The New Restaurants You Need to Book This Month

We serve up Australia’s hottest new restaurants. By Akash Arora and Alex Greig.

SYDNEY 

Frenchies Bistro & Brewery

Food: Bone marrow and beef stew with housemade bread, almond-crusted snapper and Tuscan cabbage stuffed with confit duck leg are just some of the dishes that head chef Thomas Cauquil is plating at this new establishment.

Drinks: Craft beers brewed on site are the focus, with options ranging from a German kölsch style to a pilsner reminiscent of New Zealand’s finest.

Atmosphere: Handcrafted furniture and oak floors give the venue a warm, relaxed feel.

A 20-minute drive from Sydney’s CBD.

61-71 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery; frenchiesbistroandbrewery.com.au

Rosetta 

Food: Neil Perry brings one of Melbourne’s top Italian restaurants to the Harbour City. Richard Purdue is at the helm, creating a modern menu of handmade pastas, including agnolotti, and crudo of scampi with orange, mint and pistachios.

Drinks: A comprehensive selection of wines (up to 400 labels), with a strong focus on Italian imports and aperitivi featuring Campari, Aperol and amaro.

Atmosphere: Three levels of light-filled space, thanks to curved floor-to-ceiling windows, with metallic and timber finishes. 

Location: A short walk from Circular Quay. 

117 Harrington Street, Sydney; rosettarestaurant.com.au

MELBOURNE

Butchers Diner 

Food: British-born chef and restaurateur Ian Curley’s new concept is a 24-hour butchery-bistro serving specialty dry-aged meat dishes in a functioning butcher’s shop. The menu is a meat fest of classics: steak frites, burgers and housemade charcuterie. 

Drinks: Four sommelier-selected wines (two red, two white) by the half-bottle and a range of canned craft beers to match the meat-heavy menu.

Atmosphere: A high-end butchery, where you can watch the meat and smallgoods being prepared, combines with a relaxed eatery. 

Location: At the top of Bourke Street in Melbourne’s CBD. 

10 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Annam

Food: Annam (the former name of Vietnam’s central region) is the brainchild of chef Jerry Mai, who honours her Vietnamese roots with dishes such as chilli-salt Spencer Gulf prawns grilled over charcoal and Sher Wagyu tartare with Chiang Mai spices. 

Drinks: About 40 wines, including varietals such as gamay and gewürztraminer, as well as classic cocktails with an Asian twist.

Atmosphere: Exposed walls, communal tables and neon signs create an unmistakable Asian street vibe.Across the road from

Location: Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne’s CBD. 

56 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

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