LOCATION
Located in the heart of the city, right near the MLC centre in Martin Place, King 143 can be easily accessed by public transport. Take a train to Town Hall or Martin Place stations, catch a bus to the Queen Victoria Building, or walk from the major CBD hotels.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Light, yet with depth of flavour, this restaurant offers classic French dishes presented in a warm, charming environment. Japanese chef and owner Toshi has over 20 years experience as a restaurant proprietor and has also worked at the Hotel Connaught, London, as well as the Hotel Eyler, Basel, Switzerland. His French dishes have now been enhanced by Australia's multicultural influences. At King 143, light classical French cuisine is complemented by a great wine list of Australian, New Zealand and Frech vintages.
FUNCTIONS
People with business opportunities need successful lunches and King 143 is the place for a discreet meeting or celebratory meal. Enjoy dinner before heading to the theatre Royal across the street, or to the City Recital Hall around the corner. Click here for pretheatre menu. For functions King 143 can seat 30 people on the main floor and 20 on the mezzanine level. Exclusive hire available for functions or just finger food (no extra charged for over 30 pax). Minimum spend required. Please call to enquire about your next function at King 143.
Profiled by de Groots
When chef Toshi Ishihara began his career in Tokyo he decided that French cuisine was the direction he wished to take. This took him and his wife Yoshiko to Switzerland and London (his plans to go to France were subverted after meeting a Frenchman). Ten years ago the couple relocated to Sydney, where they took over a restaurant in Eastwood. The initial response they got was far from encouraging, the locals unwilling to believe that a Japanese chef could cook French food. A year later they were catering to a full house of thoroughly convinced diners. Still, they decided to move to the city where the diners’ palates are more suited to what they do.
Enter King 143, a little French haven in Sydney’s CBD. The demure room is decorated with wine bottles and books, Toulouse Lautrec coexisting comfortably with a Gateway to Japan. The cuisine is classical French but with a lighter, healthier touch. There is some Japanese influence at work in the kitchen, both in the menu planning and cooking methods. Soy sauce becomes chicken stock. Sake becomes sherry. The menu changes seasonally, matched to a wine list of carefully selected French, Australian and New Zealand drops. Be sure to sample the pre-theatre menu next time you take in a show at the Theatre Royal or Angel Place.
Sarah Theeboom