Pony Dining @ The Rocks

Since 2006, Pony Dining The Rocks has kept the flames alive in Sydney's historic harbourside quarter. As one of the pioneers of wood-fire cooking in the city, its ironbark grill anchors an open kitchen where Argentinian open-fire culture meets the bounty of Australian produce. It's dining as theatre - the hiss of fat, the curl of smoke, the glow of embers and a front-row view of chefs at work.

This distinctive lick of smoke threads through the menu. Sydney rock oysters arrive bright with eschallot dressing or kissed by the fire with scallion oil, crispy shallots and roasted peanuts.

From the hearth, premium cuts rule the roost, from the perfectly tender O'Connor sirloin with black garlic butter to a rich, full-blood Stone Axe Wagyu flank steak.

For those looking beyond steaks, there's succulent spatchcock with potato purée and burnt butter, alongside fresh pasta tossed with crab, tomato, Calabrian chilli and Grana Padano.

To accompany the feast, sides stay timeless - hand-cut chips with rosemary aioli and an heirloom tomato salad in a clean Spanish onion vinaigrette.

Take a seat by the embers and settle in - when the flames dance, long lunches follow!