To Follow The Curves of Pond's Creek 

Dundas is located in a valley that meanders the length of Pond's Creek. In recent years, the picturesque pond has added to the lustre of the suburb as it draws locals and visitors who want a break from the urban environment. The Ponds Walk also offers a snapshot of the rugged bushland that supported the Darug people of the Wallumedda clan for thousands of years. 

The 6.6 km walk hugs the curves of Pond's Creek from Carlingford to Rydalmere as it flows through the valley on its journey toward the Parramatta River. Read more about this scenic trail past pretty ponds lined with towering river gums in The Ponds Walk brochure.  

To Enjoy The Local Community

Kick off your shoes and let your toes sink into the grass as you give your bowling arm a workout during a barefoot bowls session at the Dundas Sports & Recreation Club, which has been serving the local community for more than 50 years. Lovers of retro Chinese-Australian favourites such as sweet and sour pork or beef and black bean sauce will appreciate the menu at the club's Dragon 88 Restaurant. The club, located at 9 Elder Road, Dundas, is a hub of leisure and recreation for local Dundas restaurants, as is the nearby Vikings Sports Club (35 Quarry Road, Dundas).

Pho Pasteur

When it comes to fresh and tasty dining at lunchtime, the rice paper rolls at Pho Pasteur are spot on. Choose from prawn and sliced pork, grilled pork, shredded pork, and steamed chicken. Yes, you heard right – that is three kinds of pork. Pho Pasteur’s handmade spring rolls are also mighty fine and great value, as is their Chicken Mushroom soup. All their classic Vietnamese dishes are a mean feed, and the atmosphere here is super cruisy for a happy, healthy dine-in lunch. 

137 Church Street Parramatta 2150; visit the Pho Pasteur website.

Bourke Street Bakery

For under six bucks, it’s very hard to pass up a piping hot Bourke Street Bakery pie or sausage roll. Whether it’s an excellent eggplant, chick pea, feta and mint roll or a smashing chicken, sweet potato, pea and lime pickle pie, your pastry needs are sorted. If you’re looking for something a little more fancy, try one of BSB’s corned Wagyu beef, sauerkraut, pickle swiss cheese and Russian dressing sandwiches.

186-190, 1 Church Street Parramatta 2150; visit the Bourke Street Bakery website.

Destination Roll

Some things are worth waiting for: a Destination Roll is one. The rolls are super fresh – crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside – and all baked on premises so the places just hums with yummy vibes. Nothing tastes quite as good as that first bite of banh mi – lashings of pate, mayo and oozing fillings of your choice, this is your absolute best bet for a cheap-as lunch. Destination Roll have amazing $11 lunch meals every day of the week, with their Crispy Pork Meal – complete with 3 chicken wings & a soft drink/coffee – an absolute winner on anyone’s watch.

Shop 2/262 Church Street Parramatta 2150; visit the Destination Roll website.

Two Chiefs Cafe

This is a lovely little Italian café where the coffee is good and the dishes are homemade. Two Chiefs is known for its excellent staff and service, so another smooth dine-in choice here. Menu-wise they make a mean Italian-style steak sandwich, and a range of great options for breakfast and lunch. 

3a Charles Street Parramatta 2150; visit the Two Chiefs Cafe website.

North Rocks Dam in Bidjigal Reserve

Distance: 2.2km

Time: 1 hr

North Rocks Dam is an absolute surprise at the end of a gorgeous bushwalk that has you meandering alongside the creek bed all the way to this graffiti-covered hidden suburban gem. Accessible from Loyalty Road, North Rocks or Ventura Road, Northmead, the North Rocks Dam in Bidjigal Reserve is actually a flood retarding wall that saves the residents of Northmead from being washed away when heavy rains pour downstream from North Rocks.

The track is unsealed but wide and flat and plenty of room to move aside for social distancing. Small bridge crossings and noises of animals scurrying make you think you are in a forest as far from suburbia as you can be. There is no need to rush back as large logs and rocks make for great snacking spots and a lot can be taught to kids on this walk that they can't learn in a classroom.

