Overview
A new Parisian-style bistro is the latest restaurant to join the regenerating Potts Point dining scene. While the inner city suburb has been plagued by some big-name closures over the past couple of years, a spate of openings have occurred in the last few months. The Monopole team opened a pizza joint. Morgan McGlone moved in with some charcoal chicken. And chef Ben Sears brought a touch of Tel Aviv to the area. Now, three of Sydney's most-acclaimed young chefs and sommeliers are opening the doors to Bistro 916: a neo-bistro with lobster frites and bottles of chablis.
Heading up the new bistro is renowned chef Dan Pepperell who has previously flexed his French culinary skills at Restaurant Hubert, and plated up inventive Italian fare at Alberto Lounge, 10 William Street and Frankie's. Joining Pepperell at the helm is Hubert and Alberto collaborator sommelier Andy Tyson, as well as Rockpool Dining Group chef Michael Clift.
Bistro 916 is set to open on Challis Avenue, in the former location of Merivale's Lotus pop-up. The Dan Hong-led revival of the former Potts Point favourite had its last service in December 2020 before the building was transformed into Bistrot 916.
Lotus
Pepperell and Clift have created a seafood-heavy menu that offers up new takes on bistro classics. You can expect oysters, steak au poivre, boudin noir spring rolls and handmade pasta with garlic and snails. Accompanying the food will be a wine list featuring a selection of some the most exciting French and Australian wine producers, including plenty of drops from Burgundy, Champagne and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
"I never get tired of making wine lists," sommelier Tyson said in a statement. "In the sense that there are always new producers doing exciting stuff. Wines are just getting better and better."
Reservations for Bistrot 916 are open for dinner Friday, February 5 onwards. The bistro is open for dinner seven days a week and lunch Friday–Sunday from February 12.
Find Bistrot 916 at 22 Challis Avenue, Potts Point from Friday, February 5.
Top image: Michael Clift, Dan Pepperell and Andy Tyson by Jason Loucas