Opel shows us what Sydney has been missing with Bistronomi, a French restaurant in Surry Hills where luxury and affordability collide.
Chef Opel Khan has a reputation for serving some of the best degustations in Sydney. Our favourites include Potts Point’s Metisse, where French finesse and theatre merge into a magical dining experience. His later creation was Surry Hills’ Khanna, which brought guests a taste of his humble Bengali upbringing in a refined light.
Now, in the old home of Khanna, is Bistronomi. This French diner is set to be the hottest spot come spring! The restaurant offers a warm atmosphere with French music humming in the background. We were told there would soon be seating in the walkway and brunches with DJs to replicate traditional French eateries in Paris.
For those who loved Khanna, it will be making a comeback in the city as a more exclusive smaller seater affair which we think perfectly matches the vibe. This space was made to be a neighbourhood French eatery and we can’t wait to see it bustling in months to come.
With the current economic climate, it’s great to see a more affordable restaurant emerge in the market. He’s designed the menu to be approachable where you can pop in and get share plates for under $18, and mains for no more than $30. This doesn’t mean Opel has jeopardised the quality of the meal… As with everything he does, the menu is measured, delicious, and oozes luxury.
Opel has taken things back to his French culinary roots. While simple to the eye, the dishes are still hyper-technical. Start with the French onion soup, which we can only describe as a warm hug where he’s got the balance of onion and broth just right. It’s also served with a perfectly golden croissant for dipping. The cauliflower custard is another incredible plate where cauliflower has been pureed to give off the mouthfeel of custard with fresh peas and mint nested on top.
The Wagyu beef bourguignon shows incredible technique where the meat falls apart, served with a c’est de la puréeto to absorb the juices. While the dishes can be shared, you don’t want to share that one…. The same goes for the Apple Tartin which is textbook with a caramlised bottom that gets stuck in your teeth.
Chef Opel Khan returns to his French roots with the opening of Bistronomie. “Bistronomie is about making fine dining accessible and enjoyable for everyone,” says Chef Opel. In the economy we’re in, we’re stoked to see chefs reading the room and bringing the people of Sydney what they want… Affordable dining options!
Bistronomie is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 5:30pm. Additionally, lunch service is available on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10am. Located at 3-355 Crown Street, Surry Hills. You can book a spot here.