Sydney Eat Street: Discover delights of Portugal at Petersham
Known locally as Little Portugal, Petersham is home to some of Sydney’s best Portuguese food. But this suburb also has plenty of other cuisines on its menu.
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Petersham is home to some of Sydney’s best Portuguese food but there are plenty of other foods this thriving suburb has to offer.
We take a look at what special cuisines are on the menu at a few locations around Petersham.
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Lunas
Within the short few blocks of Petersham’s Little Portugal, you’ll find countless Portuguese cafes, bakeries, butchers and more, yet Petersham lacked a place that took a more modern approach to Portuguese staples — but that changed with the opening of Lunas.
Backing up this new-ish breakfast and lunch venue is the family behind Sweet Belem who’ve brought in head chef Jacqueline Ektoros (Bennelong, Three Williams) to showcase contemporary Portuguese cuisine.
“The menu is at once familiar and new. It features Portuguese classics that have been reinvented with premium Aussie produce,” says Jacquie who later explains how Luna’s Portuguese tart hotcake deconstructs Sweet Belem’s famous Pastel de Nata tart as a new brunch classic using the cake boutique’s recipes for the crumb and custard.
Other standouts include Portuguese beef skewers (Espetadas), sardines on corn bread and rich octopus rice.” But, as Petersham is home to “Portuguese chicken”, Lunas gives that a nod as well with a crispy chicken piri piri sandwich and piri piri spatchcock.
— 316 Stanmore Rd, Petersham; lunaspetersham.com.au
Silvas
When 18-year-old Jose Osvaldo (Ozzy) Da Silva left his home on Madeira Island, little did he know that 20 odd years later he’d own restaurant that served the Portuguese food he loved as a child.
“Growing up in a small fishing village, Ozzy was surrounded by fresh produce from the land and sea. He developed a deep appreciation and love for traditional Portuguese cuisine from a young age”, says Brenden Da Silva who along with his cousin Steven Abreu co-own Silvas.
That passion led him to open Silvas in the early 2000s.
“Silvas is a family run restaurant with lots of secret recipes that have been passed down for generations, making our dishes traditional but unique,” Brenden says.
After a recent revamp, they’ve reopened their door and ready to serve their signature dishes, including Porco Alentejana, (marinated pork with pipis); Camarao com alho, (sizzling garlic prawns), and Polvo Grelhado (BBQ octopus).
— 1/82-86 New Canterbury Rd, Petersham; silvas.restaurant
Fich at Petersham
For the freshest fish, you could cast a line and reel it in yourself, or you could sit down for a plate of steamed monkfish or grilled Queensland Barramundi at Fich at Petersham.
This casual restaurant and takeaway outlet is a passion project for Jose Silva, the powerhouse behind Sweet Belem Cake Boutique.
“We wanted a casual modern fish and chip shop that served up sustainable seafood; high quality local seafood sourced from the seas around Australia and New Zealand,” Jose says.
At Fich, you’ll find the classics such as fish and chips and fish tacos, but there’s also an extensive shareable menu including an impressive seafood towers, and the Fish Shish Kebabs, hanging skewers pierced with juicy grilled fish and served with pickles, fries and garlic toum.
“As we’re a Portuguese family, we also have prawn rissoles and the signature Portuguese cod ingredient – bacalhau (dried Portuguese salted cod) croquettes on our menu,” Jose says.
At Fich, diners can also experience Sweet Belem desserts including the signature Pastel de Nata (Portuguese tart). Should you happen to be in Petersham for Bairro Português stop by Fich where they’ll be showcasing their sardines on toast.
— Shop 3, 98-106 Audley St, Petersham; fichpetersham.com.au
Bairro Português
With the largest Portuguese population in Australia, Petersham has earned itself the moniker of Little Portugal and come March, it welcomes thousands of visitors to experience all aspects of Portuguese culture.at their annual Bairro Português.
On Sunday March 19, the sounds of traditional and contemporary tunes from performers including the Sydney-based Portuguese band Fado in Australia, and Alma Orquestra (Orchestra), known from their stirring and imaginative interpretations of Iberian folk tunes.
And with music comes dancing, games, and of course, food with stall including Doce D’More’s Portuguese sweets, SP Originals’ handmade Portuguese croquettes, and Sweet Belem’s Portuguese tarts, plus The Madeira Club will be making Bifanas and Malasadas.
While the emphasis is on Portuguese culture, at the core, Bairro is still a neighbourhood festival so every business, along Audley St – Portuguese or not – is involved including Italian restaurant, Noi who’ll be offering classic lasagne, pig’s head sliders, and cheesy focaccia at their outdoor tables.
