Emilia reviews a quaint French restaurant that’s thriving despite major disruption

Press PLAY below to hear Emilia’s review in full

Right on the front line of the level crossing removal in Surrey Hills — where the tension between workers and businesses has been heavily publicised — sits a quaint French restaurant.

Instead of letting the inaccessibility, noise and dust get to them, they pivoted multiple times to keep their business relevant to their current clientele and alive. 

Despite being sheltered from road view, and at times essentially blocked from their entrance since last July, the locals around there are fiercely loyal and continued to support the French bistro through take away, lunches and dinners. This came after surviving COVID!

Walking in off Union Road you find the quaint Franco-themed restaurant, French themed images fill the walls. The name Chez Nous literally means ‘at our place’, that’s how they make it feel — like you’re a part of the family.

I understand now how they’ve kept such a tight community. The local community Facebook page includes posts from residents organising their book club there — a testament to the community the eatery has built.  

The original owner studied at The Ritz in Paris and for 10 years after that took Aussies on ‘a cook’s tour of France’ through the local produce markets, cooking schools and restaurants of Paris, Lyon, Alsace and Brittany. She went on to hold French dinner nights out of a local cafe in Mont Albert where she gained enough popularity to start her own restaurant in Surrey Hills. The knowledge and passion was passed onto the new head chef Kris and the staff there.

When we sat down there was only one other couple in there, an older couple whom the staff spoke to in French — a very good sign. Another couple sat next to us later and I heard their French accent filter through the voices. By the time we left the cosy shop front was packed. All up I’d say it seats 20 or so people. It’s intimate but in the best way. At one point in the night there was champagne popped and everybody clapped!

So, the food. They have a set menu for $90 a head, I know it’s definitely a bit pricier but hear me out on how much you get.

There was peppery pâté on arrival and we ordered the shiraz that came in the cutest baby jugs — to die for.

We chose the rillette porc and the soupe a l’oignon for entree. The onion soup was creamy and sweet with cheesy bread on top.

For mains we had to have boeuf bourguignon and canard a l’orange, both were rich and sweet. The duck came with a side of buttered veg and the bourguignon felt truly homemade with the meat perfectly tender.

And, final course was a splattering of desserts, cakes and macarons which we took home as we hurried out to a show (and the fact we simply couldn’t fit anymore in).

It’s definitely one for a special occasion, but there’s nothing that makes you feel better than knowing you’re supporting a small business that has refused to say die with a cult community following.

Extra bits:

It’s BYO, with just $5 corkage. Lunch costs $49 for two courses or $49 for three courses. 

Bistro Chez Nous
122 Union Rd, 3127 Surrey Hills
bistrocheznous.com.au