Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney

It's not every day that one of the world's best chefs sets up shop in your city. However, Sydney can now say that Massimo Bottura—the chef behind three-Michelin-star restaurant Osteria Francescana—has brought a new venture to our sparkling harbour city. 

But you won't find any white tablecloths, silver service, or often prices here. Why? Because, unlike Bottura's award-winning Osteria Francescana, this restaurant is not for the well-heeled, but rather for Sydney's vulnerable communities.

Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney is an Australian-first social impact collaboration between the Italian chef and, as the name suggests, local food waste initiative OzHarvest. While the pairing can seem at odds—a degustation at Francescana costs around 500AUD)— it is, in fact, a natural fit. Both Bottura's charitable Food for Soul project and the Australian not-for-profit seek to promote awareness about food wastage and hunger—hence the name Refettorio which comes from the Latin word 'reficere', meaning 'to remake' and 'to restore'.

Ok, so what is Refettorio exactly? Located on Surry Hills' Crown Street, the two-storey, 50-seat space is primarily a communal kitchen for socially vulnerable communities, serving lunch every Tuesday–Friday. 

The kitchen is run by a small team of chefs and volunteers, with the lunch menu changing weekly. The dishes are always gourmet vegetarian fare that's made with rescued ingredients, naturally. And, most notably, the meals are free. 

“When people ask what a Refettorio is, I describe it as a cultural project that shares beauty and hospitality in a different way, where we treat our guests like we do at our restaurants. It’s a warm hug we give as guests are welcomed into a beautiful space with delicious food, and we say this is your place and we are here for you,” says Bottura.

“It has always been my dream to open a venue where vulnerable people can enjoy good food in exquisite surroundings and be treated with dignity and respect," adds OzHarvest CEO and Founder Ronni Kahn.

Outside of the gratis lunches for disadvantaged Sydneysiders, the space hosts educational programs run by OzHarvest, as well as activities and support services for local charities. 

As for the wider community, you can experience Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney by heading to one of its upcoming neighbourhood dinners or a private event. And if you'd like to support the cause, you can donate your time as a volunteer at Refettorio, or make a financial contribution to OzHarvest and Food for Soul via their websites here and over here. 

Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney is serving lunch to vulnerable communities every Tuesday–Friday, from 12–2.30pm. For the wider community, it hosts regular neighbourhood dinners, which you can book here.

Image credit: Nikki To