Nestled between the Crows Nest Hotel and Stoned Crow, in a site which formerly housed a butcher shop, Li’l Darlin shines jewel-like in the newly revamped Crows Nest neighbourhood. If the name is familiar, you may know the original Li’l Darlin in Surry Hills – favourite of the weekend bottomless brunching crowd and after-work watering hole for staffers at local publishing houses.
The new sister site in Crows Nest has a personality all of her own. Dark terracotta walls, soft lighting and a ferns spilling from well-stocked shelves, it feels like the living room of your fanciest friend.
Come Friday and Saturday night her bar stools and corner booths are filled with revellers, relishing the freedom of work-free weekends. On a weeknight, locals have started flocking to the neighbourhood’s newest sweet spot, exploring the a la carte menu and working their way through the cocktail list. Plush booths are the pick of the pews, with street views from bar stools and high-top tables running a close second.
The cocktail menu is dressed to impress. Many cocktails, including all those on the ‘Legends Cocktails’ list, can become mocktails (we loved the sweetness of the Fairy Floss Martini and Gummy Beartini). The modest wine menu has more ‘by the glass’ options than we’ve seen for ages and favours domestic labels but features international labels where needed, like for the Argentinian malbec. The Li’l Darlin team are generous with their secrets, book into one of their signature cocktail class with at least seven of your closest friends and you’ll learn how to entertain each other with the panache of the Li’l Darlin bartending team.
Across the menu, flavours are delicately balanced and the tapas make a fabulous accompaniment to the cocktails. The prawn tacos, are topped with juicy prawns, salsa verde and pops of sweetness from the corn. The warmly-spiced chicken gyoza delivers a delicious crunch and burst of flavour in every bite. The pizzas have a thin-crusted and are generously-topped. We opt for the Li’l Darlin Deluxe, a feast of chorizo, pancetta, onion jam, mozzarella and mushrooms on a tomato base, dressed with creamy aioli and peppery rocket.
Service is charming and sophisticated, refined after years of making the Surry Hills site so special.
For those curious about the local treasures to be found along Sydney’s new metro line, in the 10 minutes it takes to consider your next tapas order, you could metro-hop from Li’l Darlin in Surry Hills to visit her new little sister in Crows Nest. One thing is for sure, you’ll be treated beautifully in either site, after all – it’s all in the family.
Li’l Darlin Bar and Restaurant, 23 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest, 2065
