Opel Khan to open Banter in Surry Hills

The St Margarets development in Surry Hills has seen the failure of a roll-call of restaurants, including one of his own, but it hasn't deterred chef Opel Khan from having another crack.

Khan, who operated Beluga a few years back at St Margs, will open a new venture, Banter, in late October.

"I hate failure, I really believe in the location and I love Surry Hills," Khan says. He's hit some home runs since, including the Palate Hotel in Rydalmere, which has upped the stakes for the gastro pub movement in Sydney's west.

Banter will take a uniform approach to its menu, with all dishes sized between traditional entrees and mains and be priced in the $18-$22 bracket.

Khan is busy on the pans but is also shooting Sydney-based food content for a big US network.