Neil Perry's New Cantonese Restaurant Jade Temple Set to Open

Neil Perry's new Cantonese restaurant, Jade Temple, is all set to open in the original site of Rockpool Est. 1989. Open for business on Monday, July 3, the restaurant is the latest in what seems to be a neverending string of openings from the Rockpool Dining Group, who announced back in March that they'd be replacing the short-lived Eleven Bridge with a Cantonese restaurant. The fine dining establishment will feature classic dishes with an Australian produce twist and a tiki-style cocktail list to boot.

The familiar sounding name is no coincidence — Jade Temple will act as the sister restaurant to Spice Temple, which is also contained in the group's portfolio. The redesign of the 11 Bridge Street space has been taken on by designer Grant Cheyne, who has been on Perry's payroll for some time, having also designed Rockpool Est. 1989 and Burger Project, as well as the Rockpool Bar & Grill and Spice Temple locations across Australia. The Jade Temple fitout features two cast iron Chinese guardian lions, traditional Chinese artwork and imported Chinese light fittings, including custom-designed chandeliers and handmade bamboo shades. The kitchen is located behind folding screens and comes complete with a duck drying cabinets and live seafood tanks. The space is also fitted with separate mezzanine and bar areas that are cosy and more intimate spaces for pre-dinner drinks or snacks.

The menu focuses on classic dishes that use sustainable Australian produce, featuring dishes like char siu, whole roast duck, lemon chicken, sweet and sour pork and honey prawns, along with fresh seafood served with a variety of Cantonese sauces. For lunch, a menu of dumplings, steamed buns and wontons will be on offer. In proper Lazy Susan family style, all dishes are designed to share, though of course they'll be more high-end than your corner Chinese shop, with banquet menus on offer for $75-95 per person.

On the drinks side, the Cantonese-inspired cocktails are made using house-made ingredients, syrups and infusions to achieve a 'Chinese-tiki' spin. They're also named after mythical characters from Chinese folklore, adding a touch of kitsch to the venue. The colossal wine list includes 300 labels from around the world with a focus on regions that pair nicely with Cantonese food — think whites from Austria, Germany and France's Loire Valley and reds from Burgundy and Rhone Valley. A selection of loose-leaf Chinese teas, infusions and tisanes will also be on offer.

Jade Temple will open Monday, July 3 at 11 Bridge Street, Sydney.