Chester White Cured Diner

The verdict

In the Hayao Miyazaki Japanese cartoon Ponyo, the film's mermaid namesake declares "Ponyo loves ham!" She'd go crazy at Chester White. The folks from Buffalo Dining Club have gone from Darlinghurst to Potts Point, and from cheese to cured meats. Take a seat at the gleaming white-tiled bar, and the knowledgeable staff will help you choose between the culatello, capocello, or salumi.

Difficult to pronounce, so easy to eat. The fettuccine carbonara, made with porcini mushrooms and speck, is to die for. And of course, all these salted meats will work up a thirst, so how fortunate that they have a short-and-sweet selection of wines-by-the-glass to pair with your meal. If you want honest, good food, made and delivered with care, this is the place to be.

​Image credit: Caitlin Hicks