Water Dragon Way

Distance: 2.3km

Time: 1hr

Water Dragon Way runs between Moxhams Road, Northmead and Goodin Road, Winston Hills along the eastern side of Quarry Branch Creek. The track is a mixture of natural earth and rocky path including some rock and wooden stairs. Walking from south to north is a consistent incline. The way is called Water Dragon for a reason – but there’s nothing to be afraid of about these serenely paddling lizards!

Murri-Yanna Track

Distance: 3.7km

Time: 3hrs

Murri-Yanna Track travels from The Hills Council above the M2 to Spears Road, North Rocks. The surface is a mixture of uneven earth track with rock and wooden steps. This is a pleasant forested route that makes for easy trail-running and the opportunity to see North Rocks Dam. At the right time of year flannel flowers and native orchids can be spotted.

Terry's Creek Walk, Epping

Distance: 2km

Time: 1hr

With one entrance from the car park of Epping Aquatic Centre, Terry's Creek Walk is an rainforest inspired walk with surprises all along the bush track, including historic facts and markers about how the land would once have been used by indigenous Australians. This is a good path for sharing with children, some creek crossings where "oops my foot fell in," moments tend to happen with kids and features Sydney Blue Gum forest, which is a critically endangered form of woodland – rare in the Sydney basin. Keep your eyes out for satin bower birds – or their nests full of the blue bits and pieces the males collect to attract a mate! And with a bonus waterfall at the end of a lovely walk, this is truly the perfect outdoor classroom.

The Great West Walk

Distance: 65km

Time: One very long day

If you don’t have work to worry about, you can walk as far as you like on The Great West Walk. From Parramatta Park you can walk the whole 65 kilometres to the foot of the Blue Mountains if you fancy!

Combine some of Australia’s oldest architecture in Parramatta Park’s 19th century Old Government House and 18th century Old Dairy Cottage with the protected Cumberland Plain woodland, local river systems and leafy public parkland.

The epic walk was a result of work between City of Parramatta, Blacktown City, Penrith City, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Western Sydney Parklands Trust.

Find out more.

Meat & Wine Co.

With its contemporary opulent interior décor and a fine-dining ambience, a meal out at The Meat & Wine Co Parramatta is an unforgettable fine dining experience for lunch or dinner. They offer the crème de la crème when it comes to cooking meat to perfection and pairing dishes with quality Australian wines. 

Their top-graded beef is carefully monitored from paddock to plate and grilled with their signature African-inspired basting. You can choose between grass-fed or grain-fed beef in your preferred cut or their dry-aged premium steaks. 

7/330 Church St, Parramatta | 8629 8808 | Facebook | Instagram

Lachlan's, Old Government House

For New South Wales' first ten governors, Old Government House, surrounded by leafy Parramatta Park, was a country retreat. Now, the World Heritage-listed building is open for tours and home to Lachlan's, a fine dining restaurant named after Lachlan Macquarie, governor from 1810-1821. Visitors can dine a la carte or, if travelling in a group, settle in for the chef's choice menu.

Among the stand-out dishes are Tassie salmon with thyme-infused potato purée and lychee-lime salsa, and Black Angus scotch fillet with potato puree, mushroom duxelle, toasted puffed rice and roasted onion. On warm days, the long verandah wrapped in vines is the place to sit.

Old Government House,  Parramatta Park | 9687 2666 | Facebook 

LILYMU

Reimagining modern contemporary fusion cuisine, LILYMU at Parramatta Square blends the flavours of Thai and Chinese food with different influences from Singapore and Hong Kong.

Try the full flavoured Tom Yum prawn dumpling soup or their unique take on the familiar miee goreng and wash it all down with a Dragon Sour cocktail, made with gin, dragon fruit syrup and Thai basil leaves.

Parramatta Square, 153 Macquarie St, Parramatta | 7809 4952 | Facebook | Instagram

CicciaBella Trattoria + Bar 

CicciaBella Trattoria + Bar at Parramatta Square takes its inspiration from classic Italian food (cucina classica) often found in the great trattoria’s of Italian cities. Another restaurant delivered by Maurice Terzini and the Icebergs family, CicciaBella doesn’t disappoint.

