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[title]The new look, thoroughly modern Marrickville Metro launched its impressive line-up of shops, boutiques and dining destinations in June 2021. The expansion has seen Marrickville Metro grow by 50 per cent and take over a former factory with exciting new retailers in food and drink, lifestyle and fresh food. Their commitment to community spirit has seen the installation of multiple unique artworks from local creatives across the venue, making Marrickville Metro a cultural hub in the Inner West.
When they launched they seriously expanded their dine-in options, and after a tough few months of restrictions – with some eateries open only for takeaway and others temporarily closing – they have kicked back into full swing. If you missed out on finding a booking for your first post-lockdown meal, the new restaurants on Smidmore Street have you covered as most are walk-in only.
Modern Asian eatery and bar Rice Pantry is already an Inner West local down in St Peters, and now they’ve opened a second venue at the new Marrickville Metro. Their menu features bao, salads and share plates featuring punchy South East Asian flavours. Linger a while over an Asian-inflected cocktail, beer or wine from the small but considered list.
Still in South East Asia, Nanyang Malaya Café is the sibling venue to Nanyang Tea Club in Market City. The Kopitiam-inspired café offers fragrant curries, rice dishes, laksa, roti canai, nasi kerabu (made with traditional blue rice) and Hainanese chicken. Wash it down with tea, Young Henrys beer or Malaya Kopi coffee. All-day breakfast is a specialty.
Combine everything that’s distinctive and delicious about regional Chinese cuisine and you get China Fusion – a mainland franchise bringing together highlights from Shanghai, Hong Kong and beyond.
Craving Japanese? Smidmore Street has a few options. Motto Motto, the casual offshoot of Queensland’s lauded Sono restaurant, is bringing the restrained aesthetic of Japanese fine dining to a more casual setting. Beautiful ingredients are the stars of the show in a series of rice bowls, topped with sashimi-grade salmon in the poke bowls, or Wagyu beef slices for something more warming.
When a light repast is required, head to Sushi Maru for fresh nigiri, salmon kissed with flames on the aburi, ships, sashimi, hand rolls, inside out rolls, big rolls… if it’s on rice and wrapped in seaweed, they have it on the menu here.
Izakaya Tori’s bentos, curry bowls and udons are available for takeaway during lockdown and they are also offering a spectacular DIY yakitori pack. Once conditions have eased we look forward to experiencing their traditional style of hospitality with plenty of Japanese beers.
Sometimes you need the homey comfort that classic Italian fare provides and that’s when you turn to the Grumpy Italian, purveyors of trattoria favourites like fettuccine boscaiola, meatballs, ricotta ravioli, and a pizza with the lot.
All-day eatery Firestone is a triple threat, leaning into all your classic café staples in the morning, but come lunchtime you can either grab a fast, fun bite like chicken and waffles, a club sandwich or a nutrition bowl, or relax over a fancier repast, like their MB9+ Sher Wagyu rump fillet.
There’s no denying Lebanese dining is designed to make everyone happy, from dyed-in-the-wool carnivores here for charcoal meats to vegans feasting on falafel, hummus and tabouli. Add some belly dancing to the mix plus a cocktail or mocktail, and your next celebration is sorted at Raman.
Karl’s Charcoal Chicken serves up delicious, Middle Eastern-style flame-grilled chicken with dips, pickles and salads slathered in garlic sauce – and all meats used are halal.
Saving yourself for dessert? Head to C9 Chocolate and Gelato for waffles, build-your-own ice cream sandwiches, crêpes, fondue, sundaes, outlandish milkshakes or just a classic scoop of gelato. Choosing from the 35 flavours on offer will be the hard part.
How can you not love a place that lets you choose how much cake you want by weight? Kűrtösh are bringing their slabs of Hungarian desserts (and importantly that excellent baked cheesecake) to Smidmore Street, as well as their famous chimney cakes made from pastry rolled around a metal cone and baked until golden and crisp before being coated in nuts, chocolate or sweet spices.
Marrickville Metro is at 20 Smidmore St, Marrickville 2204, close to St Peters and Sydenham Train stations. Buses 355, 302 and 308 stop at Marrickville Metro, and the centre has 1,491 car parking spaces across two car parks.