Chairman Mao finds a new home, a new name but the same menu favourites

Chairman Mao and its "wobbly" Hunanese signature is back, with a tweaked name and slick city address. The Chairman has opened its doors among the grand sandstone buildings opposite Hyde Park on College Street, after calling time on its Kensington digs last year.

While the original was popular with a who's who of Sydney chefs, the sequel has seemingly even more grand ambitions, with antique furnishings and sweeping curtains and city views.

Owners Andrew Bao and Dingjun Li opened the accessible Mrs Ding in Botany last year, followed by The Chairman with even more premium produce.

"Abalone and free-range chicken," Bao explains. The opening menu includes a dish of thinly sliced, house-smoked pork with bamboo, a dish traditionally served during Spring Festival in Hunan.

The original Chairman restaurant's signature braised pork belly – which one reviewer described as "so indulgently wobbly it melts off your chopsticks" – is also back.

They've also introduced an okra dish, steamed barramundi with soft tofu and Hunan fried rice.

Boa explains produce from the lakes and mountains of Hunan, coupled with hot, sweet and sour flavours through smoking, steaming and slow-cooking, make it one of the most unique of China's regional cuisines.

They were lucky to inherit the former site of Madame Shanghai restaurant in College Street, and were able to retain most of the still new interior and kitchen.

The duo weren't as lucky with Sydney's staff shortage, which Boa says delayed The Chairman's opening.

Open Wed-Sun lunch and dinner.

Shop 1, 18 College Street, 02 9697 9189, thechairmanrestaurant.com.au