George Street's Tim Ho Wan Site to Be Reborn as Cantonese Restaurant Canton! Canton!
And a modern Malaysian spot will launch in the chain's former Pitt Street Mall spot.
Sydney is set for a new dose of traditional Cantonese cooking next month when Canton! Canton! opens in the CBD. The restaurant is by the Jewel Pantry Group, a dining group focusing on cuisines from the Asia-Pacific, which launched just last October. And it has taken over the old Tim Ho Wan Sydney outposts (and nabbed its chef) on George Street and Pitt Street Mall.
Tim Ho Wan — the world's cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant — launched in Sydney in late-2015, before suddenly closing last year. While the Jewel Pantry Group has taken over the chain's former CBD outposts, there's no word yet on what will happen to Tim Ho Wan's Chatswood's store, which is also closed.
The first of the dining group's venues to launch will be Canton! Canton!, which will take over the George Street site in mid-February. The 68-seater will have Executive Chef Jacky Chan at the helm, who used to run the kitchen at Sydney's Tim Ho Wans. He boasts 28 years' experience cooking Chinese fare, with a special career focus on dim sum — he's trained with top Hong Kong chefs and held the title of head dim sum chef at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, too.
Patrons can expect yum cha, barbecue pork buns and Chinese teas from 11am, followed by barbecued duck, pork and chicken, roasted in-house daily. For dinner, there'll be mains like braised pork belly with preserved veggies, alongside an extensive wine list and a signature Hong Kong-style caramelised Malay cake for dessert. Three banquet menus will also be on offer.
Shumai at Tim Ho Wan.
The fit-out is courtesy of interior designer Dorian McCartney (Hydra Design) and architect Raymond Teo. The design is inspired by the street markets of Canton, with 'opium bed' booths and antique tea crates previously used by Chinese shipping merchants.
The hospitality group's second venue, Mr. Fatt, will open in the Pitt Street Mall site later this year as a 12-seat takeaway joint. While Canton! Canton! leans towards tradition, Mr. Fatt will instead offer a modern fusion of Singaporean and Malaysian fare. And you can expect more restaurants to join The Jewel Pantry Group's portfolio in coming months, with a Hainan rice specialty on the menu.
Canton! Canton! will open mid-February at Shop GD004, 580 George Street, Sydney, with Pitt Street Mall's Mr. Fatt to follow later this year. Keep an eye on this space for opening date and hours.
Image: Executive Chef Jacky Chan.
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