Diners' Choice: Most Booked restaurants in Illawarra

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for the most booked restaurants in Illawarra? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 500,000 new global diner reviews from the past month. We sort the results by location to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Kneading Ruby

4.7

4.7 (1900)

$41 to $100

Italian

Wollongong

About the restaurant

Kneading Ruby is a modern Italian restaurant in the heart of Wollongong, offering a vibrant atmosphere with high ceilings and exposed brick walls. Enjoy a breezy café feel during the day, and an intimate setting for evening dining. Our menu celebrates rustic Italian flavors with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Savor our wood-fired pizzas with crispy, thin crusts and delectable toppings. Indulge in melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi, succulent lamb shoulder, and seasonal vegetable sides bursting with flavor. Whether you're having a casual lunch with friends, a romantic dinner for two, or a lively gathering, Kneading Ruby caters to all. Our set menus allow you to sample a variety of dishes, perfect for sharing and creating memories. Experience the warmth and charm of Kneading Ruby, where our friendly staff will guide you through an extensive wine and cocktail list to complement your meal. Come and enjoy a taste of Italy right here in Wollongong!

Top review

Benjamin

Dined 7 days ago

Kneading Ruby's is the best. Lovely atmosphere, lovely food, lovely service.

Discover more

5.0

5 (483)

$41 to $100

Italian

Wollongong

About the restaurant

Restaurant Santino is tucked away in the corner of a lively laneway in central Wollongong. Our Italian style bistro has a wonderfully classic feel, creating an ambiance fit for a dirty martini and a number from Nina Simone. Walls are adorned with art deco prints which set off this incredibly designed, chic space.

Our team of talented chefs takes pride in using only the freshest ingredients and creating dishes that are both traditional and contemporary. We make our fresh pasta daily, on a rotating menu so you can always expect something new and exciting.

At Restaurant Santino, we understand that a great meal deserves an equally great wine pairing. That’s why we have a cellar stocked with an impressive selection of wines from around the world. Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or just discovering the joys of wine, our team is here to help you find the perfect bottle to complement your meal.

Top review

Cooper

Dined 2 days ago

Loved everything yeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Discover more

Outback Steakhouse - Wollongong

4.1

4.1 (1022)

$40 and under

American

Wollongong

About the restaurant

We are a contemporary, casual dining steakhouse restaurant beloved worldwide. Currently with 6 restaurants in NSW and 2 in Queensland. We pride ourselves on serving up variety; our unbeatable steak cuts are complemented by delicious choices of chicken, ribs, seafood, and pasta at a price for everyone. Our strategy? We’re the leader of the pack by emphasizing consistently high quality delicious food delivering a warm, welcoming environment.

Top review

Loan

Dined 7 days ago

Service was excellent and food was great too. Waitresses on Tuesday night was polite and very helpful.

Discover more

Popular dish

Tomahawk

Andie's

4.6

4.6 (61)

$41 to $100

Mediterranean

Thirroul

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Thirroul and just steps from the beach, Andie's features a stunning outdoor courtyard that offers a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for casual dining or special gatherings.

Enjoy your meal surrounded by lush cabbage tree palms and the sounds of the sea.

Inside, our beautifully designed space invites a cosy vibe with warm lighting and Mediterranean-inspired decor. Join us for a delightful dining experience that captures the charm of this coastal gem!

Top review

Leo

Dined 4 days ago

Creative cuisine and great location. A wonderful lunch for 2, with many more cocktails and menu options to try next time.

Discover more

Experience

ANDIE'S BANQUET

Ruki Robatayaki Grill & Bar

4.6

4.6 (747)

$41 to $100

Creative Japanese

Wollongong

About the restaurant

Fire, smoke, and umami - RUKI is all about the good stuff.

From the team that brought you Débutant Dining comes a new experience inspired by the late-night izakayas of Japan, right in the heart of Wollongong.

Enjoy charred skewers straight off the grill, fresh seafood and cold beer.

Take a seat at the bar and let us take care of you. You deserve it.

Top review

Troy

Dined on Jul 13, 2025

Great dining experience, everything was tasty and enjoyable

Plough & Ale

4.3

4.3 (23)

$40 and under

Modern Australian

Albion Park

About the restaurant

Connecting local village-style charm with a stylish and cultural feel, the Plough & Ale Inn is a reflection of the area's history combined with an infectious modern outlook for our bright new suburb.

