After 17 years, avant-garde restaurant Marque calls last orders
MARK Best has been at the forefront of Sydney for the better part of two decades. But he’s closing his fine diner on June 30.
One of Sydney’s seminal fine diners, Surry Hills’ s Marque restaurant, will close on June 30. Chef Mark Best confirmed today that after 17 years the avant-garde venue, will close.
“After 17 years of creative, personal and emotional investment in this small space I have decided it’s time for change,” Best said in a statement. “It is of course with mixed emotions. The personal investment in a small business takes its toll, and it’s with a combination of a sense of loss, pride and relief that I bring this phase of my career to a close.”
Best said he would continue to run his more casual outlets, Pei Modern, in Sydney and Melbourne, both of which are to undergo renovation this year.
Marque has long been a darling of the culinary world and beloved of high-end patrons, but has had mixed critical reviews in recent years and fell from being a three-hat venue to a two-hat outfit in 2013. The restaurant did not regain its coveted hat.
Best said he was thrilled with what the restaurant had achieved.
“Marque has achieved far more than I ever envisioned opening a ‘small bistro’ in 1999,” he said.
“It was fairly evident from the start it was never going to be just that.
“Many hats, stars, awards and a bit of international renown later, I can look back with pride on what was achieved in this small shopfront on Crown St.”
Many of the city’s leading chefs including Dan Hong (Mr Wong), Brent Savage (The Bentley) and Daniel Pepperell (Hubert) have worked at the restaurant.
Originally published as After 17 years, avant-garde restaurant Marque calls last orders