Mortar & Pestle

‘Explosive Eggs’ might sound like a bad date night option, but there’ll be a lot of love in the room once you’ve tried Mortar’s legendary dish of two fried eggs with minced chicken, chilli and basil. This Manly mainstay is packed most nights for a good reason. Fresh, original and affordable Thai cuisine is matched with over-the-top Thai ballads, hanging lanterns and dark, slatted wood interiors, making the perfect destination for couples, groups and families alike. The som-tum salad of green papaya, lime juice, shrimp, beans, chilli and cherry tomatoes is a zesty winner, and the massaman beef is melt-in-the-mouth tender.