Each day, pasta is handmade for business lunches and long dinners and the menu has been designed for you to eat in your own style, whether sharing or ordering individually

Parramatta Square, 153 Macquarie St, Parramatta | 8090 6969 | info@cicciabella.com.au | Facebook 

Courtney's Brasserie

Every ingredient on every plate at Courtney's Brasserie is traceable to a nearby supplier. The eggs are laid by free range chickens in Quakers Hill, the butter is churned by hand in Tempe and the cauliflower grows in Werombi. Established in 1984, the restaurant was one of the first in Sydney to champion local produce. Today, owner-chef Paul Kuipers maintains this ethos.

The best way to experience Courtney's is via an eight-course degustation. However, those short on time can claim a stool at the recycled timber bar and choose from the snacks menu. Highlights include grilled Silverdale prosciutto with honey and blue cheese sauce, and Willowbrae goat's cheese and beetroot arancini.

30 Charles Street Parramatta | 9635 3288 | Facebook

ALEX & Co.

Newly renovated but still as cool as ever, the new ALEX & Co. has that distinctive Parramatta vibe – cosmopolitan, playful and individual– while bringing some Insta-worthy realness so you can enjoy their exotic range of cocktails in a stylish riverside setting. 

The kitchen has been working hard to perfect the new mouth-watering dishes on their seasonal menus. With live DJ entertainment and one of the best Happy Hour deals around, this place has got it all. Kicking off from 3pm Mon - Sat and 2pm Sunday, their $5 wine & schooners, $10 Cocktails & pizza, are the perfect accompaniment to a late arvo session. 

330 Church Street Parramatta | 9194 4499 | Facebook | Instagram
 

Bacar Restaurant & Bar

Try sophisticated dining at the 5 star Pullman Hotel with international cuisine and exceptional service at Bacar Restaurant and Bar, Sydney Olympic Park. Experience the seasonal menu, accompanied with an extensive wine and beverage list. This chic signature restaurant, with open kitchen to see the Executive Chef Ben Nicholls in action, is the perfect choice for that special meal or truly memorable pre-show dinner.

Pullman Hotel, Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park | 8762 7959 | Instagram

Nick & Noras

With 270 degrees of uninterrupted skyline views, capacity for 300, and an 11-metre long back bar boasting more than 900 spirits, Nick & Nora’s offers an unprecedented rooftop bar experience.

Picture a private party at an awesome New York penthouse with art deco flourishes, complete with numerous champagne towers, trays brimming with Martinis and crowds of well-dressed people dancing to upbeat and eclectic funk as the sun sets in the distance.

Nick & Nora’s is located on the 26th Floor of V by Crown, has enormous capacity, and boasts killer views all the way to Sydney Harbour on one side and the Blue Mountains on the other.

Level 26/45 Macquarie St, Parramatta | 8646 4930 | Facebook 

Circa Espresso

Although espresso is their name and their main game, the brewed Chai from the folk at Circa Espresso on Wentworth Street is one of the best in the business. A creamy, nutty offering, which they recommend served on macadamia or soy milk, comes in a sturdy cast iron tea pot so you can slowly sip on a glass of Chai while the rest of the brew stays warm.

21 Wentworth St Parramatta | Facebook | Instagram

Lachlan’s Old Government House

If you want to enjoy your chai with a side of history, make your way to Lachlan’s Restaurant for their café menu.

Situated in the grounds of Old Government House, the oldest surviving public building in Australia, Lachlan’s serves a velvety smooth chai latte made with milk and sweet vanilla honey. The latte pairs perfectly with the café’s scones (see photo below) or a slice of carrot cake. Afterwards, enjoy a stroll in historic Parramatta Park, or take a tour of Old Government House, a piece of Australian colonial history and the former residence of Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

Old Government House, Pitt St Parramatta

Taj Indian Sweets and Desserts

If an authentic masala chai is more your flavour, Taj Indian Sweets and Desserts in Harris Park is home to a traditional, spicy brew with hints of fresh ginger and just-ground cinnamon. A short walk from both Parramatta and Harris Park train stations, Taj Indian also boasts a selection of homemade sweets and a menu that is 100% vegetarian. Plan for your next Meat Free Monday and head to Taj Indian for some of their Awe-Samosas, Palak Paneer and top it off with a delicious, steaming Masala Chai.

