The best restaurants in Tamworth, NSW

August 4, 2023

A busy day exploring regional NSW (or grooving at the Tamworth Country Music Festival!) can definitely leave you in need of a good meal. Luckily there’s a stellar range of places to eat out in Tamworth – from classic country pubs and casual eats, to foreign cuisines and fine dining, here’s the best restaurants for you to check out.

The Workshop Kitchen, Powerhouse Hotel by Rydges, Tamworth NSW

The Workshop Kitchen at The Powerhouse Hotel by Rydges

Located inside The Powerhouse Hotel by Rydges, The Workshop Kitchen is a spacious eatery with an open kitchen and mixture of table and booth seating. Their seasonal menu serves up classic meals with a modern twist, using local ingredients where possible. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can start your day with the continental buffet, truffle mushrooms and eggs or even some Nasi Goreng if you’re feeling adventurous. At lunch choose between a main meal such as the Powerhouse Thai Beef Salad, a gourmet deli sandwich or some premium Jack’s Creek beef, straight off the wood fired grill. Bring a big appetite to dinner and make it a multicourse affair. To start, choose from five styles of oyster and a list of entrees; the spicy Lousian prawn cocktail or crumbed Thomas Farm lamb ribs sound especially tasty! The main menu offers a range of different flavours and cuisines, from Austrian inspired wagyu goulash to New England seafood chowder and sizzling Rendang duck curry. Then finish the evening with a decadent dessert or artisan cheese accompanied by a dessert wine, digestive, cognac, brandy or fortified wine.

The Pig & Tinder Box

Since swinging its doors open in 2015, The Pig & Tinder Box has become one of the must-visit, cool urban dining spaces on Tamworth’s Peel Street. In the morning choose from a classic breakfast meal or one of the Filipino inspired house specialties including Tapsilog and Champorado. If you need a bit of a pick me up or want to celebrate being on holidays try one of the bespoke brekkie cocktails; the Berocca Brekkie Cocktail or Hunni Bee might be the way to go! Once breakfast is over the all day menu kicks in. There are a range of starters and share platters to choose from including a baked brie with honey, pistachio and sundried tomato, and Korean chicken with a Gochujang glaze. The sharing theme continues with pizzas and a selection of mains dishes that you can devour by yourself or share with others. Highlights include the BBQ grilled pork belly slab, International Grandiose Meat Platter and varied Tasting Plate.

DECO Wine Bar & Restaurant

For a more sophisticated evening why not head to the DECO Wine Bar & Restaurant. Located in the Peel Street Heritage Wing of the CH Boutique Hotel, the restaurant serves modern Australian cuisine which can be enjoyed with a glass of Australian wine. In the morning the DECO is one of many great breakfast options in Tamworth. For lunch enjoy a starter before moving onto a main or simply have a pizza. The charcuterie bruschetta paired with the flame grilled premium steak or crispy pork belly followed by the glazed karaage chicken burger look good! For dinner you’ve got two options; à la carte or the set menu. The à la carte menu has some delicious mains on it including a herb crusted lamb rack, duck confit, flash grilled salmon and green pesto risotto. But, on Sunday to Thursday you could opt for the special priced set menu. The first course is flame grilled sourdough with dips followed by four choices or main and three choices for dessert.

Papa Luigi’s

A true Italian dining experience, Papa Luigi’s is inspired by a very special member of the Vitalone family, Nonna. The aim of the restaurant was to create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere with good food, reminiscent of their Sunday family dinners. The menu is mainly made up of pizzas and pastas. For the pizzas choose between classic toppings, traditional Italian toppings or a gourmet pizza. If you like it hot give the Alla Diavola a try and if you’re a vegetarian maybe the Zucca Spanci is for you. On the pasta side there’s a bolognese made using Nonna’s special recipe, traditional homemade meatballs and a homemade lasagna. If you’ve left room for dessert there’s some of the Italian classics including tiramisu, cannoli, gelato and affogato. You can also try the Nutella pizza; it’s sure to be a hit with the kids!

The Tamworth Hotel

With its art deco interior The Tamworth Hotel offers a country pub experience in a stylish environment. The menu features many classic pub favourites as well as a few signature dishes. The lunch and dinner menu starts with some basic share plates, including cauliflower bites, nachos and smoked chicken wings. For something heavier you can choose between one of the mains, a Jack’s Creek steak, tacos, a salad, the steak sandwich or a burger. Wash the meal down with a beer from one of the 14 taps, a glass of Australian wine or a classic cocktail. For vegetarians there’s Mexican cauliflower tacos, a Moroccan salad or miso mushroom and halloumi burger. There’s also some gluten free choices including the option to get a gluten free bun for the burgers. If you have little ones they can choose from the cheaper kids menu which has pasta, fish and chips, and schnitzel and chips.

