My partner had to book this restaurant 3 months in advance. I really liked the speak easy vibes. The restaurant dining area is small and super nice and intimate. You have to order a steak and the bone marrow. It was the best steak and bone marrow I have ever had. We ordered white beans which were good. I couldn't take a picture of our food or dining area. They do take your phone and put it in a box and lock it up. They want you to experience no interruptions. Which I really loved the idea. I wish more restaurants were like this. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

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(Last visited May 9, 2023.) On the 2nd half of my honeymoon in Australia and when we were vacationing on Hayman Island, many of the people there were from Sydney and dropped so many amazing recommendations on us. Well, today we're checking out Bistecca... a steakhouse speakeasy of sorts! Here's how it went and why it was rated #45 of the top 101 steakhouses in the entire world... Atmosphere/Appearance: Deep in downtown Sydney hidden in an alleyway in the entrance to this literal hidden gem. Lol. Once through the door and down the stairs you're taken to a very dark dimly lit, but very old-school looking tavern. It's a small room, but essentially a waiting room/cocktail lounge for you. Once it's your turn to head into the dining room the door open to the brightly lit room, your phones are locked away in a drawer which you have access to via a key and you're guided to your seat! I LOVED this experience because now you're forced to just live and be in the moment. The kitchen is wide open and you can see everything that's happening. The tables and chairs are scattered throughout the room and you just, BE. Like the good 'ol days before smart phones. Service: I can't remember the name of our server, but he was excellent. We had no issues at all. Food: The menu is extremely simple. You're here for steak. That's it. The steak is sold in 100g increments. So you order by weight. We ordered 900g and the steak was so incredible we both wish we could've gone to maybe 1.2kg. Lol. That's a LOT of steak still, but this does include the weight of the bone. The feature is a large, T-bone steak cut from Australian-grown Chianina cattle and grilled over charcoal. It's recommended to be cooked medium-rare. It seriously was Heavenly. I don't even remember what sides we got. That's how good this steak was. Lol. Value: The steak is $19 AUD ($11.84 USD) per 100 grams (3.5 oz). The conversion can trip you up, so for example, the ORIGINAL steakhouse in NYC (Delmonico's) sells their 18 oz. T-Bone for $76.00 USD. The same size steak here would cost you around $65.00 and it's the #45 best steakhouse in the world. Delmonico's is not even on that list. Do what you wish with that information. Lol. The sides were appropriately priced. In conclusion, I LOVED this place and so did my wife. We still think about Bistecca years after we've been there and it's 100% worth making some good reservations as far in advance as possible because this place is small and will always be packed! read more

15/12 even with service issues Best steak I've ever had in my life cooked perfectly Wonderful anchovies Some allergy confusion when I mentioned I cannot dip my bread gluten free into the same beef fat as the gluten bread due to cross contamination- however they did compensate with letting us have a second candle for free. Great green beans and carrots I already want to come again The only other issue was the waitress forgot to put in our order - the steak takes 45 minutes to cook so we were starving by the time it got to us and then told that we could only have the table for another 30-45ish minutes but we finished on time. Ambience is dimly lit and sexy. Don't skip it read more

The bistecca alla Fiorentina was a culinary highlight of visiting Italy last year. While searching for restaurants in Sydney, I came across BISTECCA and could not pass up on the chance for another amazing steak. They do a great job recreating the experience and traditions of Florence. We invited two well-traveled friends who never had a bistecca. They were blown away by our dinner. The food and service were great. Love the speakeasy vibe too! read more

Bistecca is named one of the best steakhouses around the world. On exactly which list, I'm unsure because I let my partner decide on dinner during our first night in Sydney. There are a couple of Sydney steakhouses listed, but Bistecca was the only one that didn't have a strict dress code, which was important since we didn't pack any fancy clothes for the trip. The entrance looks like the backdoor of the restaurant. Once you enter, you wait in a bar-like area before being led to the dining room. The overall atmosphere feels like a speakeasy, dark and all. The waitress recommended about two sides per person and suggested sharing the portion size of the steak between the two of us. We honestly could've done with one side each; we ended up barely finishing 3 out of the 4 sides. I honestly don't know if locals come here for steak because, in some ways, this place seems touristy. But overall, it's good. Also random, but your cell phone gets locked up throughout the dining experiences, so that is why you won't see many photos uploaded. I couldn't tell time since I didn't have a watch on. read more

