Overview
After just over one year in operation, the Lotus Dining Group's Fujisaki in Barangaroo shut up shop back in February. But, opening in its place is the group's brand new concept, Bund: a Chinese eatery and bar serving up Shanghai-style street food. And it's slated to open in early-July.
Hong Kong-born head chef Kennedy Wong and sous chef Chris Chen have created a menu of chargrilled barbecue dishes, share plates and bar snacks, which they're serving up from an open kitchen. Chinese staples will be given a modern spin, like in the kung pao chicken schnitzel topped with peanuts, shallots and chopped chilli; tofu, mustard green and sweetcorn arancini served with chilli dipping sauce; and pork belly bao with slaw and coriander, drizzled with honey mustard sauce.
Kung pao chicken schnitzel
As is the group's signature, there will also be plenty of dumplings on the menu, including the (especially tasty sounding) xiao long bao stuffed with Singaporean chilli crab. To match the eats, the group's bar manager Charles Cheng has created an Asian-inspired cocktail menu, which will be accompanied by a varied wine list by Annette Lacey (director of wine and beverage).
The revamped fit-out is courtesy of Sydney's Studio Hiyaku and will feature neon lighting and street art-style murals by local artist Alex Lehours — along with lots of deep blue, red and golden hues. It's all meant to emulate the waterfront Bund area of Shanghai, a popular tourist destination jam-packed with historical buildings of various architectural styles. The 100-seat restaurant will also boast a central bar and bench seating, both meant to entice after-work drinkers.
Fujisaki's swift closure was a bit of an anomaly for the Lotus Dining Group, which is responsible for plenty of successful venues — including the longstanding Walsh Bay favourite Lotus Dumpling Bar, along with newer iterations in The Gardens by Lotus and Madame Shanghai. So, we're hoping its newest spot sticks around for a bit longer.
Bund will open early July at Shop 2, 100 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo. Opening hours will be Monday through Friday 11:30am–late and Saturday 5:50pm–late.
First image: Fujisaki by Brett Stevens.