Located in The Cannery in Rosebery, Frenchies is a hidden gem and a popular destination all at once. Part bistro, part brewery, it boasts an industrial aesthetic with an added touch of cosiness.
What sets Frenchies apart from many other establishments is that the menu is a little different – sometimes very different – every day. Although most ingredients are made in-house, the dishes are adapted to showcase the fresh seafood and ingredients available in the markets on any given day. So if you’re a foodie looking for a diverse menu continuously curated by people who are equally passionate about food – this place should definitely be on your list.
We visited Frenchies to sample their new Wednesday mid-week Pasta & Wine Night which runs every Wednesday throughout autumn and winter, offering a main pasta dish and wine (or in-house beer) for $35 per person.
The pasta choices on our visit was Beef & Lamb Lasagne, Gnocchi Gorgonzola, or Hand-rolled Tagliatelle with Grilled Octopus, Strawberry Clam, Cuttlefish, and Bottarga. They all sounded ridiculously tempting but, after lengthy deliberation, my dining companion and I opted for the Lasagne and Gnocchi with the strict proviso that we were both allowed to try the other’s dish. (Food envy is a very real and terribly traumatic thing.)
Our culinary adventure began with a glass of wine and some fresh sourdough bread which was – in typical Frenchies fashion – baked in-house. The crust was just tough enough and a perfect balance for the fluffy yet dense sourdough interior. Served with salted black sesame butter, it summed up the extra-mile attention to detail that makes this place so special.
The beef & lamb lasagne was filling, but not too heavy. The creamy comté cheese 24-month bechamel sauce complimented the richness of the meat perfectly and took this well-known dish to the next level. Meanwhile, the handmade gnocchi in gorgonzola creamy sauce – paired with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc – did not disappoint. Again, the sauce was rich and flavoursome without being too much. The doughy gnocchi was also lightly toasted on the side which added an extra bit of playful texture.
While desserts are not included in the pasta night deal, they proved impossible to resist. Unable to choose – again – we shared the Chocolate Fondant and the chef’s take on Mille-feuille along with a glass of Muscat Beaumes de Venise.
The fondant was delicious, as expected – soft and warm on the outside, gooey and rich on the inside. The mille-feuille, however, was the crown jewel of the evening. The light and flaky pastry combined with the crème pâtissière and a side of hazelnut ice cream was the perfect way to end the night.
The only downside to the pasta menu – if you can even call it that – is that you might be seriously tempted to go off-piste. The rest of the menu is mouthwateringly enticing. If I hadn’t been there specifically to review the pasta, I might have opted for the butter poacher bar cod, with chorizo and Szechuan pepper parsnip in a bay leaf burnt butter sauce. But, alas, it was not to be…
You can’t miss ordering their in-house beers. Continuing with our theme of inertia fuelled by too many delicious options… we got a tasting tray to sample their numerous offerings. My favourite was the light and fruity Freestyle Hops Cold IPA.
Whether it’s beers, curated cuisine, or French-Italian fusion, Frenchies delivers on all counts. For non-locals, it’s well worth the visit from further afield. While you may have to take a few trips around the block to find parking during the day, there is plenty of free street parking at night.
Frenchies offers bottomless brunches and sharing menus for those of you who also struggle to make difficult culinary choices. And if all of that wasn’t enough, they will soon be opening a patisserie and bakery just a few doors down from the bistro.
I know where I’ll be earning my winter belly this year…
Frenchies Bistro & Brewery
The Cannery, 6 / 61-71 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery NSW 2018
Wine & Pasta Night starts Wednesdays from 6 pm $35pp
Opening hours: Weds: 2–10 pm, Thurs – Sat: 12–11 pm, Sun: 12–4 pm
