Fink hospitality group signs deal for 160-seater in Surry Hills Village

The Sydney restaurant group with a fleet of harbourside eateries, including Quay, Bennelong and Otto, has turned its attention inland. Fink restaurant group is headed to the hills – Surry Hills to be precise.

Fink chief executive Jeremy Courmadias confirms the group has inked a deal on a site in Surry Hills Village, the sprawling development under construction on the corner of Baptist and Cleveland streets.

Despite Fink forging a reputation with upmarket temples of gastronomy, Courmadias says the yet-to-be-named restaurant will be more of a mid-market and accessible venue.

It's the second Surry Hills project the restaurant group has on the drawing board – in August, Fink will open Gildas, a Basque-inspired wine bar offshoot to chef Lennox Hastie's award-winning Firedoor restaurant, on Albion Street.

The restaurant group's owner, Leon Fink, has a long association with Surry Hills and the office is there, says Courmadias.

"We were really attracted to the quality of the Surry Hills Village development. And its gateway position, the connection with Zetland."

When it opens towards the end of next year, the 160-seat restaurant will sit under a giant oculus (an eye-shaped structure) with tables outside but under cover. "There'll be a beautiful glass roof," Courmadias says.

While a decision is yet to be made on a cuisine and a chef, it's a coup for the area. Fink is famously judicious with its restaurant openings and has a reputation for snaring kitchen talent.

As well as restaurants and shops, the TOGA Group development will include a boutique hotel.