A taste of the English seaside in the heart of Surry Hills

One of the great joys of visiting Britain is enjoying the local seafood - and not just the famous fish and chips.

From Cornwall to Cromer, Southwold to Whitby, English seaside towns invariably have a seafood bistro or two highlighting the local catch.

Not all of them are of Rick Stein quality, but they do offer fresh local delicacies.

Now Sydney's fashionable Surry Hills, not quite by the sea, and nowhere near Britain, has its own seafood bistro The Rover, which reopened in March and this week unveiled a British-inspired seafood bistro as the final phase of its renovation.

The restaurant will serve a "coastal menu" in a casual ambience.

The PR blurb proclaims "fresh and fuss-free coastal fare best enjoyed with friends and great drinks in hand".

The menu certainly reads well. 

Think starters like raw scallop, horseradish, cucumber and dill; cured mackerel with seaweed hot sauce and eel pate with horseradish jelly and glazed crumpet.

Mains might include fisherman’s pie with smoked trout and potato gratin; whole flathead with clams and garlic (below); or turbot chunk with Basque-inspired pil pil and sauce vierge.

 

I'm sold already.

Throw in a wine list with names like Mac Forbes and Margan by the glass or carafe, along with offerings from France, Spain and Italy and an impressive by the bottle list including some seafood-friendly Muscadets and I can't wait to visit.

"We’ve had such a great reception to the new era of The Rover since reopening and so we’re incredibly excited to welcome more guests in to enjoy drinks and bar snacks before heading upstairs for a relaxed and inviting dining experience," says co-owner James Bradey.

Executive chef Pip Pratt (one of the Bentley) has drawn on his childhood in the UK to create the menu, which boasts a daily choice of three crustaceans such as a whole scampi, yabbie and jumbo prawns poached and served cold with a selection of traditional sauces.

 

The Rover will also feature a rotation of oysters from the east coast's top producers.

The restaurant is part of the Liquid & Larder hospitality group’s family of drinking and dining venues including Grandma’s Bar, Bistecca and The Gidley.

Click here to read more about The Rover.