Nestled discreetly in Sydney, Bistecca promises a culinary adventure unlike any other. Their masterfully prepared steaks boast unrivaled flavor and tenderness. However, the service occasionally falls short of expectations despite the attentive staff. The lounge is classy with a great bar. The dining room is cozy and inviting. The food is delicious and the ambiance is lovely - truly a great dining experience. What this place doesn't need is fluff - the secret entrance is such a novelty and gets old quickly. The phone rules seem slightly over the top and a distraction in itself. It'll definitely be a different dining experience! read more

Bistecca - One pic before the phones were taken away - Steakhouses Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Worth the experience, but gross was nothing to blow my mind. Entrance is through the back laneway for exit and down the stairs where you're welcomed by the bar. You lock your phone away the duration of the meal. Really attentive service and would recommend for the unique dining experience! read more

Bistecca - Steakhouses Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Wow. I have been too many steakhouses and I even had beef steak. Florentine in Florence and was not overly impressed. But this place totally rocks it. The steak was perfectly cooked and very flavorful. We got around 780 g for the two of us which might've been a little too much. Probably 700 g would be perfect. We also had the roasted potatoes which might be the best potatoes I've ever had in my life. The salad, which was a radicchio salad I thought was fairly good. Not sure I would order it again. I had a Negroni, which had the very rare gin was outstanding. I know a lot of people rave about the focaccia with the beef fat. I thought it was quite good. However, I could just feel the calories counting on. I love the fact that they took our phones and put it in the lock box. But they didn't allow us to take a picture before they did that. The service was ridiculously amazing. The wine we had was completely spectacular. A bit pricey so be ready for that. The whole thing cost us around $580. But it was really the most amazing experience from my perspective well worth it. read more

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My by fave favorite place in Sydney- such a lovely experience. No pictures as they lock your phones away so you can actually visit with each other! Must make a booking/reservation. They grill a steaks right there in the same room- the steaks were delicious. The candle- yes candle, is made out of beef fat and they melt it in front of you!! Bread was delicious, we started with gnocchi. Had Brussel sprouts (so good) and potatoes and of course a bottle of wine!!!! read more

Bistecca - Lounge where we can take pictures - Steakhouses Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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This is such a unique experience at Bistecca, from the entrance into the bar area to the dining room to the lock box. Staff was friendly with advising on steak portions and side dishes. Ended up getting a steak that is exactly what we could eat, perfectly cooked and the side dishes were amazing. Very nice experience sitting by the grill watching the cooks cut and cook the meats. read more

can you live without your phone for an hour or 2??? if the answer is NO, go elsewhere!!! yes, strictly no phones allowed in the dining room! you surrender your phones upon entering their dining room and will only be reunited when you finally pay! still keen? take a stroll down george street towards the circular quay, like I did. a right onto dalley street will line you up with their nondescript entrance. down some stairs, through another door and you are at the bar. for once, the bar fronts the 'hidden' restaurant! speakeasy the bar isn't but their dining room is obscured from plain sight, behind! i came without a reservation but managed to secure a counter top seat right by the charcoal fire! once they lock your distracting phones out of the way, the menu, water and wine flowed. oh red wine on tap? perfect! slightly sparkly, served in a tumbler ala italian style, if you don't mind. then homemade focaccia welcomes you! served with a side of candle? not any ordinary candle! but an exquisite beef fat candle for you to dip in as it melts! decision time and bone marrow, bistecca, brussels sprouts, 3Bs ftw! a strange liberating feeling ensued. the duty to take a photo of all the experiences was replaced by the actual experience itself! bone marrow was perfectly melt in the mouth with a parmesan crust that provided an accentuated texture. the main event however will take some time to craft. there's but one t-bone cut of meat here, just choose how thick and how well done, recommended medium rare. then sitting back watching the professional expertise in action, the master of raw fire, was just such a bliss. simply put the bistecca stood no chance. from the bone chilling sawing, to the branding by cast iron weights against the grills blistered by hot charcoal embers, finishing in and out of a warm oven for that perfect temperature before being carved for easy devouring, orgasmic. masterful teamwork all around, easy to miss if one was constantly on their devices! :) was also awestruck by the brussels sprouts, blackened but not burnt, balanced with the right acidity from balsamico, topped with a gently sharp pecorino and a cooling sour cream finish at the bottom. so do we really need our phones? a want or a need? sure, this review would probably benefit with some photos of the inner sanctum to prove the talk. but perhaps your engagement would be better for it? the jury is still out........ read more

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Absolutely fabulous. The steak was awesome. The starters (octopus and gnocchi) and sides (green beans and cabbage) were excellent. The wine recommendations perfect. The atmosphere was superb. The attention to detail from the subtle waitstaff was excellent. Highly recommend! read more

