Misc. Parramatta

Overview

An impressive 300-seat restaurant, offering hearty breakfast and vibrant lunch dishes from 8am until 3pm, six days a week (closed on Monday), has become a staple in Parramatta Park. Misc. comes from a trio of Sydney mainstays — Executive Chef Sebastian Geray, Menu Collaborator Joel Bennetts and Restaurateur Jad Nehmetallah, the last of which you may recognise from Gogglebox.

Together, they've created an all-day menu inspired by Mediterranean dishes and flavours. Misc. Parramatta offers a one-stop shop for your morning coffee, or afternoon drink, as well as an event space that seats between 40 and 150 guests (with canapé cocktail options for up to 300 people).

Boasting both indoor and al fresco dining, plus a bright white beachy fit-out, the glossy Western Sydney restaurant brings a beachy European energy to Parramatta.

"Western Sydney has been waiting for a spot to proudly call their own. At Misc., we offer an unmatched dining experience, partly due to our wine cocktail list never seen before in the western suburbs, as well as a beautiful retail section with curated products from local and international providers alike. So, if you desire a picnic in the park or bottomless brunch, Misc. can make it happen," says Nehmetallah.

Whether you're here for breakfast or lunch, the team highly recommends starting with bread. The house-made focaccia with rosemary oil ($8) is a star of the breakfast menu, ready to be paired with dips like smoked labneh with ezme salsa and chives ($8). Join sides like sujuk spiced lamb sausage ($6) and mushroom zhoug salsa ($6), or soak up the glistening liquid in a plate of village tomatoes carpaccio with basil oil ($6).

For something more substantial (that won't leave you feeling sluggish, should you decide to follow up your feast with a stroll in Parramatta Park), try the gluten-free green bowl, featuring fresh greens, black rice and tangy vinaigrette ($24), with the option to add hot smoked trout ($10).

You'll also find plenty of shared starters that support Misc's a bit of this, a bit of that ethos to pick from on the lunch menu. These include oysters with pomegranate mignonette dressing ($5 each), beef tartare with flatbread crisps ($24), burrata with lime leaf oil and black pepper ($15) and the restaurant's signature wood-fired pita bread ($8).

Add in "a bit more" through the likes of king prawns with confit tomato, ginger and tahini ($36), barramundi with salsa verde, fennel salad and lemon ($38), and angus striploin with a green pepper sauce ($60). Then finish with something "a bit sweet" such as creme caramel with jersey milk and wattleseed ($16) or the affogato ice cream sandwich made with hazelnut parfait and dipped in chocolate ($16).

"The focus is on the food and what it means to different people," Nehmetallah continues. "It's in my blood to bring people together; to create family, fun and full stomachs. Now I'm doing it on a larger scale."