Williamsburg Burger Bar

Heads up folks – this venue is currently closed for renovations, as of 2024. Read on to get the lowdown for when they open up again…

Nicknamed The Burg, Williamsburg is a gourmet burger bar found in the heart of Tamworth. It was designed to be a place where people could enjoy a good burger and refreshing drink in an upbeat atmosphere. Wherever possible the burgers are made using fresh, local ingredients. Some of the signature burgers are the Williamsburg Cheeseburger, Williamsburg Classic and Williamsburg Works. If it’s still early in the day give the Breakfast Burger a try and if you’re really hungry it’s time to tackle the ultimate burger, the Appetite for Destruction – it’s HUGE! Aside from burgers there’s also a few smaller kids options, some sides, sliders and hot dogs. If you’re vegan or vegetarian there’s the Vegan Goodness burger just for you and if for coeliacs there’s gluten free buns or the option to swap out the bun for a salad. To wash the meal down they have alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks including soft drink, wine, cocktails, spirits and shakes.

The Courthouse Hotel

Found along Peel Street, the main road in town, The Courthouse is one of the oldest pubs in Tamworth. This local institution has had more than a few updates over the years but it’s still serving up traditional pub meals with a few modern Australian twists. On the all day bistro menu there’s a range of main meals including Jack’s Creek premium steak, chicken Parmi, BBQ pork ribs, pan fried barramundi and Mediterranean couscous. They do a few of the classic pizzas such as the Hawaiian and Margarita, as well as a gourmet confit duck option with shredded duck, toasted cashews, shallots, red onions and jalapenos. Pair it with a cold pint or glass of Australian wine. For something a bit lighter or that can be shared among friends, take a look at the breads and bar fare menu. There’s a good selection of dishes that can be ordered to create a shared menu experience, including bruschetta, lemon pepper squid, crispy pork belly bites and a honey baked brie.

Bangkok Thai

If you’ve got a hankering for Thai food but you’re wondering where in Tamworth you’ll be able to find it look no further, Bangkok Thai is the answer! This family restaurant was founded by Taro Tang, a Thai chef who left Sydney in 1998 with the goal of bringing Thai cuisine to Tamworth. The menu has a huge range of traditional Thai dishes, including soups, deep fried whole fish (it’s a delicious way to do it!), curries, salads, stir frys and noodles. To help you make your choice there is a list of special dishes to try which includes BBQ pork with Thai herbs and marinade, Choo Chee prawns and lemongrass chicken. Finish the meal off with a bit of dessert; the Thai custard with black sticky rice and coconut ice cream sounds intriguing. For larger groups there’s the option to order a banquet for a set price per person. For the entree and main courses a selection of shared dishes are delivered to the table including spring rolls, Thai green curry, Panang lamb and Pad Thai noodles. Speciality ice-cream for dessert is also included with one of the banquets.

Riviera Bar & Grill

Found at the Best Western Sanctuary Inn, the Riviera Bar & Grill is inspired by Mediterranean cuisine from Italy, Spain and France. The chefs use local or onsite produce where possible, and both the pizza dough and pasta are made inhouse. Start with a seafood or antipasti entree such as the saffron butter poached prawns, fresh Sydney Rock oysters or traditional bruschetta. Then move on to the main course, selecting a pizza, pasta, main meal or something off the grill. One of the house recommendations is a simple dish of spaghetti tossed with black peppercorn, truffle oil and pecorino romano, paired with a Merlot or Pinot Grigio; they clearly have confidence in the taste of the pasta with that recommendation! When dinner is finished it’s time for dessert and here the Mediterranean theme continues. Among other delicious treats there’s a French citrus tart, Tiramisu and salted caramel panna cotta. For something savoury there’s also a cheese board with a daily selection of nuts, cheeses and dried fruits.

Calala Inn

For a classic pub meal at an authentic country pub head to the Calala Inn. With its welcoming atmosphere and positive involvement in local clubs and causes, you’re sure to feel a warm sense of community from the staff and patrons. A family friendly venue, Calala Inn serves up many classic Australia pub meals. Try the sticky pork ribs, crumbed lamb cutlets, beer battered flathead or go big and order a local 450g Black Angus T-Bone steak with the optional topper of garlic prawns. Some meals also come with a choice of sides; fries or mashed potato along with a salad or buttered vegetables. One of Australia’s most celebrated pub meals has to be the chicken Parmi. At Calala Inn there’s two types of chicken parmigiana to choose from; the Plain or Islander. The Plain comes topped with Napoli sauce and cheese while the Islander takes that and adds grilled pineapple and bacon to the mix.

Glasshouse Restaurant

Located just outside town, Glasshouse Restaurant is a beautiful venue situated at Goonoo Goonoo Station. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the restaurant is a multi award winner for its food and architecture. On the à la carte menu there’s a limited selection of entrees, mains and desserts. Start with something small like the Coffin Bay Pacific oysters, housemade chorizo or roasted Japanese scallops. Then, move on to something more substantial, perhaps the dry aged duck breast or housemade Jersey milk halloumi. At the end of the meal make sure you try dessert; they’re presented like little works of art and according to past diners they taste as good as they look. With ingredients like vegan coconut ice-cream, mint parfait, poached winter rhubarb and burnt orange curd, you’re sure to taste something special. For larger groups, Glasshouse has also put together two shared-style menus that are charged per person. It features a few dishes that aren’t on the à la carte menu, such as the butterflied roast chicken and slow-cooked lamb shank.

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