We know you’re more of a travel into the city not out of it kinda crowd. But some places are worth venturing out of your postcode for. For a good feed in the ‘burbs, go to The Emporium. Forget that it’s in Parramatta, that’s just geography. Trust us, it’s worth the trip for the slow cooked beef short ribs alone. But more on that in a moment.

The Emporium is the Ayoub cousin’s (Sam and John Ayoub are the guys behind The Coffee Emporium franchises) answer to shaking up people’s perception of Parramatta. And they’re well on their way. The restaurant is inside a gorgeous two storey Italian inspired villa. When you’re bringing together a restaurant, bar, bakery and coffee roasting facility under the one roof, you need a really big space. And that’s exactly what The Emporium has found. The venue cost a hefty price to build and fit out (we hear around the $4mill mark!) but you can see where the money went. The big, actually make that giant front door adds wow factor from the get-go and inside you’ll find handmade furniture imported from Venice and ivy and jasmine inside and out for a Mediterranean vibe. 

Outside you have an alfresco piazza perfect for summer (although also nice in winter when the heaters are blazing). Inside is the open plan kitchen and a mix of table sizes that cater to both the intimate and big group shindigs. The drinks list includes Australian and international wines and is several pages long, and while the cocktail menu isn’t overly creative, it has all the classics. 

The menu is broken up into From the Garden, From the Farm, From the Sea, Something on the Side, and Something Naughty. It’s designed to please everyone. There’s no entree menu, but dishes throughout are the same as an entree size so ask your waiter for advice. Standout dishes include the Freshly Shucked Sydney Rock Oysters with Sake and Lime Granita, Citrus Cured Salmon, Beetroots, Horseradish, Olive and Sesame Crumble and the Slow Cooked Beef Short Ribs with Maple Glaze and Green Beans – it melts in your mouth. The best way to work your way through the menu (and to avoid #foodenvy) is to share.

The Emporium doesn’t fall short on their desserts either. The Chocolate and Hazelnut Delice with Salted Caramel Pecan Ice Cream is the perfect end to a night of good company and great food.

If you’re in the area in the morning, coffee is a must. And a sneaky treat from the bakery goes down a treat too.

The Emporium
51 Phillip Street, Parramatta
(02) 9687 1955
www.theemporiumparramatta.com.au