Fior Gymea

Fior is an elevated but casual Italian eatery from the people behind Surry Hill's staples Jane and Arthur—but you'll find it smack bang in the middle of the Sutherland Shire. Taking up residence in Gymea, it's a couple of steps away from the fine-dining aspects that have made the Surry Hills pair so sought after, but we definitely aren't complaining.

The 120-seat restaurant comprises a main dining room and open kitchen, bar space, and wrap-around, all-weather terrace by award-winning Sydney architects and interior designers Luchretti Krelle. The design evokes Italian elegance with lots of natural light, and offers a space perfect for everything from solo diners to large group affairs.

Conceptualised as a neighbourhood restaurant, Fior’s menu is well-priced to encourage regular visits and casual experiences for locals. Chef and owner Tristan Rosier (who grew up in the Shire) and head chef Will Lawson’s menu is rustic and designed for sharing, applying traditional Italian techniques to local and seasonal elements.

While Fior may be keeping things lowkey, their menu definitely doesn't disappoint. Seafood takes centre stage—oysters lead the charge with a mignotte, kilpatrick or grapefruit granita dressing, followed by classic pasta mains, foccacia, crudo, and all the bits we are seeking for a staple Italian feed—and there’s a chef’s selection set menu for $75 available at all services.

Come dessert, some excitement comes in the form of the roaming gelato trolley offering house-made flavours like chocolate, pistachio, rhubarb and melon, with a tiramisu, panna cotta and house take on the affogato completing the sweet offering.

Image credit: Fior | Instagram