Fine Italian dining on a budget: 10 of Sydney’s best pasta nights

Pasta is never a bad idea. But while Sydney shivers through winter and every second person you follow on Instagram is living it up on a sunny Italian coast, behold the latest edition of Specials board, all about the city’s best (and best-value) pasta nights.

Bart Jr.

This cosy bar is a favourite among Redfern locals for its killer cocktails and friendly service, but also for its excellent pasta. Every Tuesday night, swing by to try Bart Jr.’s popular “Family Meal” special, where $35 will get you a pasta and a glass from the line-up of Australian organic and small-batch winemakers. Bart Jr. takes inspiration from the hospitality greats – its lasagne recipe is courtesy of the iconic 10 William St, and the spaghetti al pomodoro is a rendition of the one made famous by London institution the River Cafe.

92 Pitt Street, Redfern, bartjr.com.au

Icebergs Dining Room and Bar

Dining at Sydney’s most scenic two-hat venue has just become more affordable thanks to its “Lasagna + Vino + Tiramisu” night. Pull up a seat at the bar on Tuesday and choose from two lasagne specials: Westholme Wagyu ($32) or truffle and porcini mushrooms ($36). Finish it off with a scoop of tiramisu ($22), usually only available on the $130+ set menu.

1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach, idrb.com

Cafe Freda’s

This ray of sunshine beaming down on Oxford Street is here to brighten up your midweek blues. If Cafe Freda’s interiors and tunes weren’t already cheering you up, swing by on a Wednesday or Thursday for the $30 pasta and vino special. Creative yet simple dishes change weekly – think squid fusilli with white wine, cream, leeks, guanciale and gomasio (Japanese sesame salt), or rigatoni al funghi with smoked ricotta. Wine list is minimal intervention.

191-195 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, cafefredas.com

Chiosco by Ormeggio

The venues of Sydney Italian food veteran Alessandro Pavoni pump out some of Sydney’s best pasta, which you can try for just $25 at breezy Chiosco by Ormeggio, with bonus views of Middle Harbour. Each Wednesday, choose from three house-made pasta options, which switch up weekly – check Chiosco’s Instagram for details. Expect dishes like gnocchetti with swordfish, tomatoes and capers; spaghetti with duck ragu; and baked gnocchi with pumpkin and provola cheese.

d’Albora Marina, Spit Road, Mosman chiosco.com.au

Bistro Rex

Turn a plate of pasta into an elegant date night at the sleek Bistro Rex. Every Wednesday, chef Fabio Salvato serves up a seasonal pasta dish, salad and glass of French red or white for $45. The colder months bring beef brisket and osso buco ragu pappardelle with pecorino, brown-butter sage and dried apricot to the menu, and there’s currently a radicchio salad with a sweet pedro ximenez dressing.

Shop 1, 50/58 Macleay Street, Potts Point, bistrorex.com.au

Busta

Born in the depth of lockdown, the buzzy Italian Busta is bringing back its well-loved lasagne night. On Tuesdays, you can get a generous square spanning the diameter of a plate for $20. Chef Lucas Bach’s recipe involves Blackmore wagyu and pork ragu stacked between Busta’s house-made pasta. The deliciously dark, caramelised cheesy top makes it that much more addictive. Tuesday is also BYO night, so bring some mates and crack open your favourite bottle of red.

10 Pittwater Road, Manly, goodgoodcompany.com/venue/busta

Fish Shop

As the name suggests, pasta night at this Bondi favourite is all about celebrating Australia’s seafood bounty. Every Tuesday, chef Joel Bennetts dreams up a magical seafood dish for the “Pasta + Pinot” night. Flavours are kept light and fresh to make the top-quality seafood shine: examples include spaghetti with seared scallops, creamed tomato and chilli, or spaghetti with green prawns, fermented chilli butter and parsley. The pasta comes with a glass of light-bodied pinot noir or pinot grigio for $39.

Shop 4/17 Warners Avenue, Bondi, fishshop.com.au

Menzies Bar and Bistro

It’s pasta night, every night, right now at Menzies, which offers the best value meal in all of Shell House’s towering, sophisticated glory. For “The Hits”, culinary director Joel Bickford has dreamt up a different pasta dish ($25) to serve each week from now until the end of August – rigatoni alla vermouth, spaghetti vongole, and braised pork maccheroni are all on the horizon. Add a $10 glass of wine to sweeten the deal.

37 Margaret Street, Sydney, shellhouse.com.au/menzies-bar

Miz Tutti

There’s never a dull moment at this casual Italian joint, especially when you’re riding the high of their pasta nights ($25, including a glass of beer or wine). On Mondays, there’s pillowy gnocchi with classic sauces, such as Miz Tutti’s popular roasted cherry tomato with buffalo-milk stracciatella and basil. Tuesdays are for lasagne – there’s traditional ragu, plus specials like mortadella with bechamel and pistachio.

46 Tennyson Road, Mortlake, miztutti.com.au

Giro Osteria

This beachside osteria has been fixing the Shire’s pasta cravings for over a decade now, serving textbook al dente pasta with classic sauces. The Thursday night “Pasta e Basta” deal offers select pastas from the menu for just $20: Nonna-approved meatballs, creamy cacio e pepe, and silky ribbons of pappardelle ragu all make appearances. Options are constantly updated on Instagram. Gluten-free pasta is also available.

3/1 McDonald Street, Cronulla, natalegrouprestaurants.com/giro-osteria