Meat and Wine Co Safari – Circular Quay Menu Prices Guide

Meat and Wine Co Safari Circular Quay brings an Afro-centric dining experience to Sydney’s CBD, offering premium steaks, African-inspired dishes, and boutique wines in a distinctive safari-themed setting. The restaurant, recently relocated to Bligh Street near Circular Quay, has established itself as a destination for those seeking quality meat cuts alongside unique culinary influences from South Africa and beyond. The venue operates within what restaurateurs have dubbed “Steak Street” in the Circular Quay precinct, positioning itself among Sydney’s growing collection of specialist steakhouses. With multiple locations across the city, including a separate Castlereagh Street outlet, the brand has expanded its footprint while maintaining focus on hand-selected beef and carefully curated wine selections. Guests visiting the Circular Quay location can access a comprehensive menu ranging from casual express lunches to premium set dining experiences. The restaurant accepts reservations through its official booking system and accommodates both lunch and dinner service throughout the week.

Meat and Wine Co Safari Circular Quay

The Circular Quay venue represents the brand’s flagship Sydney location, situated in the vibrant financial and tourism district near the harbour foreshore. The restaurant underwent a recent relocation from its original O’Connell Street position to Bligh Street, where it now operates within a purpose-designed space reflecting the safari concept. The interior design draws inspiration from traditional African Boma structures, incorporating warm lighting, natural textures, and cultural elements that create an immersive atmosphere. African sounds and ambient music complement the visual environment, distinguishing the venue from conventional steakhouses in the CBD area.

• Situated on Bligh Street, Circular Quay, Sydney NSW 2000
• Afro-centric Safari theme with Boma-inspired interior design
• Hand-selected premium beef including Monte, O’Connor, and Wagyu varieties
• Operates for lunch and dinner service
• Online booking available through official website
• Accepts all major credit cards

Meat and Wine Co Safari Menu

The menu at the Circular Quay location showcases a diverse range of offerings, from classic steakhouse selections to dishes inspired by South African culinary traditions. Starters include the South African biltong at A$18 per 100 grams, featuring air-dried beef with pepper, coriander, and malt vinegar seasoning. The aged Wagyu tartare priced at A$31 combines raw Wagyu Girello with dry-aged Rib-Eye, tomato, egg yolk, and aioli.

Starters and Small Plates

Seafood options feature prominently among the appetizer selections. Baked scallops at A$32 arrive with truffle cauliflower purée, Sichuan chilli butter, and biltong crumb, while tuna sashimi at A$32 offers seared yellowfin tuna with soy-sesame dressing and horseradish. The traditional boerewors skewer, designed to serve two guests, costs A$33 and includes Chakalaka and pap croquette, BBQ relish, and onion rings.

Plant-based options include bruschetta at A$16 with Roma tomato, avocado, oregano, basil, and Parmesan on sourdough. The bread selection features Sonoma Miche sourdough with cultured butter and extra virgin olive oil for A$16, while garlic bread with buttermilk buns, garlic butter, Parmesan, and crisps costs A$15.

Main Courses and Steaks

Steak selections span multiple grades and origins. Grain-fed options include rump eye at 200 grams for A$37, fillet at 200 grams for A$62, and rib-eye at 350 grams for A$79. The O’Connor range offers long grain-fed beef aged 150 days, with New Yorker at 350 grams priced at A$75 and rib-eye at 400 grams at A$89. Premium Wagyu selections include a 500-gram rump at A$81 and 300-gram rib-eye at A$135, both grain-fed for 450 days.

Rib options provide alternative main course selections. Beef ribs at half portions cost A$49 and full portions A$74, slow-cooked and served with chips or salad. Pork ribs match this pricing, and a ribs platter combining beef and pork costs A$89.

Set Menu Options

Multi-course set menus offer comprehensive dining experiences. Set Menu 1 at A$92 to A$99 includes bruschetta, Szechuan calamari, and pork belly. Set Menu 2 priced from A$108 to A$110 features bruschetta, calamari, and aged Wagyu tartare. The premium Set Menu 3 ranges from A$125 to A$135, offering bruschetta, boerewors, and a choice between fillet 300 grams from O’Connor, rump 500 grams from Wagyu, or rib platter.

The sharing set at A$155 to A$160 accommodates multiple guests with a tasting plate, dry-aged rib-eye MB 4+, and sauce options. Seasonal menu variations include seafood options such as scallops, prawns, and calamari, with winter dishes introduced periodically throughout the year.

Meat and Wine Co Locations

The brand operates multiple venues throughout Sydney’s CBD, each offering distinct characteristics while maintaining consistent culinary standards. Understanding the differences between locations helps guests select the most appropriate venue for their dining requirements.

