Our latest dining discovery, Dead Ringer, is on leafy Bourke Street in the heart of Surry Hills. Housed in a grand terrace house, with handsome wood joinery & leather upholstery, the two-sided dining room frames an equally handsome bar. There is outdoor dining available on the sandstone balcony and a private dining room, which comfortably seats twelve guests.
Currently run by a couple of mates who have all spent most of their working lives treading the boards in hospitality around the globe. Influenced especially by the best restaurants and small bars in Melbourne and London in which they previously worked.
The team has a genuine love of good hospitality and food paired with classy cocktails. We describe Dead Ringer to our guests as ‘a restaurant with a well-stocked bar’.
With one of Australia’s most experienced chefs, Jamie Irving (previously at Berta, Est and Pearl restaurants) heading up the kitchen you are assured of a memorable dining experience. Irving’s menu champions the exceptional ingredients Australia has on offer through an evolving menu. The kitchen stays open throughout the day and late into the evening, and has become a Surry Hills locals favourite.
The Dead Ringer definition of Modern-Australian food means mixing European kitchen technique, Mediterranean hospitality, with the types of bold flavours you might expect from Pan-Asian cuisine, all served it in a typically casual Aussie dining setting.
The sharp wine list features Australian bottles focusing on many smaller producers. They write the menu and select different wines to pair with the menu on a daily basis so there is always something new to try.
We had been looking for a replacement of our beloved French dining room Loluk, which was sold late in 2022, so are thrilled to have discovered this treasure. Working our way through the menu for entree or mains courses on our Surry Hills dining tour, we are already crushing on the creamed almonds with pickled beetroot and the seasonal char-grilled asparagus with goats feta and red onion. We are so looking forward to introducing more guests to this Surry Hills gem in 2023.
*Dead Ringer closed after 9 years in mid-July 2024