Stanley Street Darlinghurst has been home to many a great restaurant, and once again they’ve hit the Jackpot with the new kid on Street Brick Lane.
Unconventional and experimental, Brick Lane brings the banging flavours of the Indian Subcontinent to the heart of Darlinghurst. Helmed by Head Chef Joey Ingram, the Stanley Street restaurant offers a snappy menu of vibrant, modern dishes perfect for sharing – showcasing a combination of fresh Australian produce, Indian spices and cooking techniques from around the world.
Brick Lane is the brainchild of British-born owners, Kiran Bains and Alistair French. Inspired by the restaurant’s namesake, the bustling street in East London renowned for its eclectic mix of cultures, street art and curry houses, Brick Lane offers a contemporary take on Indian food in Australia. Think flavours of India, in non-Indian dishes.
The menu opens with snacks such as the ‘Naan-Mi, with roti bread, roasted pork belly, spiced pate, spring onion and chilli’ and ‘Tuna Cone with crunchy wonton cone filled with raw tandoori tuna, avocado and crispy onion’. There are the punchy ‘smaller bites’ like ‘Scallops & Kingfish Ceviche – citrus cured with young coconut, avocado, spring onion and crispy squid ink’ and ‘King Prawn Curry Leaf – grilled prawn on prawn & coconut curry with spiced basmati and betel leaf”, as well as ‘bigger eats’ including the sensational ‘lamb shoulder, slow cooked and served with curried chickpeas, spinach and mint yoghurt’ and ‘Papa G’s crispy fried fillets with spiced tomato ragu, coconut smash and crunchy squid crumble’. Dessert is not to be forgotten, with the ‘banana tapioca with coconut, lime and macadamia ice cream’ and ‘watermelon granita with vanilla custard, candied lemon and rose jelly’ providing a refreshing end to the flavour-packed feast. Notably, many dishes on the menu are gluten free.
Brick Lane also serves an excellent crafted cocktail list, with a special focus on gin and fresh citrusy flavours. A selection of Australian and international wines complement the spicy tones of the menu, alongside Indian beers and pale ales.
“I’m half Indian and half British so it’s no surprise that I love a curry and a garlic naan”, says Bains. ‘But while I love the spice, I can’t eat this heavy style of food every day. So, I started to think about ways that I could get my subcontinental spicy hit without inducing a food coma, and that’s where the idea for Brick Lane came from”.
To realise her vision, Bains partnered with French, a highly acclaimed restaurant manager with over 20 years’ experience in the industry including tenures at est.. Uccello, Papi Chulo and Guillaume at Bennelong. Ingram was the missing puzzle piece, completing the restaurant line-up armed with an impressive resume of leading eateries including Tetsuya’s, Restaurant Balzac, Claude’s, Pier, The Devonshire and Bistro Mint.
Led by interior designer Matt Angilcas of kisshugkiss, the restaurant design was inspired by both the street art and industrial backdrop of London’s Brick Lane. Internationally acclaimed street artist Shannon Crees was commissioned to create striking floor-to-ceiling murals of modern-day Sadhus. Shannon’s talents as a street artist were originally discovered on London’s Brick Lane so the area itself holds a special place in her heart. She has since had many notable achievements; she was the first Australian street artists in Banksy’s Can’s Festival and exhibited her work at the Museum of Contemporary Art. For more information on Shannon visit: http://www.shannoncrees.com/
Brick Lane
75 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst Phone: 02 8964 9318
@bricklanestanleyst #bricklanestanleystreet
www.brick-lane.com.au
I know I’ll be back trying everything on the menu, so maybe we’ll see you there and keep this one a secret we don’t everyone catching on to how good it is.
by Arrnott Olssen
Editor Rogue Homme
