Now Open: Lower Plenty's New Bistro Comes From a Chef with Michelin-Star Pedigree

In the sleepy suburb of Lower Plenty, a chef with Michelin-star pedigree has quietly opened a refined bistro and diner. Head chef and owner Paul Cooper snagged the venue earlier this year, which is tucked into a leafy block on a Lower Plenty hillside.

Stix Restaurant and Bar embraces the art of charcoal grilling, with a custom-built woodfired grill for smoking vegetables, seafood and meat. The Euro-leaning offering is a nod to Cooper's culinary exploits, spanning London's modern French restaurant Pied à Terre, Barcelona's contemporary hotspot Àbac and Paris' Bras.

"I'm very passionate about woodfired cooking. It's very romantic to cook over wood and coals. There's a primitive element in using something so old to create something so beautiful — to me it's a wonderful thing," Cooper says.

Hyper-local produce selection at Stix Restaurant and Bar sits alongside a mindful approach to nose-to-tail cooking. Broccoli stalks might be tossed on the grill and lathered in kasundi, or ethically-sourced pork may be smoked and served up throughout the week, then reimagined as croquettes. A recent favourite featuring cheesecake with beer jelly also made clever use of excess beer from the bar.

Alongside rotating specials, there's an all-day menu featuring handmade pasta, woodfired steak and bistro classic including a chicken parma and a pan-fried barramundi number, served with red pepper piperade and salsa verde. An expertly curated cocktail menu and elegant wine lineup also means you can wash down your feed with some top-notch drops.

"It's a place where people come and enjoy themselves— where we can produce a product that we're so proud of in a little suburban restaurant. I'm pretty excited that we can showcase this food at the price point it is," Cooper says.

Stix Restaurant and Bar is now open at 410 Main Rd, Lower Plenty. It's open from 12–9pm Wednesdays​​–Thursdays, 12–10pm Fridays​​–Saturdays, and from 12–9pm Sundays.

Images: supplied.