91 Wigram St Harris Park

Basket Brothers

While the artfully constructed drinks filled with the colours of the rainbow served at this North Parramatta cafe will keep the young at heart happy, the chai latte at Basket Brothers is rich, creamy and comforting on a cold and rainy day.

If you are after a twist on a chai, why not try their iced chai latte or a turmeric latte, a blend of the in-vogue and anti-inflammatory turmeric, cinnamon and frothed milk? And if you can’t resist the urge for a stronger dose of caffeine, the boys use Pablo and Rusty’s Espresso coffee beans, also serving Batch Brew and Cold Drip.

7/20 Victoria Rd Parramatta 

Sweets for the soul

Overlooking Centenary Square in the heart of Parramatta’s CBD sits Bourke Street Bakery. An import from the east following the success of the original Surry Hills store, the café and bakery is now a Parramatta stalwart, offering plenty of options for around, or just over the five dollar mark. If you are on the hunt for a tasty feed without doing too much damage to the wallet, here are some of our picks. 

Pies and Sausage Rolls

A seriously upgraded throwback to the milk bar days of old, Bourke Street Bakery’s pies are some of the best in the business. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic beef pie, a beef brisket, red wine and mushroom pie, or even a chicken, sweet potato, pea and lime pickle pie, you’ll find them all here for just over a fiver.

The sausage rolls have a reputation that precedes them. Delicious fillings are covered with a flaky pastry that melts in your mouth. Vegetarians are catered for with the eggplant, chick pea, feta and mint sausage roll with carnivores covered with the outstanding pork and fennel offering and the famed lamb, almond and harissa roll.

Tarts

If you have a sweet-tooth and are in need of a sugar fix, the range of tarts at Bourke Street Bakery will satisfy your cravings. The tart offering has evolved over the years, but a legendary selection of tarts remain - and they're made fresh every day. Bloggers have been raving about the iconic and creamy lemon curd tart and rich chocolate ganache tart since the doors of the Surry Hills store opened in the mid-noughties. Add the ginger brule tart, a refined combination of sweetness, zingy ginger and a crunchy brulee topping to the collection along with any specials they might have available and you have a range that has something for everyone. 

Pastries

For a value-for-money breakfast treat on the go, it’s hard to go past a buttery croissant or a flaky, fresh Pain au Chocolat. Bourke Street have a range of croissants to satisfy your inner Parisian whether you like them plain, filled with ham, cheese and tomato, or maybe even if almond praline is your flavour of the morning. If a sticky, fruity, custard danish tickles your fancy, look out for the pear or other seasonal fruit danishes on display.
 

Always is a good time for brunch in Parramatta

A glorious ritual that allows you to sleep in past nine and still get your hands on coffee, eggs and sometimes mimosas, brunch is quite possibly the best thing to happen to weekends in a long time.

Lil Miss Collins

The rustic farmhouse aesthetics of Lil Miss Collins brings an injection of quiet country charm to the lively Parramatta CBD. Kick back, take a breather and relax with a cup of house roasted coffee and an amazing brunch. Their Barn House Avo is a vegetarian delight - poached eggs served with heirloom tomatoes, avocado, beetroot hummus, and an array of Middle Eastern spices on buttered, toasted activated charcoal sourdough. 

Those with hungry stomachs should try the Wagyu burger, featuring a 130g wagyu beef pattie, sweet onion chutney, spicy aioli, American cheese and pickled gherkins in a milk bun and served with fries. 

13 Wentworth Street, Parramatta | 9635 3273 | popup@lilmisscollins.com.au | Facebook | Instagram 

Circa Espresso

Bringing the classical laneway style cafes to bustling Parramatta, Circa Espresso is where you’ll find locals brunching on the weekend. Whether you’re relaxing inside the skinny warehouse-style café or soaking up the sun on the side walk, Circa Espresso’s French toast piled with fruits and soft meringue, smashed avo and ricotta, and legendary baked eggs with sujuk will hit the sweet spot. And for a hit of caffeine, their Little Marionette roasts, or any one of their many speciality roasts, will keep you buzzing all day. 

