Mere Catherine - Potts Point

A survivor from a past age. A mum and pop operation: petite Nanette front of house and Gerard rattling the pots in a tiny kitchen. Pictures Gerard in full, st... read more A survivor from a past age. A mum and pop operation: petite Nanette front of house and Gerard rattling the pots in a tiny kitchen. Pictures Gerard in full, starched chef's kit which adorn the wall contrast with his more Onslow like presentation while actually cooking. A very limited menu - one main dish: Chateaubriand and a specials board containing other offerings some of which are more or less permanent like the Canard a l'orange and steaks. A tiny dining room with just 16 or so seats. Plain and unadorned - the food is the focus here. The menu is a reflection of the restaurant's genesis in the French revival period of Sydney in the 1970's and 1980's and is as quirky as can be. It's necessary to book because once Nanette thinks she's got enough diners for the night she turns away walk ins with a polite "Sorry, we are fully booked!" despite there being empty tables. It's BYO only nowadays it seems too, with $8 per bottle corkage. Each dish is cooked individually to order. How Gerard manages his Lilliputian kitchen is a joy to watch. We had the Chateaubriand with Bearnaise Sauce. Perfectly cooked, the quality of the meat shines through. The whole meal was a French cholesterol bomb and delicious. The restaurant has a loyal following of diners. On the night that we attended there was a couple from Melbourne who declared that they made 2 or more trips a year to Sydney just to dine here. "There's nothing anywhere near as good in Melbourne" madam enthused as she ordered the duck a l'orange. Her husband agreed. At another table was a couple from the country who also declared that they made a trip to Sydney just to dine there. The restaurant, bistro really, has a limited sweets menu containing the French classics of Creme Caramel and Mousse au Chocolat both of which are hand made and very good indeed. Strangely, however, there are no cheeses on offer at all to finish off your red wine with. While Gerard's cooking is very professional, Nanette's table service is a bit rough and ready at times. She's easily distracted, but it all happens in the end. No flashy silver service, just honest to goodness bistro service and very French but thankfully devoid of Gauloises ash. The food isn't cheap which is probably part of the reason Nanette so readily turns prospective diners away with such ease. If you like French food the way it was done by Escoffier you'll enjoy the time warp quirkiness of this place. Yes, they have the obligatory accordion and Piaf recordings playing while you dine, but that's as fancy as it gets. No candles, no starched white table cloths and napkins. You come here for the food and to reminisce.

A survivor from a past age. A mum and pop operation: petite Nanette front of house and Gerard rattling the pots in a tiny kitchen. Pictures Gerard in full, st... read more A survivor from a past age. A mum and pop operation: petite Nanette front of house and Gerard rattling the pots in a tiny kitchen. Pictures Gerard in full, starched chef's kit which adorn the wall contrast with his more Onslow like presentation while actually cooking. A very limited menu - one main dish: Chateaubriand and a specials board containing other offerings some of which are more or less permanent like the Canard a l'orange and steaks. A tiny dining room with just 16 or so seats. Plain and unadorned - the food is the focus here. The menu is a reflection of the restaurant's genesis in the French revival period of Sydney in the 1970's and 1980's and is as quirky as can be. It's necessary to book because once Nanette thinks she's got enough diners for the night she turns away walk ins with a polite "Sorry, we are fully booked!" despite there being empty tables. It's BYO only nowadays it seems too, with $8 per bottle corkage. Each dish is... read more

A hidden gem An old styled French restaurant with elderly chef and not so young waitress. Wonderful food that took some time to cook showing authenticity H... read more A hidden gem An old styled French restaurant with elderly chef and not so young waitress. Wonderful food that took some time to cook showing authenticity Highly recommended with wine by the glass. Maybe another visit tomorrow ! !

This place was recommended to me some time ago by my work colleague, but aside from what he recounted to me, I can hardly find much info about the place. What k... read more This place was recommended to me some time ago by my work colleague, but aside from what he recounted to me, I can hardly find much info about the place. What kind of restaurant has no internet presence whatsoever nowadays! The answer is a quaint, cozy, quintessential provincial French restaurant. The small place is run by an old couple, Gerard's the chef who runs the kitchen Nanette runs the service front of house. It was Tuesday night and we were the only table there for the whole night, but that didn't take away from the experience at all. The menu although short were all classics. We had the Onion soup escargots for entree, I'm not normally one for onion soup, but it was rich and decadent with a hit of port. The mains are a bit pricey at around $50 per person, but it was worth it. The chateaubriand (only to be shared between 2 people) was tender and juicy, served medium rare with a rich rich Bearnaise sauce. The roast quail was also delicious, juicy and well seasoned, and big serve too. The chocolate mousse for dessert was of a darker cocoa base, but not too sweet. I really enjoyed my experience here, but it's not somewhere you can come often, as you'll be bored with the limited menu, and broke by the rather pricey meal.

It’s a hidden cute little restaurant. It’s been running by an old couple. We’ve been to this place twice. I like this place because it feels like we are eating... read more It’s a hidden cute little restaurant. It’s been running by an old couple. We’ve been to this place twice. I like this place because it feels like we are eating meals at a cozy home. It’s a very small place so a booking is essential. I enjoy the atmosphere and the traditional food they serve.