Now Open: 40Res Is the Relaxed and Understated New Surry Hills Wine Bar with a Testuya's Alum at the Helm
This chef-led wine bar brings fine-dining smarts to a relaxed, deliberately understated setting.
Surry Hills has scored a new neighbourhood wine bar, and it's doing things a little differently. For starters, food is the focus — though given the names behind the Reservoir Street spot, that should come as no surprise. 40Res is the first solo venture by Josh Raine, who led the kitchen at the celebrated (and now closed) Tetsuya's as executive chef from 2018–2024, and is also the first chef in residence and culinary director at the MCA's Restaurant Canvas.
Chef-owner Raine has tapped Micheal Tran (ex-Clove Lane and The Bellevue) to head the kitchen. Both chefs honed their skills in Michelin-starred kitchens in England, with Raine at Pied à Terre and Tran at Hibiscus, and they're now bringing their creativity and technical nous to a relaxed, deliberately understated setting.
"We're not fluffing — it's just super tasty food," says Raine. "Simple, but really, really good. It's the kind of food we want to eat with a glass of wine."
So, what kind of food would two excellently credentialled chefs want to eat with a glass of wine? They might begin with an elevated take on fish fingers, served with a rich, zingy pil-pil sauce. For something larger, they might opt for an elegant cacio e pepe in which the traditional cheesy sauce is reimagined as a light, airy foam, ensuring indulgence without heaviness.
"We take a fine dining mentality when it comes to refinement but bring it into a more casual, accessible setting," says Tran. "We wanted to do things differently — to create a neighbourhood spot where chefs can have fun [and] cook great food."
The menu, which is constantly evolving, showcases the best of Australian ingredients, and is influenced by the chefs' personal travels and culinary journeys. It'll always feature a pasta and a risotto, as well as two larger proteins, meaning the venue can accommodate those looking for a quick snack and a glass of wine or a fuller dining experience.
The wine program follows a similar ethos, with a focus on boutique producers and winemaking integrity. Most wines are available by the glass, with a focus on Australian and European makers. It's thoughtfully curated, approachable, and a smart complement to a similarly thoughtful food offer.
40Res is now open for walk-ins and bookings — and there's no time limit on bookings. How's that for doing things differently?
Find 40Res at 40 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills. For more info and bookings, head to the venue's website.
Images: Nick de Lorenzo.
