The Bishop - CLOSED

Overview

UPDATE: October 20, 2018 — A midweek night out is not something everyone can afford — especially in the lead-up to Christmas — but The Bishop's new deal will have even the biggest budgeter reconsidering a TV dinner. Every Tuesday and Wednesday night until November 30, the Surry Hills eatery is offering 50 percent off your food bill. Yep, half-price dinners. While it doesn't cover alcohol, the bar has a neat lineup of $10 glasses of wine, which shouldn't encroach too far on your holiday savings.

After a commendable six-year stint, the team behind Surry Hills fine diner Bishop Sessa has taken things down a notch. The Crown Street venue has made the transition into casual dining territory, relaunching as a wine bar. Sporting a new look that's just as elegant, yet more laidback and casual, it's been renamed simply The Bishop.

While the set menu and the special occasion-level of formality have been given the flick, owner Erez Gordon says he's held on to all the best-loved bits: the hefty wine offering, the switched-on staff and a decent food menu.

Helping to push the venue into this next phase of life is renowned chef Troy Spencer, the one-time co-owner of Newtown's Spencer Guthrie, who's fresh from scoring a Good Food chef's hat during his time as Executive Chef at the Yarra Valley's TarraWarra Estate. While he's moved the venue away from degustation-style dining, he's devised a bar menu that lets you drop in for a few after-work snacks right through to a full meal. Expect dishes like wagyu beef cheeks with whipped cashew and burnt butter, salted fish with crisp potato, and market fish teamed with sweet and sour fennel.

This newfound laidback vibe extends to the drinks offering. You'll find over 30 wines by the glass — starting at a neat $10 and ideal alongside the menu's snackier options — as well as a 200-strong bottle selection, a swag of craft beers and a crop of inventive cocktails.