If bigger is better, then Vicinity Dining wins the award for best new establishment in Alexandria. With higher-than-high ceilings, huge metal sliding doors, an enormous open plan dining room and an impressive bar with enough booze to keep most of Sydney going, there’s nothing petite about this place.
Just when you think you’ve got it sussed, discover the separate café, private dining room and ginormous TV screen. There’s plenty of room to play outside too – nab a seat on the timber deck complete with inbuilt gas fire pits (yep, they’ve got winter covered) and retractable shade awnings (hot summer days, no problems).
To match the grand design is cracking food and professional service to boot. Stalwart dishes include the breakfast ‘Green and Gold’ featuring avo mash on toast with broccolini, watercress and a life-changing sou vide egg (cooked at 62-degrees for 45 minutes). Post midday is all about sharing meat and fish from the spit or smokey grill and tucking into solid earthly choices like roast beetroot, lentil, labne and mint salad. Did we mention the Vicinity chips? When the sweet tooth calls, do not go past the ‘Knickerbocker Glory’ which is best described as a banana split on a good dose of illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Deciding when to go? It doesn’t really matter, to be honest. Takeaway coffee and pastry – check. Brunch with the paper – tick. Long lazy lunches – yep. Boozy ‘Bloody Mary’ afternoons – hell yeah. Rowdy dinner with cocktails – is the Pope catholic?
Get a crew together and think big.
Vicinity Dining
90-96 Cnr Bourke Road & Collins Street, Alexandria 2015
T: 02 90021333
Open Monday – Tuesday 7am-4pm; Wednesday – Thursday 7am-10pm; Saturday 8am-late; Sunday 8am–8pm
