Where To Eat In Sydney: 6 Stylish Restaurants & Cafes To Check Out
Chef of Luxe Singapore Chui Lee Luk recommends where to eat in Sydney, from casual Italian bistros to modern Korean restaurants.
By FEMALE,
When it comes to finding great food, there’s no better recommendation than the one that comes from a chef. The former chef-owner of Claude’s and Chow Bar & Eating House in Australia, Chui Lee Luk (above) has a cult-like following in Sydney, where she’s now the head chef and creative director of Luxe Sydney. The group has five successful outlets in Sydney, and recently opened their first international venue, Luxe Singapore, on Keong Saik Road.
Here, Chui recommends her favourite restaurants and cafes in Sydney:
1. ESTER
What: Located in a former warehouse in the Chippendale district, the space has a modern industrial look and feel.
Why: “I like heading here for Sunday lunch because it has a very relaxed feel. There are always great wood-fired dishes, including the cauliflower with almond sauce.”
2. 10 WILLIAM ST.
What: A cosy, two-storey Italian bistro in Paddington, Sydney.
Why: “The sardine katsu sandwich is great to have with aperitifs, and the Bolognese sauce egg pasta is my comfort food.”
3. FRATELLI PARADISO
What: A cheery Italian joint in Potts Point with the requisite hipster touch (exposed brick walls, chalkboard menus and colourful wall prints).
Why: “A fun place, day or night, where I can get a fix of their scampi spaghetti and also people watch.
4. MOON PARK
What: In the Redfern district, the Korean restaurant features glass-panelled doors and warm wooden furnishings.
Why: “I’m so happy to see chef Ben Sears, who worked with me at Claude’s, grow and flourish in his own place. I always look forward to seeing what new ideas he comes up with, such as his take on bibimbap.”
5. CAFE PACI
What: Muted greys and whites abound in this minimalist chic dining spot (its name is also a misnomer; it's more restaurant than cafe).
Why: “I like chef Pasi Petanen’s confidence in expressing his Finnish identity and quirky sense of humour (in his modern Australian offerings). The cabbage with mussels and bone marrow is a favourite.”
6. LUXE SYDNEY
What: The bakery-cum-cafe chain that recently opened a Singapore outpost features bright, whitewashed interiors and smooth marble countertops.
Why: “I don’t intend to plug my own cooking – you’ll have to try it for yourself and make up your own mind – but I am plugging the coffee at the Luxe cafes. It's excellent.”
An adapted version first appeared in Silverkris.
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