Circular Quay Venue

The Circular Quay location on Bligh Street serves as the primary focus for Safari-themed dining. This venue features the complete Afro-centric interior design and offers the full menu including set menus and premium steak selections. Lunch and dinner service operates throughout the week, with the express lunch program available Monday through Friday.

Castlereagh Street Venue

The Castlereagh Street location operates as a separate CBD outlet offering a more streamlined experience. The venue specializes in express lunch service available seven days per week from 12pm to 4pm, excluding public holidays. This location provides an efficient option for weekday business dining and weekend visitors seeking quicker service.

Both locations share access to the same core menu selections, though specific availability may vary by venue. Reservations are recommended for dinner service and weekend lunches, particularly at the Circular Quay location where demand tends to be highest.

Meat and Wine Co Safari Prices

Pricing at the Circular Quay venue reflects the premium positioning of the restaurant, with menu items spanning a range from casual starters to high-end Wagyu selections. Understanding the price structure assists guests in planning their dining budget accordingly.

The express lunch program presents notable value, particularly at A$48 for two courses with a beverage included. Customer reviews have highlighted this option as particularly worthwhile, with particular praise for the rump steak combined with salad and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. The one-course express lunch at A$39 provides an accessible entry point for those seeking quality dining within a shorter timeframe.

Timeline and Development

The Meat and Wine Co brand has evolved over time to establish its current presence in Sydney’s dining landscape. The following key milestones outline the development of the Safari concept and its Circular Quay operations.

1. Initial Sydney CBD operations established with the Castlereagh Street venue offering express lunch service seven days per week
2. Introduction of the Safari concept at the Circular Quay location, featuring Afro-centric Boma-inspired interior design
3. Original Circular Quay operations conducted from premises on O’Connell Street within the Steak Street precinct
4. Recent relocation of the Circular Quay venue to Bligh Street, maintaining proximity to the harbour area and transport connections
5. Ongoing operation with booking systems and extended dinner service until 10pm

What We Know and What Remains Unclear

Transparency about the limits of available information helps readers understand the reliability of this guide. Several aspects of the restaurant’s operations and history can be confirmed with reasonable certainty, while other details remain less established.

Sydney CBD Dining Context

The emergence of venues like Meat and Wine Co Safari reflects broader trends in Sydney’s culinary scene. The city’s CBD has seen increasing specialization among restaurants, with distinct zones developing around particular cuisines and dining concepts. The Steak Street designation near Circular Quay exemplifies this clustering approach, allowing diners to compare options within a concentrated area.

The Afro-centric positioning of the Safari concept fills a particular niche within Sydney’s diverse restaurant landscape. While steakhouses operate throughout the metropolitan area, the combination of South African culinary influences with premium Australian beef creates a differentiated offering. This approach aligns with growing interest in experiential dining where the atmosphere and theme contribute significantly to the overall experience.

Customer feedback has been generally positive, with particular praise directed toward the quality of steak preparation and the value proposition of express lunch options. The blend of sophisticated steakhouse ambiance with cultural influences from the African continent has resonated with guests seeking distinctive dining experiences in the CBD area.

The restaurant blends African Boma theme with sophisticated steakhouse vibes, creating an elegant and indulgent atmosphere complemented by great wine pairing options. Reviews have highlighted tender steaks cooked to perfection, flavorful starters like salmon tartare and pork belly described as melting like butter, and overall positive assessments for both lunch and dinner occasions.

Based on aggregate customer reviews from hospitality and dining platforms

Booking and Practical Information

Guests planning to visit the Circular Quay venue can secure reservations through the official booking system. Online reservations allow guests to select date, time, and party size preferences in advance. Walk-in availability cannot be guaranteed during peak periods, particularly weekend evenings and public holidays.

The restaurant operates under an elegant dress code appropriate for the refined atmosphere, though specific requirements vary by occasion and guest preference. Business attire is common during weekday lunch service, while smart casual presentations predominate during evening and weekend dining.

For those exploring Sydney’s broader culinary landscape, the Caffe e Cucina South Yarra establishment demonstrates how independent venues across Australia are developing distinctive concepts to differentiate themselves in competitive markets.

Summary

Meat and Wine Co Safari Circular Quay stands as a distinctive dining option within Sydney’s CBD, combining Afro-centric theming with premium steakhouse offerings. The venue’s relocation to Bligh Street near Circular Quay has positioned it within the emerging Steak Street precinct, accessible to both city workers and visitors to the harbour area. Menu pricing spans from accessible express lunch options at A$39 through to premium Wagyu selections at A$135, with comprehensive set menus available for those seeking structured dining experiences. The combination of cultural theming, quality beef selections, and African-inspired dishes creates a differentiated proposition within Sydney’s competitive restaurant landscape. For travellers considering domestic routes, the Sydney to Melbourne Flight information provides relevant context for planning visits between Australia’s major culinary destinations.

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