Jane Surry Hills

(4.5 stars) As we make our way through to our table through Jane’s happy hour crowd, we’re recommended the flatbread ($14), “but only if you’re on statins”. Stuffed with spinach, leek and Cheddar, it sounds temptingly rich. We had our hearts set on the set menu ($95/head), or I would have taken this advice. We’re also reliably informed that to enjoy the good value happy hour, you either need to arrive when they open at 5pm, or book ahead. A diminutive but elegant, citrusy sub-zero martini ($25) and the lifted lime and jalapeño in a spicy marg ($24) both incline me toward rebooking. Wine—by which I mean Chardonnay—pretty much starts at hundred bucks. Coming in just shy of that (not inconsiderable) entry point, the 2024 Clarence House Focus Chardonnay ($96) is a quality drop. It’s lemony against pickled mussels, sweetcorn and saffron chilli oil, and kefir buttered bread, baked down the road at sister restaurant, Arthur. Stracciatella crowned with compressed watermelon cubes, balanced habanero, and mint eats like a pleasurable peek into the summer stretching ahead. Kingfish dotted with date and broad beans is a masterpiece, down to the delicately handled citrus dressing. The unusual accompaniments refresh the palate to taste every note of the silky, pale fish. Our wine bloody loves this dish; the kangaroo tartare that follows it, not so much. Regardless, I enjoy scooping half our Coat of Arms bound in bush tomato chutney onto just-the-right-amount of house-made crackers. Owner/chef Tristan Rosier ensures set menu diners leave full (without add-ons) and not starved for vegetables. There’s a clever Brussels sprouts salad, where charred brassicas intertwine with rocket and golden raisins. The potato pave is golden layered perfection juxtaposed with tangy whey and cured yolk. Salted quandong is quirky against slightly chewy duck breast. It doesn’t reach the benchmark set by Ennui, but few do. Dessert however, is a triumph: creamy jersey milk panna cotta nestles under frosty beetroot granita spiked with tangy rhubarb and tart rainforest plum: wow.

Such a good and cozy spot. We absolutely loved Oscar, our British waiter, he made the whole experience even better. We went for the set menu and everything was on point: the kingfish and the mussels were fantastic, and the kangaroo tartare was super unique and surprisingly good. The real plot twist was the dessert: jersey milk panna cotta with beetroot, Davidson plum and rhubarb. Honestly one of the best desserts we’ve ever had. That sweet-and-salty mix was insane, you just can’t stop eating it. Beautiful experience overall. We’d 100% go back.

We got 2 set menu and a bottle of wine. Food is excellent and the ingredients are carefully chosen and very fresh. The atmosphere is informal and a bit hipster. The service deserves a special mention as the waiters were super professional, fast and friendly. Highly recommended.

We had an absolutely delicious meal at Jane, we opted to go with more of the small dishes so we could try more of the menu. Standout dishes were the pickled mussels with sweetcorn and saffron chilli oil, and the spanner crab with brioche toast. Every dish we had was lovely and so flavourful. I love that this is a local spot as well.

In short…cute, tasty and great service! This was exactly what we needed. We enjoyed a long lunch at Jane @ Surry hills on a Friday. In advance of the day, staff were helpful and accommodating to enable the design of a celebratory lunch. And then on the day, it was perfection. Food is yum. Cocktails were the same. It is designed to be small and shared servings. Australian flavours are subtle and well assembled. The stand out dishes for our menu were the lamb dumplings, the scallops and the Brussel sprouts. Oh! And the desserts!! Our one regret is not ordering more desserts! Surprisingly my one regret was the tri tip. For such delicate slices of very well cooked steak, it was a little stringy. The location is small but works for average size groups. With one round table that would allow for a 6-8 people at the front of the restaurant. Great service. Cool ambience. Offers a fun and affordable happy hour service beyond the normal service times.

Jane Surry Hills is one of those places that quietly does everything right. The food was thoughtful, beautifully executed, and genuinely satisfying without trying too hard. Every dish felt balanced and comforting, yet still interesting (the green ant sorbet)! The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, and the service made the experience even betterz It’s the kind of place where you feel looked after without being rushed. I left feeling full, happy, and already thinking about coming back. A really solid spot in Surry Hills on par with their sister restaurant (Arthur) that delivers exactly what you hope for and more.

Jane is easily one of the best restaurants in Surry Hills. The food is creative, beautifully presented, and full of flavour. The standout for me was the kangaroo tartare—perfectly seasoned and bursting with freshness, it’s one of those dishes you remember long after the meal. The duck was also outstanding, cooked to perfection with rich, deep flavours that made every bite memorable. Overall, it’s a place that delivers both on atmosphere and incredible food.

Jane lived up to the expectations regards the food. Sophisticated and elegant are the two words that come to mind. We enjoyed our late lunch so much yesterday we have already decided we’re returning for my partners birthday. The only reason for the 4 stars on service and atmosphere was for two reasons: 1. We ordered bread and while it was added to the bill we never received it or an acknowledgement that it was forgotten. We also didn’t follow up as we decided we didn’t need it. 2. At times the music was louder than what was comfortable making conversation a little hard without raising your voice. Overall this was not enough to overshadow the excellent quality of the food and we will definitely return.