu. Joe’s Tavern, Restaurant & Bar joins Paisano and Daughters’ Australia Street line-up of Mister Grotto, Osteria Mucca and Continental Deli, manifesting some NY tavern energy in the 30-seat space. 206 Australia Street, Newtown; joestavern.com.au

The Palomar, 25hours Hotel The Olympia’s signature restaurant, is now open, with a menu inspired by the Levant and northern Africa. It’s one of four new venues inside 25hours by London hospitality powerhouse Studio Paskin, along with cafe Jacob the Angel and cocktail bar The Mulwray. 1-11 Oxford Street, Paddington; thepalomar.com.au

French fine diner Franca Brasserie has a new, more casual little brother right next door, Le Frérot – an all-day affair inspired by Parisian bistros. It trades from morning croissants and croque monsieurs through to late-night souffles and steaks (with unlimited frites on the side). Shop 3/81 Macleay St, Potts Point; lefrerotbyfranca.com.au

New CBD restaurant Bistro Ebony looks the part of a fine diner, with its sleek, dark-toned dining room, but owner Joey Commerford (The Press Club, Vue de monde, Royal Mail Hotel) is striving to keep things within reach of mere mortals, with most mains coming in at under $50 and a shared three-course menu of Italian and French-accented dishes under $100. 123 Pitt Street, Sydney CBD; bistroebony.com.au

In a boon for Bondi just before the summer rush, the candy-pink Hotel Ravesis has just revealed a refresh, with the opening of Spanish restaurant Alzado in the first floor dining room. Pairing with those sea views is a menu inspired by long lunches under the Spanish sunshine, with a Euro-inspired drinks list to match. 118 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach; alzado.com.au

A new concept has been revealed for the The Boathouse Palm Beach, with the picturesque weatherboard reopening as The Corner, a deli-meets-cafe-meets-bistro headed by chef Sam Kane (ex Berts and Bistro Moncur) and sous and pastry chef Ximena Fernandez (Bert’s). The new incarnation features a providore stocked with gourmet goods, a takeaway window for coffee and beach picnics and an all-day bistro that glides from lazy brunch to long lunch. Friday and Saturday dinner services deliver a regularly changing $85, 3-course set menu. Beach Rd, Palm Beach; theboathousegroup.com.au/the-corner

Liong’s restaurant Lee Ho Fook has been a Melbourne institution for more than a decade. Now, Sydneysiders can get a taste of that perfection with the arrival of Lee Ho Fook’s second location. The new outpost is inside The Porter House Hotel on Castlereagh Street, and offers signature Liong small plates such as prawn toast with Tasmanian sea urchin, and the crispy eggplant with spiced red vinegar – along with produce-driven mains like steamed Glacier 51 toothfish with silken tofu and Kung Pao Skull Island prawns. The Porter House Hotel, 203 Castlereagh Street, Sydney; leehofook.com.au/home/sydney

Sydney Theatre Company has raised the curtain on new harbourfront diner The Wharf Restaurant and Bar in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. The harbourfront space plates up crowd-pleasing plates like mafaldine alla vodka, and fish and chips with a lightly battered fillet of flathead, with views of the bridge and ferries passing by. Later this year, Folio Bar will join it inside Roslyn Packer Theatre. Sydney Theatre Company, Wharf 4/5, 15 Hickson Road, Dawes Point; sydneytheatre.com.au

Just weeks after pivoting Chinese restaurant Song Bird into Italian fine-diner Gran Torino, Neil Perry’s Margaret Family group opened Bar Torino. Located in the former Bobbie’s site, the more casual Torino offering promises Italian-inspired cocktails and snacks, with new street seating for sunny afternoons. 24 Bay St, Double Bay; themargaretfamily.com

Kyle Bay fine diner Jaaks has reopened with a new, breezier persona, swapping white tablecloths for the rustic charms of a Greek mezedopolio – tapas bar – offering a snacky menu by ex-Efendy chef Arman Uz and coastal Greek vibes on its own waterfront patch of the Georges River. 12 Merriman St, Kyle Bay; jaaks.com.au

The spirit of Sydney dining institution Bar Vincent lives on, with Vin-Cenzo’s now open at the storied site. Led by the team behind popular Surry Hills siblings Bar Copains, Bessie’s and Alma’s, the new iteration will offer the same warm hospitality, with an Italian menu that blends nostalgia with a few surprises. 174 Liverpool, Darlinghurst; vin-cenzos.com