Gloria's Portuguese Restaurant

Critics and regular patrons all agree – and have done for almost three decades – that Gloria’s Portuguese Restaurant serves some of the best Portuguese food in Sydney. This cosy restaurant in Petersham, a traditional enclave for Portuguese emigres, was founded by the woman who gives Gloria’s its name. A mother of four kids, Gloria knows what home-style Portuguese cuisine is all about, and is passionate about welcoming diners into her restaurant as if they were guests to her home and kitchen. Breakfast, tapas, seafood, Portugal’s famous steaks and casseroles, and homemade desserts are all on the menu, all executed with inimitable Portuguese flair.

Found down Audley Street, Gloria’s Portuguese Restaurant boasts an intimate interior and streetside al fresco seating. It’s a hotspot for Petersham’s big Portuguese community, all looking for food with more than a hint of nostalgia. For the wider Sydney community of foodies, Gloria’s is a top pick for Portuguese cuisine, with Gloria’s personal stash of authentic Portuguese recipes bearing the influence of Arabic, Moorish, German and Andalusian traditions and making waves in gourmet circles. Spanish tapas is a craze whose wave has crested. Head to Gloria’s for the Portuguese take on the small plate phenomenon – petiscos – alongside Portuguese sangria, beer and award-winning wine. Portugal is famous for its hearty steaks and casseroles (you can see this mirrored across the Atlantic in Brazil), so for the carnivores out there, book a table and sample from the long list of traditional meat dishes. There’s plenty of seafood too, with bacalhau or traditional salted cod making more than one appearance on the menu. Finish properly with one of Gloria’s delicious homemade desserts for a Portuguese dining experience you’re unlikely to forget.