Pendolino, Sydney

pendolino.com.au

This glam central-Sydney Italian boasts more masculine charm than Marcello Mastroianni; ditto the private dining room with walls that double as the restaurant’s visually arresting olioteca (olive oil store). It has an admirably flexible capacity (eight to 56), thanks to removable soundproof panels that can be used to manage the atmosphere of the dark and delightfully moody room. A crowd-pleasing menu brings the regional Italian goods (it’s the go-to for artisanal pastas), while the smartly dressed waiters are some of the best in the business.