Sydney Eat Street: What to eat on Darling St in Balmain and Rozelle
Passing through two suburbs from Victoria Rd down to the Harbour, Darling St is packed with foodie finds on every corner of Balmain and Rozelle. Here are some places to try.
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THE FENWICK
Location, location, location. The crew behind the enviable harbour-view restaurants including Aqua, Ripples and LuMi Dining have snatched up another prime position, in a former tugboat shed adjacent to East Balmain wharf.
This heritage-listed sandstone structure has the casually elegant decor of its sister venues plus a breakfast and lunch menu that head chef and co-owner Davide Rebeccato (who also oversees the kitchen at their other spots), develops with an emphasis on local and seasonal ingredients.
“Basically, I want to create dishes that just taste great. Foods I’d want to eat,” he says, adding that much of it comes down to fresh ingredients rather than using an abundance of spices and seasonings for flavour.
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Naturally, with a majestic view of the water, Davide’s offerings celebrate the sea’s bounty while reflecting his vast culinary experience at world-renowned restaurants both in Sydney and abroad.
Start lunch off with the pickled sardines served with Spanish onion and sultanas, followed by an entree or a larger main dish such as a generous portion of snapper tail with a lemon and garlic butter sauce, seafood pasta, as well as lamb, rib-eye and vegetarian dishes.
As hard as it may be to save room for dessert, you don’t want to miss out on the Millefoglie with pistachio cream and mixed berries, and a cuppa from local coffee roaster, The Little Marionette — plus, it’s a great reason to linger a bit longer and soak in the view.
— Lower end of Darling St, East Balmain Wharf; thefenwick.com.au
EAST VILLAGE HOTEL BALMAIN (EVH)
Every neighbourhood has its local watering hole, most sporting a meagre menu of chicken schnitty, fish & chips and a basic burger, but fortunately, for the residents of East Balmain, there is some serious talent in the kitchen.
English head chef Ryan John Smith is all about keeping things fresh. There’s no freezer in the kitchen as everything is delivered daily. Everything from the pesto to the crumbing for the kids’ meals is made on site.
It’s no wonder that their Sunday roasts, with a choice of three types of meat and Yorkshire pudding, made using Ryan’s grandmother’s recipe, has such a large following.
Licensee, Alysha Beales, tells the story of how not even one patron’s two-day-old baby could keep the family away from their Sunday roast tradition — though this time around, taking a pass on one of the craft beers.
For those that prefer their beverages of the grape variety, there’s an ample wine list plus keep your eyes open for one of their degustation dinners with wine pairings from visiting vintners.
— 82 Darling St, Balmain; eastvillagebalmain.com.au
EFENDY
Forget dainty furniture and delicate chairs, the expansive courtyard at this popular Turkish restaurant was made for sturdy picnic tables suited for big groups of family friends.
That’s not so much for seating but the abundance of plates, bowls and platters that come out with each meal.
On weekends from 9am-12pm, indulge in the Van Breakfast Feast, (named after the coastal town of Van in Turkey), a veritable tapestry of 30 colourful and delicious Turkish dishes.
You’ll be spoilt for choice with a variety of sweet and savoury pastries, Anatolian cheeses, olives, spreads, house-made jams, seasonal vegetables and fruits, scrambled eggs and spicy sausage slices.
During the week, from Wednesday to Sunday, you’ll get an equally impressive offering with heartier hot mezzes that award-winning chef and owner Somer Sivrioglu first brought to Balmain in 2007.
Twelve years on, Somer has since opened a second restaurant, Anason in Barangaroo, co-authored a cookbook Anatolia: Adventures in Turkish Cooking, with David Dale and is now a judge on Turkey MasterChef.
— Corner of Darling St and Elliot St, Balmain; efendy.com.au
THE CORNER BAR
Fancy a cocktail with Barbie, a beer with The Terminator or a cuppa with a gnome? Well, you’re in good company then as every nook and cranny here sports some novelty that is as quirky as the drinks are cold and food is tasty.
It’s quite a shift for Lindsay Egan, the bar’s general manager, who left a career in corporate hospitality for a bit more creativity with both food and design.
Located at the corner of Merton and Darling streets, thus the name of the bar, nab one of the outdoor tables or a seat at the window and watch the world go by or taunt pedestrians with the smell of cheesy pizzas, spaghetti or simple mushroom and mozzarella arancini along with a glass of organic wine or one of their creative cocktails.
For the early risers, there’s also the option of brekkie on Saturday and Sunday.
— 632 Darling St, Rozelle; facebook.com/pg/cornerbarrozelle
DARLINGS BISTRO
As tempting as it is to have a lie down on the tan leather lounge, it’s probably best to head home for nap-time.
Admittedly though, co-owners and Rozelle residents Sam Moran (former Yellow Wiggle), Nulufer Cakir and Hal Altan would probably take it as a compliment considering they developed Darlings with the intent of providing the otherwise pub-centric area with a comfy and casual spot for wine, beer and cocktails, along with head chef Nick Talam’s (Attica, Rockpool) casual take on fine-dining dishes.
Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner (except Monday when it closes at 4pm) you can expect truly impressive dishes such as French toast with a rhubarb compote and an Alaskan king crab omelette, or for dinner, a tapas version on brioche toasts with lemon and chives.
Other highlights of the evening include BBQ queen scallops and Watervale beef tartare as well as a wine and cheese flights with Australian products.
Now if only you could curl up in that lounge after dinner.
— 612 Darling St, Rozelle; darlingsbistro.com.au
MUST TRY
THE LITTLE MARIONETTE COFFEE
If you’re happy and you know it, well, that’s probably because you just walked out of The Little Marionette’s sliver of a shopfront with a pastry from nearby Victoire Boulangerie and a stellar cup of coffee brewed up by the talented and absolutely delightful baristas behind the counter.
— Little M; 296 Darling St, Balmain; facebook.com/littlembalmain/
BETEL LEAF WITH SMOKED TROUT
Behind the heavy carved wood doors is a menu filled with the delicate and spicy flavours of South East Asia.
Start with the betel leaf topped with smoked trout, chilli, garlic, galangal and fried shallots then move on to the crispy skin Maryland chicken with chilli basil.
— Blue Ginger; 241 Darling St, Balmain; blueginger.com.au
LASAGNE BURGER
The housemade lasagne, locally known as “Nonna’s lasagne” has been a staple on the menu for the past 15 years both to eat in or to take-away and heat up for dinner.
For those days when you are just beyond hungry, there is the off-menu Lasagne Burger — a wagyu pattie, mozzarella and their signature Italian sauce between buns of two lasagne servings.
— Bertoni Casalinga; 281 Darling St, Balmain; bertoni.com.au
SOUTHERN ITALIAN FOOD
It’s a double win inside Balmain Pub Cricketer’s Arms which is home to the scrumptious Balmain Burgers but head downstairs, and it’s a bright and airy space serving up Southern Italian dishes such as burrata with heirloom tomatoes or fried octopus with pizzaiola sauce, black olives and crispy potatoes
— One Ford Street; Rear of Cricketers Arms Hotel, 255 Darling St, Balmain; onefordstreet.com.au
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