21 Wentworth Street, Parramatta | hello@circaespresso.com.au | Facebook | Instagram 

Big Tree House Café

Look out for the retro peppermint green Big Tree House Café in Rydalmere, and you’ll find yourself in brunch heaven. Grab a table in the back courtyard and enjoy the shade of the great magnolia tree or cosy up inside and mingle with the locals. Don’t be fooled by Big Tree House’s dinky fitout because the food here is gourmet, to say the least. Take your pick of ricotta pancakes, homemade granola, golden corn fritters, mushroom crepes or classic bacon and eggs. Add a cup of robust Campos coffee to your order and you’ve got a pretty great start to your day. 

88 Calder Road, Rydalmere | 8626 9007 | Facebook 

Meraki Merchants

Tucked away on George St in Parramatta is the Meraki Merchants, a cosy yet refined café serving high quality coffee and flavourful good food. 

On the menu you will find the conventional café fare, done perfectly, as well as more creative items like the Sultan’s Jaffle, a play on the classic iron toasted sandwich but with a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean twist, it is made with sujuk, Kalamata olives, cheese and house-made smoky capsicum relish. 

For a caffeine hit try the Golden Latte, a speciality turmeric latte served with house-made almond milk or an Espresso shot poured over a scoop of cookies and cream ice-cream.

5/111 George Street, Parramatta | 0450 455 119 | Instagram 

Paper Plane Cafe

A hub for bean-hunters and brunchers, Paper Plane Cafe serves wholesome Australian fare to the masses every weekend rain, hail or shine. The rustic fitout and comforting menu set the tone for a homely meal and quality time with family and friends. Brunch starts with a robust dose of Little Marionette coffee followed by creative comfort foods such as peanut butter and bacon burgers, turkey and cranberry French toast, or scrambled eggs with truffle oil.

Portion sizes are hefty at Paper Plane Cafe, so make sure your cruisey brunch is followed by a snoozy afternoon.

5/2 Horwood Place, Parramatta | 0412 796 176 | paperplane@outlook.com | Facebook | Instagram 

Pancakes on the Rocks 

If your idea of brunch includes pancakes, pancakes, and more pancakes, you can’t go past Pancakes on the Rocks Northmead. Scrambled eggs with pancakes, bacon with pancakes, sausages with pancakes – whichever brunch food you’re craving, it comes with a serving of delicious buttery pancakes.

Along with freshly brewed coffee and a wide selection of teas, brunch in Northmead has never tasted so good.

100 Briens Road, Northmead | 9683 4322 | northmead@pancakesontherocks.com.au | Facebook | Instagram 

Social Hideout

Toted for having some of the best smoothies in Parramatta, Social Hideout has quite a reputation to uphold, and it does so with gusto. The always buzzing, laidback brunch spot delivers quintessential brunch plates (smashed avo, eggs benedict etc.) as well as some inventive flavours like their z’atar poached eggs with beetroot hummus.

For those with a sweet tooth, Social Hideout’s cakeshakes and smoothies will prompt you to have a religious experience.

2A/20 Victoria Road, Parramatta (located in the Estrada building) | 8677 5226 | Facebook | Instagram 

The Coffee Emporium Parramatta

If your Sunday brunch isn’t complete without crystal glassware, candles, and shiny silverware, The Coffee Emporium Parramatta is right up your alley. Modern Australian cuisine with a touch of Mediterranean flair is on the menu at this chic brunch spot. They roast their own beans, so you know you’re in for a robust caffeine hit before tucking into your mains. The Emporium’s all-day breakfast menu is succinct and stylish, with steak and vegetable omelettes, sausage eggs benedict, banoffee, cheese and berries, and sautéed mushrooms with kale. Enjoy!

