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Onyx Grill opens at Marsden Hotel in Burwood

Scott Bolles
Scott Bolles

Ballina king prawns, roasted capsicum, chilli dressing, mango, avocado, fresh coconut, coconut jelly, baby cos lettuce and muoccham dressing.
Ballina king prawns, roasted capsicum, chilli dressing, mango, avocado, fresh coconut, coconut jelly, baby cos lettuce and muoccham dressing.Supplied

With the arrival of the boutique Marsden Hotel and its Onyx Grill in Burwood this week, its newly signed chef believes he was tailor-made for the job.

Florida-born Jeffrey Forrest was the opening chef at The Refinery, a boutique hotel in New York City's Garment district.

"Refinery is 90 rooms, Marsden is 90 rooms. It has a swanky bar and a rooftop, they are incredibly similar," he says.

The Marsden Hotel combines dining with accommodation.
The Marsden Hotel combines dining with accommodation.Megan Johnston
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Forrest, who cut his teeth at Big Apple institution Le Cirque and the SoHo Grand, is comfortable in an environment of accommodation and food venues.

"I was involved [so early] I designed the kitchens at Refinery," he says.

Forrest, who followed his Australian partner to Sydney, is a little later to the project this time. "I on-boarded yesterday," he says.

Beef carpaccio with anchovy mayonnaise, shiso dressing, smoked crouton, crispy garlic, puffed wild rice and frisee.
Beef carpaccio with anchovy mayonnaise, shiso dressing, smoked crouton, crispy garlic, puffed wild rice and frisee.Supplied

The opening menu is still a work in progress, but it'll include a beef carpaccio with shiso dressing.

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"There'll be fire-grilled meats at Onyx Grill," Forrest says.

Skye Bar will have its own menu and a strong oyster line-up.

Onyx Grill joins Burwood's thriving food scene.
Onyx Grill joins Burwood's thriving food scene.Supplied

Burwood might seem a left-field choice for a boutique hotel with rooftop pool and a bar with a roaming Aperol trolley, despite the fact the suburb was a resting point for horse-drawn travel to Parramatta.

But the inner-west suburb has demand for accommodation and a thriving food scene. What's not to like?

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Onyx Grill is open Mon-Thu 5pm-late; Fri-Sun noon-3pm and 5pm-late; Skye Bar is open daily 10am-late.

60 Burwood Road, Burwood, marsdenhotels.com.au

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Scott BollesScott Bolles writes the weekly Short Black column in Good Food.

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