The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement
David Matthews

David Matthews

David Matthews

David Matthews is a food writer and editor, and co-editor of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2025.

Top Shop's brekkie burger.

Everything to eat and drink in Byron Bay, starting with this brekkie burger

From Ballina prawn rolls to hibachi-grilled skewers and all-you-can-eat oysters, here are all the Good Food-approved eats in Byron Bay.

  • David Matthews
14/20

Ho Jiak’s Fish Market spin-off embraces the kitsch with a subversive take on surf-and-turf

Tam Jiak’s concept could’ve landed like a bad joke writes David Matthews, but Junda Khoo explores the full spectrum of Malay cooking, starting with the fun tom yum “bombs”, a sequel to Ho Jiak’s laksa bombs.

  • David Matthews
 Lucette is a French cafe and bistrot in Bowral.
14/20

Lucette Bistro

Lucette is a breezy, beautiful bistro for all comers.

  • David Matthews
Lau chem tuoi (sweet and sour steamboat with fresh silver perch).
14/20

Hai Au Lang Nuong

A bright spark on Canley Vale’s main drag for street-style Vietnamese cooking.

  • David Matthews
Good Food hat15.5/20

Discover a tucked-away 12-seater jewel that goes beyond its Japanese roots

You can still go hard on the tempura at Haco. But its intimate omakase experience now also embraces grilled meats and international flavours.

  • David Matthews
Advertisement
Arnie's operates out of a retro camper van.

Arnie’s Espresso Bar

Single-origin espresso served from a roadside camper van.

  • David Matthews
One of the sundae fruit cups.

The Good Food guide to eating (and drinking) well on the Central Coast

From old-fashioned fishmongers to waterfront restaurants and sunny gelato parlours, here are the best places to eat and drink in Wyong, Woy Woy, Terrigal and beyond.

  • David Matthews and Mike Bennie
Bush Ice-Creamery in Brunswick Head.

Bush Ice-Creamery

This might just be the best ice-cream in New South Wales.

  • David Matthews
Top Shop in Byron Bay.

Top Shop

A longtime breakfast spot with a heaving brekkie burger.

  • David Matthews
Giovanni Pilu with his mother, Maria, making spinach and ricotta gnocchetti with tomato sauce at their home.

Mamma’s cooking is still the best for this top Sydney chef

Chef Giovanni Pilu may be known for his elevated Sardinian cooking, but when his mamma’s in town it’s her rustic pasta that really makes his heart sing.

  • David Matthews