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Good Food hat15/20Critics' Pick

Etta

Updated ,first published

Snacks and cocktails at Etta.
1 / 10Snacks and cocktails at Etta.Supplied
The dining room.
2 / 10The dining room.Supplied
Chilli oil parfait.
3 / 10Chilli oil parfait.Supplied
Prawn skewer.
4 / 10Prawn skewer.Simon Schluter
Crispy duck leg.
5 / 10Crispy duck leg.Supplied
Zongzi with shiitake mushroom, ginger and five spice.
6 / 10Zongzi with shiitake mushroom, ginger and five spice.Supplied
The front room at Etta.
7 / 10The front room at Etta.Simon Schluter
Kingfish skewers.
8 / 10Kingfish skewers.Annika Kafcaloudis
Woodfired rare beef.
9 / 10Woodfired rare beef.Supplied
Ginger cake.
10 / 10Ginger cake.Supplied
Good Food hat15/20Critics' Pick

Etta Dining

Contemporary$$

A destination for so many reasons.

Like singer Etta James, Lorcan Kan’s cooking has a distinct voice that spans genres. The chef turns out note-perfect accompaniments, fire-licked meat and fish, produce and things-on-sticks. For a concise menu, there’s a lot going on; the eclectic wine list provides back-up vocals and added intrigue.

Kan has a way with chilli oil. His cult dessert parfait with tingling heat gets deserved attention, but a banana, miso caramel and ginger pudding is less tongue-confronting and straight-up comforting. See also: zongzi, a tetrahedron of sticky rice with black bean chilli crisp and oyster mushrooms – savoury to the power of three.

There’s delicacy in house-made golden tofu: its gently fried outer yields to a quivering middle matched by silky corn puree. The chic grey room and unpretentious service are totally of this city. Entering the space is a warm embrace.

Good to know: Etta restaurateur Hannah Green is behind the forthcoming Daphne three doors down.

Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant can’t pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.

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