The Marble Table #007: Odd Culture Newtown - Bistro Grenier.
All Illustrations by Maria MaungWhen a very close friend from Melbourne came to visit for the weekend, I was racking my brain to find a standout dinner spot. A last minute reservation in Sydney on a Saturday night? Not ideal.
Enter Odd Culture Newtown’s Bistro Grenier to rescue my plans and restore my credibility as a proud Sydney local giving a Melbourne foodie a run for her money in the interstate restaurant rivalry stakes.
Walk-in friendly, the option of easy dining downstairs at the bar or a full French bistro experience upstairs, this is the ideal place for good friends to catch up over food and wine that’s as soulful and rich as the conversation would ultimately be. The warm and attentive staff clearly take great care in the details, the pace and truly creating an atmosphere where you can sit and savour the experience.
We went with the bit-of-everything option, the banquet menu. The Coquilles Saint-Jacques ( baked scallops) and the Soufflé de Fromage were outstandingly delicious. The Steak Frites, a classic French staple, was cooked to perfection. We added an extra carby accompaniment of Pommes de Terre Rôties and doused them in the steak’s silky pepper sauce for good measure.
Both wine and conversation flowed as we finished off the meal with a light and sweet Crème Caramel that rounded out the decadent but well balanced culinary journey. Long after the dishes had been cleared away, there was no turning of tables and no rush for us to leave. This sometimes rare and refreshing invitation to take our time was definitely appreciated.
On my way out, as I walked past the bar, I recalled a previous memorable meal here with another dear Melbournian. I started to connect some dots - excellent food, warm and welcoming, easy and unpretentious. It’s nice to showcase these quintessentially Melbournian charms that also exist right here in Sydney.
A last minute Saturday table, a Melbourne friend to impress and French food worth lingering over. Bistro Grenier makes a strong case for letting dinner take its time.