Bessie’s and Alma’s, Surry Hills: Restaurant review

To step inside this hot-right-now wine bar and restaurant (Bessie’s is the diner, Alma’s is the bar) from the team behind nearby hit Bar Copains, is to be struck by the inescapable need to eat whatever’s cooking, immediately. It might be the grilled wagyu rib cap threaded onto a steel skewer, or a blistered disc of wood-fired sourdough flatbread slathered in garlic and herbs. Equally snackable options include ruffles of house mortadella with retro devilled eggs, or a springy Moreton Bay bug sandwich. The half chicken with punchy house-made peri peri sauce, meanwhile, smartly blends restaurant elegance with chook shop nostalgia. The wine list provides something for every mood, from supple Loire Valley gamay to palate-pushing Italian skin-contact blends. The plates are small and the tables aren’t much bigger, but the vibe is huge. It’s the quintessential Surry Hills (and possibly even Sydney in its entirety) restaurant of the moment.

Price Guide

Bookings

Recommended

Wheelchair Access

Yes

Opening Hours

Lunch Thu-Sun; Dinner daily

The Gourmet Traveller Team

Gourmet Traveller is Australia’s trusted authority on food, travel and luxury lifestyle, bringing the latest news and trends to life through quality journalism, enticing recipes and evocative photography. For more than 55 years, it has been inspiring and informing Australians with the best in cooking, dining, travelling and shopping. Our critics bring the expertise of years of critical eating, drinking and writing to the table. Plus, as the country’s leading title in the luxury sector, Gourmet Traveller works closely with Australia’s leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to give our readers exclusive access. The Gourmet Traveller legacy is one of trust, prestige and relevance.

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