Nomad's cool younger sibling Beau Bar opens in Surry Hills

Nomad's cool younger sibling, Beau Bar, opens its doors in Surry Hills on Friday, February 24.

The handsome new arrival endured a complicated birth, missing its 2022 due date. Then, shortly before opening, its head chef, Ibrahim Kasif, resigned.

Kasif, the former owner-chef at the hatted Stanbuli, told Good Food he didn't want to comment on the reasons behind his departure.

Fortunately, Beau Bar is left in experienced hands, with group executive chef Jacqui Challinor taking the reins with its opening menu.

Touted Kasif dishes kingfish tabbouleh and lobster thermidor with saffron rice have made way for Challinor's coral trout with radish chimichurri and "blooming" oyster mushroom.

The intention was always to have a strong focus on fresh seafood, and the interior design incorporated room to present seafood on ice.

Oysters come with pink peppercorn granita, caviar with hash browns and lobster with nori salsa verde.

Stage one of the venue opened earlier this month at the manoush-focused Beau & Dough.

Beau Bar is more grown-up, with co-owner Rebecca Yazbek working with Smart Design Studio to fashion an intimate and moody space with caramel banquette seating and an imposing black bar with a temperature-controlled wine wall behind.

The redevelopment of the Reservoir Street building has also helped reactivate a small laneway that's been blocked for nearly a century.

Not only does the lane – which runs between Reservoir and Foster streets – provide outside seating, its semi-hidden entrance on Foster Street provides a shortcut between the Beau twins and Nomad.

Lined with tables, it's one of the cutest eat-streets in Sydney.

The Beau project was in part inspired by the restaurant group's recent growth interstate.

"After two years living in Melbourne and since opening Nomad Melbourne, the Beau approach is elegant, refined and relaxed dining, embracing our city fringe and neighbourhood location," Yazbek says.

Open daily for dinner (lunches daily from March 4).

52 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills, beau.sydney