Our menu pays homage to the history of the local surrounds, with top quality steaks and handsome feeds a signature.

Top review

Sean

Dined 4 days ago

Love the atmosphere, good food cocktails and beer, it's our local and eat here often.

Discover more

Experience

Trivia

Experience

How I Met Your Mother Trivia

Experience

Friends Trivia

Ain't Nonna's

4.8

4.8 (327)

$41 to $100

Contemporary Italian

Wollongong

About the restaurant

WE AIN'T NONNA'S! It's a simple as that. We love and appreciate all the Nonna's out there and the beautiful food they create. We don't want to compete with your Nonna's cooking, so we won't.

This is our take on home style Italian cooking.

Top review

Sally

Dined 3 days ago

Great food and customer service. Definitely going back.

Discover more

4.6

4.6 (607)

$41 to $100

Steakhouse

Wollongong

About the restaurant

Showcasing Australia's best and rarest cuts of beef dry aged in house and butchered daily.
We are very proud to cook our steaks exclusively over iron bark the best and only way in our opinion.
Soak up the feeling of opulence in our dining room or enjoy a drink in our upstairs lounge, dark and moody inspired a New York loft sit back and relax, enjoy a snack or burger.
Indulge in the finest cuts and luxurious atmosphere, and savour the flavours that define this unparalleled steakhouse experience.
Established relationships with our esteemed suppliers, nurtured since 2019, grant us access to the finest selection of wagyu beef.
In our journey, we invite our guests to discover the diversity and profound taste profiles of the different breeds, cuts, and regions. Our extensive menu tells the story of our hard working farmers, offering an insight into the careful breeding, meticulous feeding, and dedicated care behind each variety.

Top review

Isaac

Dined 6 days ago

Debutant is our go to for special dinners the food is outstanding the service is outstanding. We have a great time on wednesday night and we are already planning on when we can get back. Highly recommended for special occasions.

La Trattoria at The Fraternity Club

4.4

4.4 (190)

$40 and under

Italian

Fairy Meadow

About the restaurant

With its cosmopolitan menu and an authentic Italian flavour, the La Trattoria is the perfect place to unwind with family and friends over a steaming bowl of pasta or one of our succulent seafood dishes. The La Trattoria is quickly becoming famous within the Illawarra as a different club dining experience, with large portion sizes of quality meals at very affordable prices. With a dedicated bar and room to comfortably seat more than 300 people, the team in the La Trattoria pride themselves on the quality of their food, cooked and served fresh by our fantastic staff.

Pull up a chair in our beautiful Al Fresco dining area and enjoy a meal outside while the kids play in the enclosed outdoor playground!

Open for lunch and dinner dining with sun and shaded areas, it’s that relaxed restaurant experience enjoyed outdoors, with quality food and drinks the whole family can enjoy!

Top review

Luisa

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

My family & I always enjoy the food variety, quality & service. We have been eating here for many years & it has been a favourite friendly eating venue for us.

South Sailor

4.7

4.7 (1194)

$41 to $100

Seafood

Thirroul

About the restaurant

With a love for casual, fresh seafood, South Sailor offers lunch, dinner and a wine & cocktail we just know you'll love! Just 150 metres from Thirroul Beach, South Sailor is a fitting spot to settle back after a day on the sand and surf.

Expect to find a contemporary seafood focussed menu with the very best that the South Coast and Australia has to offer. The menu is a combination of classic chip-shop fare and more worldly seafood flavours with an in-house Sushi & Poké Bar. The kitchen, lead by Executive Chef Graham Ette, prepares delicious seafood plates cooked to order, designed to share.

With indoor & outdoor seating, a licensed bar and kids beach cubby, gather the family for a relaxed weekend lunch or head in with friends for an evening of drinks and a shared feast. South Sailor is the perfect locale for those wanting to enjoy the Coal Coast vibe and warm welcome.

Top review

Stathis

Dined 2 days ago

3rd time now we have visited South Sailor. The seafood has always been the best and freshest I have had with a fantastic modern Japanese twist. Great service as always and a very comfortable and casual setting. Looking forward to my next dining experience. Seafood tacos "WOW" and the Chicken KFC arancini is a must. Thanks again to all the team at South Sailor

Discover more

Popular dish

Baja Fish Tacos

Popular dish

South Sailor Fish Tacos

Experience

South Sailor FEED ME menu

Explore Diners' Choice best of Illawarra