How popular Sydney restaurants, bars and cafes tackle one of hospitality’s biggest problems
Good Food staff writers
Is Sydney’s restaurant scene undergoing a change? How about the size of your favorite place? Is the dining room about to get smaller? So, are these fine diners heading for extinction? The data may suggest “yes.”
according to 2026 State of the Accommodation Industry ReportAustralians now order takeaway three times a month and home delivery twice a month; This means we’re more likely to eat dinner instead of eating dinner. This is a trend that is expected to continue.
Restaurants’ dining revenue fell from 31 percent in 2024 to 20 percent in 2025, which is expected to grow at about 12 percent annually through 2031.
What all this means for diners, as well as restaurateurs and food operators in Sydney, is something that will be discussed at tonight’s sold-out Good Food Symposium. The panel discussion, hosted by Good Food president Sarah Norris, will feature five industry experts to talk about how they’re responding to changes, from branching out into unconventional areas like hospitality to opening fast-casual concepts that can be expanded.
The symposium will take place at Sydney CBD Greek restaurant Alpha from 18:00 and will be broadcast live on this page. Sydney Morning Herald home page.
What is Good Food Hospitality Symposium?
This symposium is a free, ticketed event that brings together the hospitality community for a solutions-focused panel discussion led by Good Food president Sarah Norris. Presented by Lightspeed, this is an ongoing Good Food initiative developed in response to the daunting number of foods available. Closing of cafes, bars and restaurants We saw it for the first time in 2024, but they continue to plague the industry.
Last month Good Food published a report revealing that more than 60 high-profile restaurants, bars and cafes in regional NSW had closed in the past 18 months. This was followed a week later by a story about challenging conditions affecting businesses in Canberra.
What to expect?
Among the panelists is Federico Zanellato, owner and chef of a two-hat fine-dining restaurant. LuMi Food. He saw the industry changing and knew takeaway at his Pyrmont restaurant wouldn’t translate (“the food isn’t up to par”), so he opened a bakery instead Lode Pies and PastriesFast-casual fro-yo chain Freo, which has five branches across Sydney and has just opened its fourth store in St Leonards.
This move was partly about reducing dependence on a single business and partly about creating space for new ideas. “LuMi relies on my presence and creativity. It takes a lot of commitment, time and money, and you run out of energy very quickly,” he says. “My other jobs are not easy, but they require a different kind of presence from me.”
Zanellato will be joined on stage by RaRa Ramen co-owner Katie Shortland, who has just opened her third ramen restaurant and prefers the fast-casual version in Sydney Airport’s T3 food court. The compact site is designed for speed and volume, with an ordering and pickup window as well as bento boxes, sandwiches, and salads for grab-and-go items.
Sarah Doyle, creative director of Porteno Group and Paisano & Daughters, will talk about operating a variety of restaurant groups, from bakery to fine dining, and the decision to open three boutique suites. Chris Theodosi will also join them. happy space and its fast-casual sibling, Happy Storeand Rob Stone, senior director of Lightspeed APAC Hospitality, will talk about data, technology and artificial intelligence.
Our Sydney panelists
- Sarah Norris (host) – President of Good Food
- Sarah Doyle – creative director Porteno Group & Paisano and Daughters (Bastardo, Humble, Porteno, Continental Deli, Mister Grotto, Osteria Mucca, Joe’s Tavern, Australia Street Suites)
- Federico Zanellato– chef and owner LuMi Dining, Lode Pies & Pastries, Restaurant Leo and Freo
- Katie Shortland- co-founder RaRa Ramen (Redfern, Randwick, Sydney Airport Terminal 3)
- Chris Theodosi- Co-owner of Happyfield and Happy Shop by Happyfield
- Rob Stone – Senior Director of APAC Hospitality at Lightspeed
