If you have never tried French food, a visit to L’Héritage will certainly give you a taste of France. Tucked away in the historic Chowder Bay submarine base, L’Héritage has gorgeous views of both Clifton Gardens beach and Sydney Harbour, which become a delightful pink at sunset. The white-washed interiors and smooth jazz tunes add to the feel of a Parisian café, and with an award- winning wine list, you will genuinely feel yourself transported to France.
Owners Alena Rayrolles – who also runs the popular Frenchy’s Café in Georges Heights – and Julien Audibert opened the bistro three years ago with a view to offering Sydney a slice of France right here on the Lower North Shore. Head chef Julien, who is a Parisian native and trained in France, said the menu is ‘modernised’ French cuisine which steers clear of heavy sauces and creams. “I don’t want people to feel too heavy when they finish the meal. I want them to (have room) to try many dishes as well.”
Recently awarded an Australian Good Food Guide chef hat, the menu is not just escargots and soufflé – though you will find those traditional dishes on offer. Julien has taken his favourite Parisian meals – and those cooked by his father and grandmother from the south of France – and given them a simple, contemporary taste. So the entrecôte frites – beef scotch filet with french fries and pepper sauce – was incredibly tasty, with the juices showing high quality meat needs no camouflage. As for the duck, a perfect balance of orange flavours is a reminder why the French are famous for this dish.
“I want the people to feel like they are in France when they come here,” Julien says.
There are some seafood treats coming up in a new menu, with the lobster tartare on squid ink tapioca chips an absolute visual treat, looking like coral and tasting like the sea.
Contrary to many restaurants which have done away with an extensive dessert menu, at L’Héritage you will find a fantastic array of sweet treats, including crepes suzettes which were drenched in congnac and to my delight, set alight! Make sure you try the absolutely decadent fondant au chocolat, which has vanilla gelato to offset the oozing chocolate.
With plans for live music and special wine-tasting evenings, L’Héritage is certainly a place that will give you a unique experience.
L’Héritage
7b Chowder Bay Road, Mosman
Phone: 9968 1658