Just go here! Make sure you have a reservation. Vibe 10 out of 10, food 10 out of 10, service 10 out of 10 and last but not least concept 20 out of 10!!! One of the most unique restaurants I've been to, it's a speakeasy entrance so don't walk by it... watch ling them cook your steak over open fire can't be beat. Must visit with you friends, family or significant other! read more

What a fantastic experience. The T-bone steak was absolutely phenomenal, cooked perfectly over a fire. Smashing sides, superb selection of wine and cocktails and an awesome team. read more

Expect a 1-2 hour wait. There's a lounge in the front that serves good cocktails and beer on tap. We ordered prosciutto and truffle honey pecorino cheese tapas while we waited in the lounge. Both were excellent. After finally entering the dining room, they require you to lock away your phone in little drawers. Hence, i couldn't take pictures of the fabulous food. We ordered a bone marrow parmesan crust appetizer. It was so rich but the combination of soft oozy bone marrow with a crispy layer of parmesan was divine. They ask you how heavy Florentine steak you'd like and saw it on the spot. The steak was heavenly and medium rare almost melted in your mouth. Full of flavors but not heavy at all. As much as i love peter luger's porterhouse steak i prefer the steak here because its not drench in butter. The waitresses said the dry age the meat for 3-4 days here because they feel if a meats been dry aged too long it can also adversely affect the taste of the beef. Another impressive course was their house made bread with ox fat candle. I've never seen this anywhere before and that was another memorable dish. The wine list is excellent and very knowledgable sommelier. read more

Bistecca - Steakhouses Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Great find! Steak was superb. Entrees and side were delicious and complimentary. Great wine selection - fantastic recommendation. Service was wonderful. Definitely recommend - as a splurge. I will definitely return if/when I make it back to Sydney! read more

This is one of the best culinary experiences I've had in my life. Amazing crew, food and drinks. Wish we didn't live across the world so we could come more often. read more

Hands down one of the best steak houses I've ever been to. The t-bone was one the of the best tasting steaks I ever had. The potatoes, and pizza dough sides are a MUST. If I lived in Australia it would be my go to spot. Hands down the best restaurant I've been to in Australia and I've been here for 2 weeks. No phones allowed or I would have took many photos, the place is AMAZING! read more

One of the best steak experiences we've had in the WORLD! Got lucky to get in last minute on a Monday night with minimal wait. They lock up your phones so you can enjoy the experience but also means can't take pictures of the full experience. Only 1 steak available (t-bone) cooked medium rare. Sliced and seasoned perfectly. Also got the pizza dough bread, roasted potatoes, and a salad with nuts/sliced apples. Tiramisu for dessert. Literally perfect dinner. HIGHLY recommended! read more

That's rather review of their service or to be more precise approach towards bookings. They have no bookings for dinner unless you are a big group policy. I thought that the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard was a reply from concierge at Chin Chin Melbourne who offered us a waiting list with a promise that it will take no longer than 3h. Mate in 3h I will go to St Kilda swim, eat and I will be ready for bed ;-) Well Bissteca definitely told Chin Chin: "hold my beer", with waiting list but no guarantee that you will get a table. Like not today? Maybe tomorrow? Come on guys, I know your business is doing really well, but it won't be like that forever. Come down from your lalaland and join us humans. If I want to meet friends for dinner or I want to eat dinner. There is a very precise time window when it can happen, otherwise I will eat somewhere else or die starving. I guess it is time to finish with this walk-in only policy BS. For the a love of food read more

Without any reservation we stepped in at 6pm on a Tuesday. It was a bit hard to find, but we found the door indicating "Bistecca". Stepped one level down, opened a door and were surprisingly in the middle of a crowded bar. Asked for a table for two and got a place immediately. Followed the waitress through another door into a big dining room. The first surprise was that mobile phones have to be stored in a locker. The staff was super friendly and explained how it works there. T-bone steak is what it's all about and why we came here . As a greeting from the kitchen we got some bread and a lighted candle (!) to dip bread: Great. The starter pizza dough with a spicy ricotta aioli cream: wow. We ordered 600g T-bone steak (Minimum order 300g pp). It was shown to us and we were asked if that is sufficient for us. We agreed. Finally the weight was 680g, which is paid per gram. The sides we took were grilled potatoes with aioli and a rocket, parmesan, pine nuts salad, both sides enough for two. The beef was grilled medium rare on an open flame grill, cut in slides, afterwards flavoured again and then served: what shall I say? "Awesome" would be the best description. It was one of the best steaks ever, that's it ... not more to say. read more