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Sydney's best French dining 2015

You're never too far from a little slice of France - with everything from steak frites to chocoate fondant.

Antoine's Grill

In the thriving Concord strip, this stayer is very much part of the local community. Think of it as French bistro meets American steakhouse: wooden floorboards and tables, low lighting and French accents with an emphasis on the grill. The signature wagyu is served with flair with a choice of Laguiole knives, sauces and enticing extras such as rich bone marrow croquettes. Dessert raises the bar with a chocolate fondant and miniature iced "Magnum".

Shop 1, 112 Majors Bay Road, Concord, (02) 9743 3354

Ananas

Navigate the large, buzzy bar filled with smart young things draped over $20 cocktails with names like Ça Plane Pour Moi. Beyond this, the moody, brick-walled dining room has decor from the pineapple-plantation-meets-fin-de-siècle school of thought; pineapple-shaped lamp bases, brass birds in cages and glowing lights lend an air of romantic opulence. If you're lucky you'll score a leather banquette. The menu is a roll call of smartened-up Gallic favourites – classic peppered beef eye fillet is a winner.

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18 Argyle St, Sydney, (02) 9259 5668

Bistro Moncur

The 'Bistro is still one of the most grown-up places on Sydney's dining map. It's probably true that the white tablecloths and price point, position it in that interesting liminal zone between bistro and fine dining. But what's in a name? The appeal of this room with its polished floorboards room and long Michael Fitzjames mural is wide and timeless.

Woollahra Hotel, 116 Queen St, Woollahra, (02) 9327 9713

Bronte Road Bistro

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This is not the sort of place where you inhale your meal and move on. Take your time to decide on your dinner so you can enjoy listening to the electric crackle of cicadas in the leafy courtyard from the comfort of the light, bright dining room decked out with padded banquettes, pendant lights and patterned pillows. From that comfy balcony to the chocolate delice with salted caramel ice cream, this is relaxed coastal dining with a French twist.

282 Bronte Rd, Waverley, (02) 9389 3028

Cafe Nice

Every neighbourhood needs a good French bistro. Having one in the city overlooking Sydney harbour? Even better. The flavour here is Cote d'Azur punctuated by regularly running trains on the Circular Quay line. Pale pink walls, etched mirrors and pictures of Brigitte Bardot are a nod to the French Riviera, as is the socca – that famous chickpea pancake, and Nice's gift to bar snacking. Order any of the fishes to see chef Josh Niland's steady hand at work, or go a classic steak frites and be rewarded by two perfectly pink and juicy pieces of minute steak smothered in parsley butter accompanied by a thicket of salt-crusted French fries.

2 Phillip St, Circular Quay, (02) 8248 9600

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Cafe Lyon

Lucky Lindfield. If only we all had a French bistro of this calibre around the corner. Step through the door into a Gallic-style world of timber floors, bentwood chairs and paper-on-white-linen table tops. At the far end of the shopfront room, an opening to the kitchen is framed by copper pans and a wall of wine. It doesn't just look good. The animated, happy diners' chatter is as inviting as the French-laced food from its set priced menu with four choices per course. And, sacre bleu, there are waiters galore.

366 Pacific Highway, Lindfield, (02) 9416 5026

Cottage Point Inn

"Are you coming by car, or by boat?" Boat would be nice, if you had one. Seaplane would be even better. Otherwise it's the scenic route through Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park to this unassuming timber cottage on the lower reaches of the Hawkesbury River. Chef Guillaume Zika was head chef at Claude Bosi's highly-rated two Michelin-starred Hibiscus in London, so those glorious Aussie water views now have some serious Frenchy competition.

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2 Anderson Place, Cottage Point, (02) 9456 1011

Felix

If there were a foodie version of Fantasyland, it would include the Big Parisian Brasserie. A place where you can strike up a conversation with loquacious fellow diners sometimes so inebriated they don't even realise you can't speak French. Add classic dishes that are the glory of France, an encyclopaedic wine list at fair prices and a sommelier that personally knows every vintage. All the buzz of Paris without leaving home.

2 Ash St, Sydney, (02) 9240 3000

Guillaume

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The next-level Frenchness of Les Champs-Elysees – that 1969 knee-slapper – is the perfect suitor for the Hermes wallpaper and the gallons of butter present in so many delicious dishes at Guillaume Brahimi's new Paddington digs. Springy veal sweetbreads are smothered with a gingerbread sauce so thick and spice-heavy a leftover puddle the demands Iggy's bread for mopping. Passionfruit souffle is precise as ever and "royale of peas" wins the award for best unintentional Pulp Fiction reference on a menu this year.

92 Hargreave St, Paddington, (02) 9302 5222

Le Pelican

From this cosy, heritage-listed sandstone terrace perched a block behind bustling Taylor Square, chef Jean-Francois Salet and his polished staff enter their 10th year thrilling locals and those in the know with a neat-but-splendid selection of constantly evolving, delicately balanced, Basque-inspired French dishes. From a single page, share-friendly menu, try the garlic and parsley snails accompanied by thicket of straw-like French fries or Hervey Bay scallops lifted with watercress puree and seaweed butter.

411 Bourke St, Surry Hills, (02) 9380 2622

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Macleay Street Bistro

Alongside those hot young culinary upstart restaurants grabbing all the attention in the reinvigorated Potts Point strip, Macleay Street Bistro may fairly claim "grand dame" status, after nearly 30 years of faithful service. The emphasis here is on classic rather than cutting edge, and it's all done with care. Start with a straight-up steak tartare, a stalwart here for decades, served and seasoned á la table. Clearly, this dame continues to age well.

73A Macleay St, Potts Point, (02) 9358 4891

Vincent

Out on the terrace, dames in pearls, business trippers and couples dine on the classics. There's the signature steak frites "beurre vincent", spanner crab omelette and a rustic, golden roast chicken. The more adventurous Francophiles make for the salad of veal tongue. Oui, oui, life's good. That's until the dessert of drunken cherries, crème fraiche and a straight-out-of-the-oven crisp kouign amman arrives, and it gets even better.

14 Queen St, Woollahra, (02) 8039 1500

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