197-205 Church Street Parramatta | supportoffice@thecoffeeemporium.com.au | Facebook | Instagram 

Adora Handmade Chocolates

Adora Handmade Chocolates has earned cult status since it opened the doors to its Parramatta premises in 2011. If you’re after a daytime dessert, Adora is the place for you. The well-lit and elegant space on the corner of Charles and Union Streets in the Parramatta CBD is home to a vast collection of delicious handmade truffles and chocolates, as well as charming high teas served with fragrant loose leaf teas. This is the place to come if you’re gluten or lactose intolerant and in need of the sweet stuff, with the much of the chocolate range gluten free with dairy free options available in-store and to order.   

2b/103 George St Parramatta | 9635 7737 | Facebook | Instagram

Pancakes on the Rocks

Whether you’re having dessert for dinner or testing the strength of your dessert stomach, Pancakes on the Rocks in Northmead has you covered for pancakes of every variety. Pancake purists will love the traditional buttermilk pancakes with butter and maple syrup, the more hardcore sweet tooth will revel in the ‘Devil’s Delight’; thick chocolate pancakes covered in chocolate sauce, ice-cream, cream and strawberries. If you’ve got friends who aren’t as keen on dessert as you, don’t fret: there are also plenty of savoury options available ranging from crepes to steaks.

100 Briens Road Northmead 2152 | 9683 4322 | Facebook

Bay Vista Parramatta

Dessert lovers, brace yourselves. Bay Vista, the self-proclaimed “dessert experience” that first took Brighton-Le-Sands by storm, made itself right at home in Parramatta in 2017. With options that range from fondue share plates and buckets of ice-cream, to the famous ‘adults only’ sundaes swirled with all the sauces, sweet fruit and crunchy nuts and toffees you could desire, to stacks of pancakes and waffles. There is something for every sweet tooth. Best of all, their sprawling diner-style Church Street premises is open until midnight for those dinners where conversation flows and time escapes you, or perhaps even when those late-night munchies hit and your freezer is empty.

1/330 Church Street Parramatta | 9056 2775 | Facebook | Instagram

San Churro Chocolateria

If you’ve never had warm churros fresh from the fryer at San Churro, hot-foot it down Church Street pronto for one (or five) of these Spanish delicacies. Whether you’re after a sharing plate of these sweet treats with dipping sauces that range from a thick dulce de leche to melted couverture chocolate, or perhaps a plate of churros covered in chocolate, ice-cream and topped with a gooey chocolate brownie, you’ll be spoilt for both choice and flavour here. They also serve Fairtrade coffee if you want to offset any dessert guilt you’re feeling...and if you have a hankering for a late night sugar fix, they’re open late too.

287 Church Street Parramatta |  9633 1566 | Facebook 

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar

If melted chocolate is the key to your heart, make Max Brenner Chocolate Bar your first stop. There is serious decadence on the menu, from waffles covered in chocolate and ice-cream, Chocolate Fondue for Two served with marshmallows, banana, strawberries and banana bread to the famed Italian Thick Hot Chocolate – as thick and rich a hot chocolate as you will ever taste. ‘Chocolate by the Bald Man’ is a lactose-lover’s dream, so take a seat and get ready to indulge.  

Westfield, 159 – 175 Church Street Parramatta | 9330 3600 | Facebook

Gelato Messina

Famous Australia-wide for their innovative flavours and weekly specials that get Instagram drooling with excitement, Messina’s gelato is piled full with flavour and texture that is second to none. Whether it’s their famous White Chocolate and Salted Caramel, throwback specials like Wagon Wheel and Pavlova, or their novel HBO series-themed ‘Game of Cones’, pile the scoops high in a cup or a cone, take a stroll down to the river and watch the world go by.

283 Church Street Parramatta | 9635 3064 | Facebook | Instagram

SweetLand Patisserie

Since 1998, SweetLand Patisserie has been regarded as your one-stop-shop for Lebanese pastries. For those as yet not in the know, think honey, a unique cream called ‘ashta’ and hand decorated chocolates. It doesn’t get more indulgent than a mixed tray of baklawa – variations on pastry layered with pistachios, walnuts, honey, citrus and spices. Best served with a strong black coffee!

