District Dining

LOCATION
Overlooking the intersection of Randle and Chalmers Streets in Surry Hills.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
District Dining is brimming with corporates so relaxed, they could be in their own dining room. Except this one happens to be catered by award-winning chef Warren Turnbull of Assiette fame, and its bar is abundant with brilliant boutique wines and international beers. Turnbull casualises his fine dining talents and serves a more relaxed, after-hours atmosphere at this new venture.

District Dining sits amongst the spiderweb of streets in Surry Hills, its metropolitan surroundings characterised by the grey shades of the city concrete, and the constant coming and going of trains in the distance. The urban jungle buzzes below, as the restaurant overlooks the corner of Randle and Chalmers Streets. Green-tinted light peeps through trees outside and softly reflects into the restaurant, brightening its cool and moody tones.

International influences weave through the menu from French-cooking techniques to exotic Middle Eastern spices. Some dishes keep Turnbull’s fine dining presentation with informal yet calculated garnishes, such as the honey-bound walnuts over spiced pumpkin and marinated fetta, whilst others like the cluster of crispy school prawns with lime mayo are presented casually on wooden boards. The eclectic menu offers share-plates and larger dishes making it perfect for indecisive diners and relaxed gatherings. A quick snack may start with a glass or two of wine shared over crispy quail eggs with anchovy mayonnaise and tarragon; and soft slices of veal tongue arranged over aromatic salsa verde; the flavours cut by pickled turnip and rounded by almonds.

When a glass leads into a bottle, curious eyes ponder over mains such as lamb shoulder; gently falling apart; the rich meat accentuated by the flavours of cumin and sweet, honey-glazed baby carrots. For dessert, a cluster of meringue pieces is sprinkled with freeze-dried raspberries and slices of fresh strawberries and cloaked with a billowing layer of glossy vanilla cream - mouthfuls of the softly crunchy meringue dissolve amongst the cool cream, finishing with tiny burst of sweetness from the raspberry seeds.

District Dining contrasts between inner-city style and a casual character that is sure to have the corporate crowd leaving work early for their soon-to-be second home.

Edwina Storie