sydney grapevine

I FIRST went to Metisse on a Thursday night and the restaurant was packed. The second time I visited on a chilly Tuesday evening, the sleek grey and black space was also well-populated. I mention this because the “affordable luxury” fine dining establishment occupies a location that has experienced a bit of an ill-fated history.

Ensconced in the Barcelona building in Potts Point, the corner premises have been home to Gastro Park, Antipodean and Etelek over the past few years. But Metisse has broken the “curse” by providing Michelin-quality, French-inspired food, a non-sharing menu and bistro level prices., has accomplished a lot in his 25-year career. He is classically trained and has worked with Marco Pierre White and the Roux brothers. Other highlights include writing an award-winning book - - and managing 15 restaurants during his time in Australia.