The event will be held at Audley St and Fisher St, from 11am-4pm, March 19, 2023.
– innerwest.nsw.gov.au
Kickin’Inn Kajun Seafood
It’s one place where you are not only encouraged to play with your food, but it’s almost a requisite for tucking into these pounds of prawns and pipis that are served in a plastic bag brimming with one of five sauces (Kajun, Garlic Kajun, Garlic Butter, Lemon Pepper, and Sha-Bang) then tipped over and piled high on the table.
It’s more-ish, fun, and an unforgettable meal, but it’s also a concept that, Ravi Singh, founder and CEO of Kickin’Inn says took a bit of convincing when it came to setting up shop in Petersham.
“Seafood in Australia is the second most-eaten staple, yet not celebrated as much as meat,” he says.
“When we started planning for the big launch of our brand, we looked at a test market. Petersham came to mind as it was dominated by chicken lovers.
“We were the thorn amongst the roses so to speak. We wanted to break into the market and what better way to test the ground. By surprise, we failed and faced rejection.
“But that was short-lived. We convinced the locals that Cajun seafood was a point of difference – combined with our unique dine-in and delivery service stole many hearts in Petersham.
“Petersham, we love dearly as it’s the home of Kickin’Inn.”
— 82-86 New Canterbury Rd, Petersham; kickininn.com.au
Frango Charcoal Chicken
The name Frango is practically synonymous with Portuguese charcoal chicken.
Well, technically “Frango” translates to “chicken” in Portuguese and since opening in 1992, Frango Charcoal Chicken has been making it the traditional Portuguese way by butterflying whole chickens, marinating them overnight, and grilled for a quick 20 minutes on a rotisserie.
The outside turns crips which seals in the juices keeping the chicken moist and tender.
In addition to their namesake, there’s also ribs, marinated pork, clams, and Portugal’s unofficial dish, grilled cod. Join the queue for takeaway or head upstairs to dine-in and enjoy your meal with one of the many Portuguese wine and beers on offer.
— 98 New Canterbury Rd; Frangos.com.au
Noi
There’s Sunday Roast and Taco Tuesday, but besides that, the other five nights depend on what’s closest and what strikes your fancy.
Fortunately for Petersham locals with a craving for Italian fare, dinner isn’t limited to pizza delivery, as Noi offers a modern Italian cuisine, with an a la carte and tasting menu that features fresh seasonal produce prepared by pedigreed chef, Alessandro Intini (ex-Aqua Dining) and his partner Federica Costa.
Noi’s owner, Bill Drakopoulos says: “With endless affordable and beloved eateries within walking distance, Petersham’s ‘special occasion’ venues were scarce. Noi was the opportunity to bring a polished but unfussy neighbourhood Italian to the area. Locals should be able to walk to dinner.”
From entree to dessert, the dishes reflect the breadth of Italian fare.
To start, there is the sand whiting with zucchini, and scapece, the pig’s head sausage roll, with aglio, olio, and pepperoncino, or for something lighter, the Hokkaido scallops with tomato gazpacho and watermelon.
Pasta dishes pan the sea and land as well with the tagliolini swordfish Bolognese and broccolini, or the risotto with bull horn, smoked cheddar and pancetta.
For mains, try the blue eye with tonnato sauce and cos lettuce, or the lamb rump with leek, salsa Verde and buttermilk. As for dessert, well, just have a squizz and see what strikes your fancy.
— 108 Audley St, Petersham; noirestaurant.com.au
WHAT’S FRESH
A Fresh Tart
Petersham local, Angela Mcilwain, knew the area’s cafes quite well, but when one location became available.
“I jumped at the opportunity, as I saw it as a chance to give this spot a ‘fresh start’, along with continuing my own personal ‘fresh start’ in pursuing my dreams after a corporate career,” she says.
A Fresh Tart opened its doors mid-January to offer diners a brunch and lunch menu along with plenty of house-baked goodies.
“Our philosophy takes all the elements that we love in Cafes to create a space for people to ‘sip, eat, connect and recharge’ and to harness the power that food has in bringing people together,” Angela says.
“Our menu plays with a range of ingredients and textures to create simple cafe classics with a delicious and fresh twist – such as our popular Gluten Free Eggs Benny that sits atop a handmade potato gratin and topped with crispy potato to create a unique texture and flavour.
“It is a menu that celebrates simple done right.”
— 340 Stanmore Rd, Petersham; afreshtart.com.au
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