Fishnets

The Verdict

In mid 2024, Alex Cameron embarked on his very first solo venture with Table Manners.

Set in the former Wet Paint site in Bronte, the venue has become synonymous with its 400-strong offering and relaxed Euro atmosphere.

“Opening Table Manners was about bringing a new energy to post-5pm Bronte” Alex tells Urban List.

“I’m proud to be bringing another venue to Bronte and the surrounding area, and to show a different side of what we can do. There’s a growing community of venues here, and we’re hoping people start to see Bronte as a destination for dining.” 

And the idea is that Alex’s newest Bronte addition, Fishnets, builds on this concept.

Located about 400-metres down Macpherson Street from Table Manners and across the road from the sourdough bread haven that is Iggy’s Bakery, Fishnets is perhaps the more nocturnally-led concept of the area, combining elements of a fine dining restaurant with the laidback vibe of your local. The space hasn't housed another venue for a while, though it did "briefly host Moxhe Pastry and before that, an Indian take out" says Alex. 

It's darker, more intimate and delightfully treated with leather booth seating, custom scones from Melbourne creative Joanne Odisho and New Zealand-based Frangere Studio. Look at the walls and you’ll also find a mix of work from local artists Nix Francia and Rebecca Fernon, all paying homage to Japanese folklore reimagined through an Australian lens.

"We actually based our wall colourings off Japanese pop artist Hiroshi Nagai," mentions Alex.

"Who depicted Japanese scenes through a California surfside lens."

What stands out here is a menu crafted by former Sokyo omakase chef Sanghyeop Kim, in collaboration with executive chef Luke Churchill, spanning the likes of elevated nigiri (including akami, chu-toro, kingfish, paradise prawn and scampi), hot plates and an offering of Aussie and Japanese wagyu.

Snacks and small bites round out with tuna tartare alongside gochujang and smoked radish, a seafood-forward spin on the Cantonese classic with bug and prawn spring rolls, as well as chicken wing yakitori served with house shichimi—a Japanese spice blend that translates to seven-flavour chilli pepper.

On larger plates, the approach draws from Japanese and Euro culinary frameworks so think Murray cod with turnip and roast chicken dashi, local pippies with yuzu, and tuna katsu with cabbage and Japanese demi-glace.

That dialogue continues straight into dessert where Japanese flavours are very much at the forefront in a couple of reimagined forms—matcha folded into Basque cheesecake, hojicha ice-cream sandwiches and seasonal sorbets sourced from Sydney’s staple gelateria, Mapo.

Much like Table Manners, Fishnets has a laser eye for the wine list (although much more focused), including a dedicated section to Japanese winemakers working all around the world. Next to this, a line-up of sake, which you’re encouraged to explore at your own pace. If cocktails are more your shtick, it’ll please you to know the crew has ex-Fred’s talent, Russell Downie, on the bar so you can look forward to a Kitanai Martini (Four Pillars yuzu gin, dry sake, pickled ginger brine) and a Shiro Negroni (Yetsu Boshi citrus gin, bitter gentian, rosa vermouth, mandarin).

Image credit: Supplied