The Dip

Get down to the Dip for American-style diner food

First published on 13 Jul 2011. Updated on 14 Feb 2013.

Andrew Levins, the man behind this seriously fun canteen, is not a chef. He has no formal training and he’s never worked in a commercial kitchen, in any serious way. And yet he’s got an incredibly dedicated following, including a whole clutch of Sydney’s leading young chefs and a whole lot of bloggers.

The Dip is attached to GoodGod – the bar and nightclub throwing some of the best dance nights in the city. So, you might find yourself here for the pulled pork nachos complete with jalapeño cream and a mountain of melted cheese and then find it’s Jingle Jangle night and fall into an accidental boogie on the side. Refresh yourself with a Coola cordial (available from the Dip) or hit the GoodGod bar for a Coopers or a jug of cocktails.

Levins is basically throwing a party every day he goes to work, serving the best hotdogs you’ll get in the city. The ‘confuse di mouth’ is the winner (weiner?) here. It’s basically a cheeseburger-flavoured hotdog on a soft, steamed bun. And yes, it tastes exactly like a long cheeseburger. On the fourth of July he did a ‘red white and blue dawg’, colouring the onions in blue food dye. He also serves a watermelon burger on occasion, filled with slices of compressed pickled melon and bacon. And there’s a peanut butter-and-jelly ice-cream sandwich for dessert. Suffice to say, this is food you'll want to work off with a good dance. Or, y'know, live fast and die young from heart disease.

The Dip is basically an adult’s version of a kid’s birthday party, only with better food, beer and music. And as luck would have it, Levins is also one of Sydney’s leading DJs. Yes, really.

Words by Myffy Rigby |

Follow @timeoutsydfood