Living large without breaking the bank: Here are 10 fine dining restaurants in the North Shore you can eat at for under $50.
Treating yourself? Date night? Looking to impress someone? We’ve got you covered.
Huw Bradshaw
June 17, 2025
Let me set the scene. Tonight it’s just you and a pineapple hitting the town. You need somewhere to eat — fancy, classy, worthy of your extraordinarily high status — but let’s be honest, we’re in a cost of living crisis, and you don’t want to break the bank.
We all deserve to treat ourselves every now and then – so here are 10 fine dining restaurants on the North Shore you can eat at for under $50.
And if we’ve missed your favourite, just let us know: [email protected]
Nilgiri’s
Though Nilgiri’s has moved from here to there in the 25 years it has operated in the North Shore, the quality Indian cuisine it has served has remained the same. We recommend you skip the butter chicken and go straight for the yearling goat and lamb rib vindaloo.
Where: 283 Military Road, Cremorne
Braci Osteria
Woodfired pizza is one of those foods that manages to find itself in the category of “fine dining” while remaining both affordable and simple.
Along with its gourmet pizzas, Braci Osteria also serves a variety of pasta, burrata, and antipasti dishes.
Where: 191 High St, North Willoughby
Mikazuki Chatswood
While Japanese cuisine in Sydney sometimes has the habit of blowing your budget, you’ll find here that as long as you're okay with forgoing the sashimi platter, you can enjoy some quality Japanese food without breaking the bank.
Where: 380 Victoria Ave, Chatswood
Austrian Club Sydney
Though the Austrian Club strays a little bit outside the North Shore, I couldn’t write about affordable fine dining without mentioning it.
Enjoy a hefty plate of pork knuckle, dumplings, and sauerkraut in a classic Austrian countryside gasthof, tucked away near Forestville Park.
Where: 20 Grattan Cres, Frenchs Forest
Piato Restaurant
A small Greek Restaurant along Blues Point Road and McMahons Point. Fill up on lamb, cheese, seafood and olives before taking a stroll down to the harbour.
Where: 123 Blues Point Rd McMahons Point
Jaam e Jam Restaurant
You don’t need harbour views to make it fine dining! Check out this traditional Persian restaurant in Hornsby for rich Iranian dishes of lamb, rice, olives, eggplant, and more.
Where: 133 Pacific Hwy Hornsby
Song Nhi Vietnamese Restaurant
What used to be a quaint little Vietnamese restaurant in the past has recently had a make-over, now operating as a fine dining restaurant, while retaining reasonable prices. We’d recommend the Vietnamese beef stew, green beans with minced pork, and grilled eggplant.
Where: 1/56-62 Chandos St, St Leonards
El Jefe Restaurant
It’s hard to find Latin American cuisine in Sydney, especially in the North Shore. So, if you’re looking to try something new, check out this recently opened Latin American restaurant, serving Moqueca (Brazilian seafood stew), chicharon (fried pork belly), and pollo a la brasa (Peruvian roast chicken): at an affordable price too.
Check out our video on El Jefe below.
Where: 5 Ridge St, North Sydney
New Yamanishi
New Yamanishi is so well blended into the residential Crows Nest area that you may pass by without even realising it’s an operating restaurant. Drop by for lunch on Saturday or Sunday to try their signature Wagyu Ox Tail Ramen.
Where: 98 Falcon St, Crows Nest
Khao Pla Chatswood
If you’re looking for affordable fine dining, you really can’t go wrong with a slightly upmarket Thai place. Check out this restaurant in Chatswood for classic Thai dishes with a few modern twists.
Where: 7/370-374 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood
Photo Credit: Unsplash