AWARDS
Awarded one chef's hats 2009, Good Food Guide.
Awarded two chef's hats 2008, Good Food Guide.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
The French are renowned for their love of great food and at Bistro Moncur the French flag flies high. Ascend the stairs into this Woollahra stalwart to be greeted by the large, elegant dining room. Michael Fitzjames’ black and white mural runs along one wall, depicting silhouettes of jovial diners, creating a European vibe. The floor staff add to the experience with service that is quick, efficient and above all knowledgeable.
It only gets more French as you delve into the menu. Start with an entree of French onion souffle gratin or a Barossa chicken liver pate. For a main course you can’t go past the sirloin cafe de Paris, a justifiably renowned dish, coated in a Cafe de Paris butter composed of 20 different ingredients. Damien Pignolet has carved a reputation for himself among Sydney diners as one of our fore-most authorities on French cuisine, and the food at Bistro Moncur only cements that position. Finish your meal with a delectable apple tartlet or a variety of cheeses served with toasted walnut bread. As you would expect from any French restaurant the wine list is thorough and well-thought out. Vive la France.
LOCATION
Corner of Queen and Moncur Street, Woollahra, east of the CBD. 10-12 minutes drive from the city.
DETAILS
Award-winning Bistro Moncur remains the benchmark in terms of a genuine, personalised French bistro. The clean Alex Tzannes-designed room is energised by a 12m-long Michael Fitzjames mural and by the buzzy, convivial social theatre. Floor service is attentive and bistro-brisk under the direction of Peter Nield and Stephen Major. Enjoy a cocktail and the hospitality in the adjoining Woollahra Bar which features live jazz on Sunday evenings.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
The kitchen at Bistro Moncur can make more of an impression with simplicity and purity than many others manage with giddy effusiveness.
Executive chef, Damien Pignolet, has had a profound effect on the Sydney foodscape. He and head chef are clever enough to always stop short of excess. Order the Sirloin Cafe de Paris and your prime sirloin comes grilled to perfection and glazed with a sublime butter composed of twenty ingredients. Other recommended dishes are the Provencale Fish Soup with its Rouille, French Onion Souffle Gratin and the Caramel Glazed Apple Tartlette is divine! The only sameness about the menu is the consistently brilliant balance of flavours and textures.
The wine list developed by Lynette Hazzard is Australian-focused and includes older vintages plus well-chosen imported offerings.
THE LOOKOUT PRIVATE FUNCTION ROOM
Bistro Moncur, Damien Pignolet's much loved French restaurant in Sydney's Woollahra Hotel has opened its top floor as The Lookout, a swish private dining and party space...Rest assured that the nosh is done with the same lightness of touch as downstairs... John McDonald, Upfront, Qantas Magazine, February 2003.
Bathed in natural light in the daytime and intimately lit at night, this ambient space features charcoal and muted tones, an original art deco fireplace, a dedicated kitchen and bar and private bathrooms. It has its own entrance, giving arriving guests an immediate sense of occasion, while an extensive acoustic treatment of the room assures complete privacy.
The Lookout is available for events from Monday to Saturday between the hours of 10am to ll.30pm and on Sundays from 10am to 9.30pm.
www.woollahrahotel.com.au
Email: kristina@woollahrahotel.com.au
