Restaurant Hubert is an ode to an evening spent sipping cocktails, attending live theatre performances, and indulging in Martinis and oysters, Cognac and cheese for a memorable dining experience. A labyrinthine dining hall features private rooms as well as bars that play soft live jazz soundtracks – making the restaurant truly unforgettable.
The atmosphere
Restaurant Hubert was created to capture the feeling of an unforgettable Paris night out, complete with underground tunnels that cut mobile reception to zero, making dining as theatre an experience like no other. There’s cocktail bars, oysters, cheese plates and long chats over glasses of Pernod – plus an in-house theatre where live jazz bands perform! Plus you’re likely to spot celebrities too!
Start your Bligh Street experience off right with a push of the door and an impressive collection of miniature bottles as you climb down a spiralling staircase. As you make your descent, the venue transforms into a dark yet intimate atmosphere; lighting levels drop, red velvet drapes billow around you as a baby grand piano takes centre stage – an unforgettable journey for sure!
As you approach your table, the menu presents itself as an homage to classic French brasserie cuisine. Chef Dan Pepperell has designed an experience that celebrates both old and new dishes; expect classic French items such as escargot XO and steak bavette served up with dressings or flavor combinations that might surprise.
The food
As soon as you step through Restaurant Hubert’s unassuming wooden door on Bligh Street, its decadence becomes immediately obvious. Like a grown-up C.S Lewis adventure, Restaurant Hubert transports visitors from Sydney’s drab streets to Europe’s lavish postwar splendour – thanks to Swillhouse Group owners Jason Scott, Anton & Stefan Forte (Baxter Inn, Shady Pines & Frankie’s Pizza), chef Dan Pepperell (10 William Street). A feast for the senses with plush red velvet curtains; an impressive collection of miniature bottles; plush red velvet curtains reminiscent of music hall in Parisi.
The menu at Cafe du Vin features French cuisine with some modern flare. Escargots drenched in tarty XO sauce or golden allumette potatoes filled with wagyu tartare stand out amongst recent French openings as distinctive offerings that set this spot apart from others.
Pricing could use some improvement; portion sizes and overall taste do not justify its steep cost. But for those seeking an exciting and unique place to celebrate, this should definitely be on your list of places to try! Just bring along friends or a romantic date as crowds can become quite noisy at times; make sure to enjoy a drink or two along with live jazz music while experiencing that special sense of transportive magic!
The service
No matter where you visit – from sipping on a Martini at the bar, to dining room table service or even heading down to watch classic movies in their theater – you will experience top-of-the-line service here. Led by chef Dan Pepperell of 10 William Street fame, his staff knows just how to open oysters properly and plate duck parfait with maple syrup jelly in just the right quantities.
The entire space is like an ode to an elegant evening out that begins in a cocktail bar and winds its way through dinner, soft live jazz music and rounds of Cognac. Scarlet curtains, fringed lamps casting a romantic glow and endless wine bottles lined against walls create an ode to such an experience; bow-tied waiters whiz from spiral staircase to table while providing fresh bouquets of tulips at every tabletop are the finishing touches on such an evening out.
This menu pays tribute to classic French brasserie dishes, offering such dishes as XO escargots, duck liver parfait and the prized bone marrow butter that enriches rare Angus sirloin. In addition, there are a selection of larger share dishes like whole Australian rock lobster with Armoricaine sauce and cognac for you to experience here.
The drinks
Restaurant Hubert requires a gentle push to open its doors, unveiling low-lit wooden stairs that spiral downward into an antechamber lined with miniature bottles and an abundance of red velvet curtains and baby grand piano. From there a dining room awaits with plush red velvet curtains and baby grand piano as a tribute to big night out experience in Sydney that includes drinks at the bar, watching live performances in theatre-like setting, Martini cocktails and Cognac sipping. Anton and Stefan Forte of Swillhouse Group (Frankie’s Pizza, Baxter Inn & Shady Pines), Jason Scott and Dan Pepperell of 10 William Street have combined forces in creating something truly Sydney-specific.
Start off your meal right with some classic French brasserie dishes with a modern flair like Hubert baguettes & charcuterie before moving on to larger shared plates such as the smoked eel brandade & roast cauliflower gratin or whole Australian rock lobster with sauce Armoricaine.
The wine list at La Table des Vins is equally impressive, featuring some of France’s premier artisanal vintners as well as world-class benchmark bottles. Be sure to save room for dessert; we highly recommend Melon en Surprise ($22), an extraordinary delight featuring Santa Claus melon, finger lime, sorrel jelly and young coconut sorbet! The cocktail list is smart yet concise, offering both wines and spirits selections for pairing.