Cubby's Kitchen takes over old Tokonoma Sydney site

With ambitious city fine diner Bouche on Bridge and Tokonoma Sydney shutting their doors late last year, the boom CBD restaurant precinct around Bridge Street has lost a little of its lustre.

Restaurateur Matt Yazbek has been quick to fill the Tokonoma space with a concept he hopes will make an advantage of the very thing that shook Tokonoma.

"There's a massive redevelopment of two city blocks opposite, which has changed the demographic," he says. "So we've relocated our Surry Hills pop-up Cubby's Kitchen here."

The restaurant opens this month, and while Cubby's signatures such as basturma "rock 'n rolls", and oysters with pomegranate and chilli lemon sauce have survived the journey to the city, Yazbek has also introduced a separate menu.

"We have a construction menu for the 1000 builders on our doorstep. Simple stuff, like wraps," he says.

Yazbek and his sisters, Diala and Amanda, have also brought a new partner into the business, former NRL star Anthony Watmough joining Cubby's Kitchen as a co-owner.

Open Mon-Fri noon-3pm; Mon-Sat 5.30pm-late.

44 Bridge Street, Sydney, 02 9252 9648, cubbyskitchen.com.au