History
A Classic Belgian Bistro For 21st Century Sydneysiders
In Belgium, home of today's fashion and design avant garde, the typical bistro has its own distinctive style, with a way of eating, drinking and socialising that has developed over centuries and continues to this day. Sydneysiders have been enjoying this tradition at Epoque in Cammeray for almost 10 years, a spacious Belgian bistro from the early 1900s classically recreated for the 21st century. Heritage Belgian Beer Café at 135 Harrington Street at The Rocks, opened in July 2003 and has been another great success for owner Olivier Massart.
"This is as close to the real thing as you can get" says Olivier. "We envisioned making something authentically Belgian in all its detail, and introducing it to Sydney completely intact. Sydney has embraced the concept because our focus on good food, good beer and a great place to enjoy them, fits in perfectly with the Australian eating and drinking culture."
And now for the third time, Belgium went to Balmain and the newest sibling is making great waves down the hill in Balmain East with lots of local support as well as regular patrons of the other two venues. Balmain Belgian Beer Café opened at 82 Darling St on 21st November 2008. It has a spacious bar area at the front and a beautiful beer garden at the back, perfect to enjoy one of the 40-odd Belgian beers on offer at the bar.
Epoque, Heritage & Balmain were designed by the trendsetting Belgian-based design firm, Creneau. All venues feature glowing mahogany-stained solid oak, engraved bar stools, bevelled mirrors, vintage beer posters and etched glass. Every detail of the interiors reveal an aspect of Belgian life, including the old and new imported floor and wall tiles, replicas of the famous Belgian Mannequin Pis, "saving board" used to stash salaries in a safe place while drinking and gambling, and a large suspended factory clock, stopped at 5 minutes before midnight, a perfect excuse for the poor landlord!
The 1920s bars, restored to their original glory, are topped with marble and zinc. From there specially-trained bartenders pull the famous beers of Belgium - including Hoegaarden, Leffe and Stella Artois - with the customary two fingers of foam at the top.
The menus are as authentic as the décor. Olivier Massart, whose career began at "La villa Lorraine", one of the most famous Belgian restaurants around Brussels, finally decided to open his own restaurants, after seven years in diverse restaurants around Sydney. Before settling in Australia, he worked in prestigious restaurants in France and London. He acquired his reputation at award-winning restaurant "Gekko", at the Sheraton on the Park Hotel in Sydney. He presides over a traditional seafood-based cuisine, their signature dish being a one kilo pot of freshly steamed mussels prepared with one of 8 different sauces. Meat dishes include such classics as "Carbonnades Flamandes", a hearty beef stew, and steak et frites.
Desserts feature the fine Belgian Callebaut chocolate in the traditional Dame Blanche of vanilla ice cream, rich imported chocolate sauce and a cookie on top, or in a luscious chocolate mousse.
Design
Interior
Creneau International Designers
Creneau was established ten years ago in Belgium. Since then the company has grown into a forty-strong, multicultural design firm with satellite offices in London and Barcelona. Creneau is active in many fields such as retail, restaurants, bars and exhibition stands. Creneau offers its customers a full service agency from concept development through implementation and visual merchandising. Their customers include companies such as Converse, Miss Selfridge and Pepe Jeans.
Furniture & Décor
All interior pieces (tables, chairs, antique tiles, wood panelling, bar, mirrors, old stove, etc) are imported from Belgium. The look is designed to replicate the traditional Belgian bistro and has been recreated from architectural salvage - mostly with vintage pieces from the 1900s to the 1940s.