Derrel's Is Camperdown's Friendly New Indian Diner From Exciting Young Chef Brendan King

Head Chef over at The Lady Hampshire and formerly a member of the Baba's Place team, Brendan King is already carving out his mark as one of Sydney's most exciting young chefs at the age of 25. Now, he's just opened the nostalgic neighbourhood diner Derrel's in Camperdown.

Derrel's has arrived on Parramatta Road from King in partnership with PUBLIC Hospitality (The Empire, Oxford House, Maybe Sammy) right next door to The Lady Hampshire. King's former colleagues at Baba's Place Creative have also lent a helping hand in nailing that lived-in suburban energy.

A bright pink countertop, an office panel ceiling, menus printed on the back of Woman's Weekly covers from the 80s, Bend It Like Beckham playing proudly on the 2000s-era TV and an abundance of secondhand furniture all transport you back to a trip to your grandparents or your best friend's house for dinner after school.

"Working in Sydney, the only opportunities I've had to cook the food from my upbringing is in staff meals," says King. "This is my first chance to represent the food I love and eat all the time and offer it up for everyone to experience."

Inspired by his grandfather Derrel's passion for Indian home cooking, King has created an inviting casual eatery and takeaway spot designed to provide affordable feeds to Inner West residents and complement The Hampshire's offerings.

"My nana never cooked growing up — it was always grandpa in the kitchen. And while we hope people are a little confused at the start, it's a menu influenced by growing up as an Anglo-Indian in Sydney — whatever that means."

The menu is kept simple. There are a few snacks and share plates like samosa chaat and tandoori wings, a trio of kathi rolls that pile tandoori chicken or hara bhara onto flaky paratha flatbread, and a selection of curries paired with rice, roti, lime, onion and chutney.

You can also order hot chips with curry sauce or kachumber salad on the side — and round out your meal with a sweet treat like paratha with Nutella (a favourite of King's grandpa).

The restaurant is BYO, so feel free to grab a few beers from Camperdown Cellars across the road or bring a bottle of your favourite natty wine to pair with your tandoori chicken plate.

Better yet, Derrel's is open late. Paddington has Indian Home Diner offering late-night revellers with curry-filled wraps, and now Derrel's is here to provide anyone out in Camperdown with a kathi roll up until 2am.

"It'll complement The Lady Hampshire," continues King. "As gigs finish, late-night hospo workers clock off for the night and people spill onto Parramatta Road, we're hoping Derrel's is a pitstop."

Darrel's is the latest in a series of revamps and openings on Parramatta Road. The busy main drag has always screamed potential but never lived up to it — known more for closed shopfronts than must-try venues over the last decade. But, with these new PUBLIC venues joining Parra Road mainstays like Crow Bar, Deus Cafe and Frank's Pizza, the future of the thoroughfare is looking brighter.

Derrel's is open 5–12am Wednesday–Thursday and Sunday, and 5pm–2am Friday–Saturday at 89 Parramatta Road, Camperdown. Follow the restaurant on Instagram to stay up to date with everything happening.

Images: Michael Naumoff