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Restaurant

don Fred

28 King St, Newtown NSW 2042, Australia

Recommended by 22 people

Updated

Find don Fred

28 King St, Newtown NSW 2042, Australia

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HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 8:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About don Fred

Tucked toward the southern stretch of King Street, don Fred delivers hearty trattoria classics without a trace of meat or dairy. Regulars bring their omnivorous friends for the multi-course banquet, working through Roman supplì, slow-simmered mushroom ragù, and smoky casarecce carbonara. A house specialty is the Konjamari—crisp fried konjac calamari paired with a briny seaweed tartare. The kitchen wraps up the feast with a silky chocolate mousse.

  • Shared Banquet Menu: A multi-course communal feast featuring street snacks, hearty mains, and dessert at a fixed per-person price.
  • Konjamari Calamari: Crispy fried konjac squid served with housemade seaweed tartare sauce.
  • 100% Plant-Based Italian: Every classic trattoria plate is made without dairy, eggs, or meat, drawing both vegans and omnivores.
RestaurantVeganItalianRestaurant

What's On at don Fred

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose don Fred

Why diners choose don Fred for authentic, generous plant-based Italian feasts on King Street

  • Authentic Italian Classics Crafted Entirely Plant-Based

    Guests enjoy genuine trattoria favorites like creamy Casarecce Carbonara and rich mushroom ragu made exclusively from plant-based recipes without sacrificing authentic Italian taste.

    The food is truly authentic Italian, flavours are amazing and you can taste the ingredients are high quality.

    Cecile Zhang

  • Crispy Plant-Based Konjamari Calamari Alternative

    Crispy konjac-based squid served alongside house-made seaweed tartare sauce recreates the satisfying crunch and texture of traditional calamari fritti.

    Konjamari with seaweed tartare - honestly tasted and felt identical to calamari!

    ele eats & travels 🥰

  • Abundant Multi-Course Set Banquet Progression

    A structured seven-to-eight course communal tasting feast allows parties to sample signature antipasti, pastas, and sides effortlessly at a transparent per-person price.

    I ordered the 7-course set menu to avoid having to choose and everything was simple yet flavourful, very reminiscent of classic Italian fare.

    Brett Mewett

  • Varied Shared Street Food and Antipasti Sampling

    Both diners and food lovers explore diverse courses ranging from crispy suppli and zucchini fritti to hearty slow-cooked ragu in a warm, relaxed dining rhythm.

    I tried their 7-course vegan Italian street food banquet ($45pp) and it was honestly one of the most satisfying meat-free meals I’ve had in a while.

    Jade Pham

  • Inclusive Gatherings for Omnivores and Vegans Alike

    Mixed tables of vegans and dedicated omnivores share meals together where non-vegan friends find classic dishes equally rich and deeply flavorful.

    We love to dine here and when we bring our very non-vegan family and friends and they love it too - so much that we all return.

    S Downing

  • Complete Satisfaction Without Missing Out

    Meat-eating companions and plant-based diners share the entire menu seamlessly without feeling that classic Italian comfort flavors have been compromised.

    I’m not vegan myself, but this place completely changed my perspective. Everything I tried was delicious, and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything at all.

    Raquel Nogueira

Signature plant-based pasta, innovative antipasti, and multi-course feasts

  • 7-Course Banquet

    And the banquet is a STEAL. So much food for $47. Sydney is very fortunate to have Don Fred.

    S Downing

  • Konjamari

    I can’t think of anything more authentic yet with such a unique and exciting menu, ticks all the boxes and the’ Konjamari’ was divine.

    elissa Annesley

  • Carbonara

    He was blown away by the carbonara, saying he wouldn’t have known it was vegan if it wasn’t written on the board. He loved it, and our meals were amazing!

    mood styling

  • Mushroom Ragu

    The Mushroom Ragu was a standout for me — thick, rich, and packed with umami. It clung to the pasta just right and hit that homey, slow-cooked feeling I love.

    Jade Pham

Other favorites

Complementary antipasti, house breads, and classic desserts

  • Chocolate Mousse

    We couldn’t leave without trying the Chocolate Mousse, and it was the perfect way to finish the meal light, rich, silky, and absolutely delicious.

    ELAI OLONG

  • Focaccia

    A special mention must go to the focaccias: they are simply outstanding. Light, fragrant, perfectly baked, and rich in flavor, they are the kind of comfort food you’ll find yourself craving long after you leave.

    Manuel

  • Suppli

    Then came the Suppli, a Roman-style rice croquette, crispy on the outside with a molten, cheesy tomato risotto core that oozed flavour.

    Jade Pham

  • Polenta Chips

    The polenta chips were light and crisp

    Christian Antoniak

Beyond the menu

Personal owner hospitality, bespoke dietary care, and celebratory touches that elevate plant-based Italian dining.

  • Hands-On Dish Introductions by Owner Lorenzo

    The owner, Lorenzo, greets diners personally and walks through individual dishes, answering in-depth questions about the culinary techniques and experimentation behind the plant-based recipes.

  • Course-by-Course Allergy and Gluten-Free Customization

    Staff actively accommodate complex dietary needs and severe allergies, reviewing menu items course-by-course and adapting the full shared banquet to be gluten-free and nut-free without compromising quality.

  • Thoughtful Celebration Gestures

    Guests celebrating special occasions like birthdays are surprised with complimentary shared desserts prepared by the floor team.

  • Refreshing Citrus Granita Intermezzos

    Banquet meals are refreshed between rich savory courses with bright, icy house palate cleansers, such as frozen orange slushy and lime & mint granita.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the menu completely vegan?

Yes. Don Fred serves an entirely plant-based Italian menu, recreating traditional Italian dishes and flavours—such as carbonara, mushroom ragù, and polpetz—completely meat-free and dairy-free.

How does the multi-course banquet work?

Don Fred offers a multi-course set tasting banquet (featuring around 7 courses) that includes a progression of house antipasti like suppli, zucchini fritti, and plant-based calamari, alongside pasta mains and sides. Banquets require participation from the whole table, and for larger groups of six or more, multiple pasta selections are provided.

What is Konjamari?

Konjamari is Don Fred's house-made plant-based take on calamari, crafted from konjac and served crispy with a seaweed tartare dipping sauce.

Can dietary restrictions and gluten-free needs be accommodated?

Yes. The kitchen can adapt the multi-course banquet and menu items to be entirely gluten-free and nut-free, including gluten-free bread for the focaccia and dedicated menu guidance for various food allergies.

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