55 Wigram Street, Harris Park | 9891 6048 | Facebook | Instagram

Taj Indian Sweets and Restaurant

This purely-vegetarian restaurant was one of the very first to open its doors in Harris Park – a pocket of Parramatta that has over the last decade become renowned in greater Sydney as the beating heart of the Indian subcontinent. Before Diwali (the Indian festival of light), this little shop will sell well over $100,000 worth of housemade sweets – so with that kind of community recommendation, you could do worse than treat mum to some of the sweets that come from here, including some appropriately bling numbers touched up with silver leaf.

91 Wigram Street Harris Park | 9633 2118 | info@tajindianrestaurant.com.au | Facebook

Jiggle Cheesecake

Truly, the giveaway for this cheesecake bakery’s signature cake is in the name of it Jiggly Cheesecake, and yes, this light-as-a-feather cheesecake jiggles. These beauties are Instagrammable stuff (best suited to video to get the dancing action) and were made famous in Japan before hitting our shores. Sometimes called a soufflé cheesecake it’s not overly sweet and has fewer calories than the more traditional, heavier styles (not that we rate that as how we choose our sweet treats – especially on special occasions…)

 Carlingford Court Shopping Centre, Cnr Pennant Hills &, Carlingford Rd, Carlingford | 0450 113 668 | Facebook

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

Ben & Jerry's ice cream is the ultimate dessert indulgence that combines flavor, quality, and values. With a wide range of delectable flavors and whimsical names like Chunky Monkey and Phish Food, every spoonful is a taste sensation. From their iconic cookie dough chunks to their fudgy brownie swirls, each flavour is a creamy masterpiece that satisfies the sweetest cravings while leaving a positive impact on the world.

Shop 4, 186-190 Church St, Centenary Square, Parramatta, NSW 2150 | 0481 795 388 | Website

Ginger Indian

The creamy korma, the infamous butter chicken – these are dishes very typical of the rich, filling Mughlai cuisine of India’s north. There’s so much more to explore though at the passionately foodie Ginger Indian restaurant. Hidden away in a downright adorable weatherboard cottage, strung with fairy lights and buzzing with diners every night and weekend. Try the classic Darbari goat curry, or one of the many biryani rice dishes on offer, followed by an impossibly rich shahi tukra sweet bread pudding.

94 Wigram Street Harris Park | 8061 7245 | contact@gingerindian.com.au | Facebook

Taj Indian Sweets & Restaurant

Why not start with dessert? After all, that’s how it happened for one of the first Indian restaurants, Taj Indian Sweets & Restaurant. In what is now the ‘Little Bombay’ of Harris Park, the main length of Wigram Street and surrounding blocks is filled with Indian eats and treats. Australia’s widest selection of Indian sweets is laid out in this store, a favourite with local residents and visitors. Taj Indian opens at 10.00am, too, so you really can start with sweets.

91 Wigram Street Harris Park | 9633 2118 | info@tajindianrestaurant.com.au | Facebook

Neelam Indian

Cosy, comfy, friendly – and just down the Macquarie Street end of the City’s Eat Street area – Neelam Indian is the place to settle in for a proper meal and taste your way through India. Owner Gyan Chand brought his veteran five-star chef’s skills from the old country to Parramatta almost two decades ago to serve everything from a good-value lunch thali of house dishes, to specialties hailing from Madras, Kerala, Mughlai northern cuisine and even a Pondicherry Indo-French fish favourite.

79 Macquarie St Parramatta | 9635 9476 | enquiry@neelamrestaurant.com.au | Facebook

Saravanaa Bhavan

Well, not silver as such, but the many thali-style meals served on a metal tray in traditional fashion in this international vegetarian chain restaurant will make this the cheapest and easiest instant trip to India you’ve ever had. Saravanaa Bhavan is one of 68 outlets (30 of which are in southern India). Dive into the crispy dosai pancakes, the thali trays, the thick utthpam chock-full of onions or the savoury plantain bajji, fried in batter and served with dahl. It’s no nonsense, it’s authentic and it’s fun.

 Octagon Business Centre, 1/99 Phillip St, Parramatta | 8628 0315 | sydney.saravanaabhavan.com.au