Cafe Jolly Leichhardt

Skip the two-hour panini queues in Five Dock. Norton Street holds a quiet heavyweight slinging some of the most outrageously generous Italian-Aussie plates in Sydney. Think colossal Turkish bread sandwiches—stuffed to the edges with crispy schnitty or thick slabs of chicken and avocado—flanked by towering piles of perfectly salted shoestring fries. Lunchtime bargain hunters are consistently floored by the sheer size-to-price ratio. It’s an absolute steal. The menu bounces effortlessly between modern Australian cafe staples and abbondante bowls of flawlessly executed penne and risotto. Snag a table al fresco, order the chili cheese and honey bread to start, and dive into a mussel casserole that hits every rustic note. Fast, impossibly warm service rounds out the vibe. A heavy-hitting, unpretentious spot for a seriously good feed.