Once we hit August, Sydney restaurants and bars know they have to pull out all the stops to encourage patrons to brave the cold and head out for a midweek meal or a couple of beverages come the weekend. Sure, it may be easier to stay in, and there is admittedly a lot of great series worth streaming at the moment; it also feels really great to put in a little effort and do something special for yourself, your significant other, or your mates this wintry season. So, use our handy guide of the best specials and deals floating around Sydney this August, and get out of your seasonal slump. From late-night dumpling deals to bottomless fries offers, weekly burger specials to happy hours boasting elevated snacks, there is an eclectic mix of exciting specials around at the moment, so put your adventurous hat on (over your woolly beanie if you have to) and make the most of all that Sydney has to offer, regardless of what the weather report has in store. Thursday Burger Night, North Bondi Fish One of Bondi's beloved, sun-soaked diners, North Bondi Fish, has introduced a midweek meal worth venturing out for. Thursday Burger Nights sees four new burgers grace the menu: a crumbed fish burger, a Cajun soft-shell crab burger, a lobster burger, and, for those looking for a classic, an Angus beef burger. Wash it all down with $15 wines, and if you're still peckish, add on chips for just $5. Make Thursday Burger Nights part of your weekly routine this month. Suntory Bar Takeover For the third year running, Suntory House takes over Sakura House for a limited-time residency. From July 31, head to the CBD basement izakaya to sample delights inspired by monikai, Japan's tradition of post-work socialising. Highballs are a highlight, as are creative cocktails, including the Mazda Zoom Zoom, the Matcha Point, and the Sakura Sour. The snacks, made to complement the drinks, lean into Japan's beloved konbini culture. There's a Famichiki-style fried chicken, adorned with smoked bonito cream and caviar, mini Balmain bug katsu sandos, and aburi salmon temaki. "Sakura House is the perfect home for us; a vibrant late-night spot where Sydneysiders and visitors alike can experience Suntory's pioneering spirit and over a century of exceptional craftsmanship," said Kazuyuki Takayama. Classico Menu, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar This winter, the iconic Icebergs Dining Room and Bar wants to give you a taste of their classic dishes at a more accessible price point. The Classico Menu presents a three-course menu of some of the restaurant's most loved and renowned dishes for $90. You'll taste the likes of Koshihikari risotto, Ligurian-braised seafood, bluefin tuna tartare, and gamberetti. The deal is available for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday, but only when booked in advance. With spectacular views and an elevated yet energetic atmosphere, this is the ultimate destination for a celebratory meal or a way to treat yourself, your mates, or your significant other. $25 Pastas and $10 Wines, Shell House Menzies Bar & Bistro Shell House Menzies Bar & Bistro is warming things up this winter with its previously sold-out Winter Hits Series. Over 12 weeks, the restaurant will feature rotating $25 pastas, alongside $10 wines, to encourage you off the couch during the cooler months. In the lineup, expect crowd favourites like linguine carbonara and pappardelle bolognese, as well as more creative dishes like braised pork maccheroni, orecchiette con salsiccia, and mushroom mafaldine. The comforting bowls are available until sold out, so get in early to avoid missing out. Bookings are available now. $20 Late-Night Dumplings, Woollahra Hotel Looking for a late-night feed? Then head to Woollahra Hotel on Friday and Saturday evenings for a cosy, comforting winter snack. From 9pm, enjoy a dozen mixed handmade dumplings for just $20. You'll sample the likes of pork xiao long bao, mushroom and chestnut dumplings and prawn har gow. Celebrate making it ot he weekend by pairing your dumplings with $9 spirits and mixers. It's a sure-fire way to loosen up this weekend. Missy K Express Lunch, Horse & Jockey Hotel As part of Horse & Jockey Hotel's exciting new pan-Asian menu, designed by celebrated chef Missy K, the venue is offering an Express Lunch deal to shake up your lunch break. From just $21, feast on chicken katsu bowls, dan dan noodles or pad see ew, and savour a taste of Missy K's signature bold flavours. The Express Lunch deal is available from 11am to 3pm, Monday through Friday. $35 Steak and Bottomless Fries, Woolwich Pier Hotel Cross the bridge on Tuesday evening to find a banging deal worth writing home about. The Woolwich Pier Hotel is offering a $35 steak night, made even more memorable with bottomless fries. Grab a 250-gram Riverina Sirloin steak, and unlimited servings of golden shoestring fries, delivered tableside whenever a top-up is required. Round up your hungriest mates and make the most of this stellar special. Clock Off at 5 Deals, 25 Martin Place Venues This month, the restaurants at 25 Martin Place are encouraging you to get out of the office on time with a range of Clock Off at 5 Deals. Across the precinct's dining options, these stellar specials are a great way to get out this winter, so gather your colleagues and clock off on time for once. At AALIA, score $25 off shared banquets for groups of seven or more Monday to Thursday; at the Cabana Bar, margaritas are a steal at 25 per cent off; and at Kazan, enjoy $25 off the bill when you spend more than $80 per person Monday to Thursday. There are plenty of other deals on offer, so check them out now. Retro Sundays, Chiswick Woollahra Turn back the clock this August with Chiswick Woollahra's Retro Sunday series. Every Sunday during this month, sample a taste of nostalgia with old-school classic dishes and retro-inspired drinks. Each week, a different old-school favourite will be featured, including the likes of Beef Wellington, chicken Kiev and corned beef with bechamel. Retro desserts make for a sweet finish, from sticky date pudding to playful Neapolitan ice cream. Cheeky cocktails play on childhood favourites such as The Spider, which gives creaming soda an adults-only upgrade, and the Golden Days, which combines honeycomb ice cream, bourbon and malt-milk punch. Head in from 5pm, and grab two courses for $60. Take your nan and pop and let them have a taste of the good ol' days. The Early Edit, W Hotel This August, head into the W Sydney's 29/30 for a selection of food and drink specials that will make midweek a little less mundane. From Monday through Friday, between 6-8pm, snag a seat with a view above the city, and enjoy an elevated offering of early evening highlights. Snack on $2 oysters and rotating crostinis, where you can order four for just $20, washed down with $10 craft beers and $16 martinis and highballs. Round up your colleagues and get out of the office on time tonight, and head to the W for this great deal that will still get you to bed at a reasonable hour. Long Lunch, Shaffa Sample the best of the new menu at Shaffa with its Long Lunch offer. Head in between noon and 2.30pm on the weekend, for a taste of Middle Eastern flavours, in a high-energy setting. A hero of the menu is the simit bagel, a popular Turkish street snack, topped with sesame seeds and baked until crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. It's crowned with a bone marrow inside, which is filled with a signature dipping sauce that takes five hours to prepare. And if you're keen to let your hair down, add on one of the bottomless drinks packages (available for $37 or $47). Feature image: W Hotel.