4 dining experiences for different kinds of dads this Father's Day.

When I ask my dad what he wants for Father’s Day each year, he always says the same thing.

“No presents, just your presence.”

That’s sweet, Dad, but what can I get you?

Look, I have no doubt that the number one thing he wants is just to have quality time with the family. But this isn’t complete without food. Special food. Food he’ll tell his work colleagues about the day after. With a side of chips – always chips.

Dads love a dining experience, not just a meal. So, if you’re umm-ing and ahh-ing over what dining experience to choose for this Father’s Day (Sunday, September 1), it helps to really nail the dining style of the dad in your life.

These four restaurants at The Star Sydney have dining experiences to suit four different styles of dad. Which one’s yours?

1. The ‘I Want All The Options Because I Can’t Possibly Decide’ Dad

Restaurant recommendation: Harvest Buffet

For the dad who likes to assess all the options first and prefers visuals to a la carte menus, Harvest Buffet is an easy win. Their Father’s Day lunch and dinner has eight food areas with international cuisine, a premium seafood spread, and ol’ faves like barbecue pork ribs, beef pies and a hot dog bar.

All dads get a complimentary beer on arrival, which is a nice touch. If dad’s not a beer drinker, he’ll be happy to know everyone gets unlimited soft drinks… and free parking. What dad doesn’t love free parking?

Price: Lunch $89 Adult / $40 Child* (Children aged 5-12 years. Four and under eat for free).

Dinner $79 Adult / $40 Child*

Book here

2. The ‘I’m not a Regular Dad, I’m a Cool Dad’

Restaurant recommendation: Sokyo

Sokyo is cool all over, from the chic dark polished wood and fish scale-textured walls to the modern Japanese fusion cuisine itself. Cool dad would already know that Sokyo has earned one Chef’s Hat in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide consecutively from 2014 to 2019, as well as Three Glasses in Australia’s Wine List of The Year from 2017 to 2019.

San Francisco-born chef Chase Kojima started working in his father’s traditional Japanese restaurant at the age of 11. Over the course of his career, Kojima has brought his contemporary style to the prestigious Nobu restaurant group across Vegas, Dubai, London, LA and The Bahamas, and finally, to Sokyo.

The menu is filled with sharing options of sushi, sashimi, tempura and meats cooked on the robata grill. Bring dad along and make sure he wears his nice chinos and favourite blazer.

Sashimi from $5 a piece, large dishes from $40.

Book here

3. The Gone Fishin’ Dad

Restaurant recommendation: Flying Fish.

Please dad, don’t wear your fishing gear. It’s all done for you at Flying Fish, one of Sydney’s most reputable restaurants for fresh local seafood produce from Australia and New Zealand. After 14 years at Jones Bay Wharf, Flying Fish moved to The Star in 2018, with Executive Chef Peter Robertson at the helm. There’s a lot to shout about Flying Fish, from its beautiful water views over Pyrmont through to the minimal-waste approach in the kitchen.

This is seafood done the special way, with mains like the kingfish, carrot, tea-soaked raisin and carrot anglaise (pictured) and barbecued mirror Dory with preserved tomato, scampi and pistou. As you can see, these dishes are so photogenic that dad may well take a shot to post on THE FACEBOOK.

Book here

Entrees from $27, mains from $35.

4. The Not Just Any Steakhouse Dad.

Restaurant recommendation: BLACK Bar & Grill

Steak, chips and Sydney Harbour views? BLACK Bar & Grill is not just any steakhouse. Award-winning chef Dany Karam is one of Sydney’s go-to guys for steak and grilling, with Australian produce at the heart of his cuisine. The beef here is lightly smoked so it’s infused with cherrywood ash before getting grilled over high-heat Australian iron bark. Definitely a lot more sophisticated than a backyard barbie!

Karam, who has worked in Lebanon and a Michelin-starred restaurant in Nice, has curated a menu with everything from premium wagyu beef to lamb loin to free-range duck and organic chicken to share. For a wine to match, you’ll have more than 800 to choose from.

Entrees from $29, mains from $34.

Book here

Sometimes, great presents come in the form of food. And as my dad would say, your presence.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who feel the same.

To book The Star Sydney’s dining experiences, visit www.star.com.au/sydney/whats-on/fathers-day.