Gran Torino
Double Bay, Sydney
Restaurant in Sydney, Australia
Book with PearlThe Read
Chef
Richard Purdue | Ervin Mumajesi
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Gran Torino is worth booking when the brief is a steak-led dinner in Double Bay, not when the group wants a broad all-purpose Sydney meal. The case is strongest for dine-in: steak is not a natural takeout format, so choose it for a proper restaurant night rather than an at-home order.
About Gran Torino
Gran Torino is a Sydney venue with a clear signal for steak diners: it appears at #27 in the World's Best Steaks 101 Best Steak Restaurants list for 2026. The practical read is direct: consider it when the brief is a steak-focused meal in Sydney, with smart casual dress and published hours on most days.
A better call when the table specifically wants steak
Gran Torino is best framed as a focused Sydney booking rather than a catch-all restaurant choice. The venue is led by Richard Purdue and Ervin Mumajesi, with recognition tied specifically to steak. That makes the decision easier: choose it when the group wants a steak-oriented meal, compare other Sydney dining rooms when the plan calls for something different.
The hours are also useful for planning. Gran Torino is closed on Monday, opens 6–11 PM on Tuesday, 12–11 PM on Wednesday and Thursday, 4–10 PM on Friday, 12–11 PM on Saturday, 12–10 PM on Sunday. While several days offer service beginning at noon, a separate lunch menu, pricing, seating format, or dietary program are not specified.
Plan around the details
Gran Torino has a smart casual dress code, names chef/owners Richard Purdue and Ervin Mumajesi, has a 2026 World's Best Steaks ranking. Details such as takeout, delivery, bar seating, wine focus, menu format, prices, seat count, allergy accommodations should be checked directly with the venue before relying on them.
For a wider scan before committing, use our full Sydney restaurants guide; if the night may continue elsewhere, check our full Sydney bars guide as well.
Planning details
- Location
- 24 Bay St, Double Bay NSW 2028, Australia
- Website
- themargaretfamily.com/venue/gran-torino
- Phone
- +61 2 9871 9888
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Gran Torino presents a welcoming, Italian-focused room that balances warmth and energy without tipping into theatricality. The entry feels lively yet restrained, and the dining pace is deliberately measured by an aperitivo-led rhythm. There’s a clear respect for Italian dining traditions — antipasti through primi and secondi — paired with the sourcing rigour of top local restaurants, so the room reads confident and composed. Design and service together aim for an approachable kind of polish: a modern, refined Italian room that feels both familiar and considered, where effort shows in the details rather than in noise.
Best For
Gran Torino suits evenings that start at the bar and settle into a longer meal, making it ideal for after-work drinks that evolve into dinner, business dinners and celebratory nights. The aperitivo framing encourages lingering — early Martinis and spritzes segue into structured courses — so it works well for date nights and group dining where pacing matters. Service moves efficiently without rushing, which supports multi-course Italian dining and makes the restaurant a reliable pick when you want a focused, convivial meal rather than a quick one.
Ordering Tips
Follow the aperitivo logic: begin at the bar with a Martini or spritz while you decide on antipasti, then let the menu progress through pasta to seafood and mains. The restaurant foregrounds the Italian sequence, so start light and build — antipasti before primi, then secondi and contorni. Standout dishes to consider include classic pastas and seafood preparations; the drinks programme is intentionally anchored to early aperitifs, so order a spritz or Martini to set the right pace and allow the kitchen’s sourcing focus to come through across courses.
Venue details
Ambiance
Old-world glamour with crisp service in a confident, generous dining room across two floors of a modernist heritage building.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Large
Signature Dishes
- agnolotti del plin
- tagliatelle alla bolognese
- fritto misto di mare
Planning details
Location
24 Bay St, Double Bay NSW 2028, Australia · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Margaret, Notable alternative
- Twenty-One Espresso, Notable alternative
- BARTIGA, Notable alternative
- Saké Restaurant & Bar Double Bay, Notable alternative
- CARMELA Nonna of Piccolina, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How Gran Torino compares in Double Bay and nearby Sydney
Choose Gran Torino when the group wants a steak-led dinner and an easier eastern-suburbs plan. Margaret is the stronger choice for a broader special-occasion meal with more range, but it is also the booking to expect more competition around. Gran Torino is the more targeted call: less useful for a mixed brief, better when beef is the point.
Saké Restaurant & Bar Double Bay is a better fit for sushi, sake, groups that want a livelier Japanese restaurant format. BARTIGA makes more sense for a relaxed local night where ambiance and flexibility matter more than a steak focus. If the decision is about value for money, Gran Torino needs the table to want the steak experience; otherwise, BARTIGA is likely the safer social pick.
Twenty-One Espresso and CARMELA Nonna of Piccolina sit in a more casual lane, so use them when the meal does not need the weight of a full dinner booking. For a returning diner, the choice is clear: Gran Torino for a focused steak night, Margaret for the more polished splurge, Saké for group energy, BARTIGA for the easier local fallback.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Gran Torino guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Gran Torino
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Gran Torino | Sydney | 2026 World's Best Steaks 101 Best Steak Restaurants · #27 |
| Margaret | Sydney | 2026 World's Best Steaks 101 Best Steak Restaurants · #22025 World's Best Steaks 101 Best Steak Restaurants · #2 |
| Twenty-One Espresso | Double Bay | No published awards |
| BARTIGA | Sydney | No published awards |
| Saké Restaurant & Bar Double Bay | Double Bay | No published awards |
| CARMELA Nonna of Piccolina | Sydney | No published awards |
How Gran Torino Sydney compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gran Torino good for solo dining?
It can be, if you specifically want a steak-focused meal in Sydney. Its hours include evening service from Tuesday to Sunday, with service beginning at noon on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday. If you are comparing other options, Twenty-One Espresso may be another venue to check.
Can Gran Torino accommodate groups?
It does not specify seating capacity or private dining. It may suit a group that wants a steak-focused Sydney booking, but group size, seating, availability should be confirmed directly with the venue. BARTIGA or CARMELA Nonna of Piccolina may also be worth comparing.
Can I eat at the bar at Gran Torino?
Do not plan around bar dining unless that is confirmed when you arrange the booking. Details include its Sydney location, hours, smart casual dress code, the chef/owner names Richard Purdue and Ervin Mumajesi, but a bar-only setup is not confirmed. If you want another comparison, Saké Restaurant & Bar Double Bay may be worth checking as well.
What is Gran Torino known for?
Gran Torino is a Sydney venue associated with steak recognition, including a #27 listing in the World's Best Steaks 101 Best Steak Restaurants ranking for 2026. Its chef/owners are Richard Purdue and Ervin Mumajesi.
