Concrete Playground

If Felix was in a Paris arrondissement rather than the Sydney CBD, no one would blink a perfectly curled eyelash. Yes, it’s a little piece of Paris and no one’s complaining. From the (sometimes) French waiters bustling around the tiled floors to the decadent crustacean bar and elaborate murals on the ceiling, Felix is the bistro the city has been waiting for - and we can’t get enough of the Steak Frites. It’s a humming, buzzing, people-watchers delight in here: all beautiful wooden finishes, crisp white table cloths and intricate tiling. Energetic chef Lauren Murdoch, a Merivale star from Lotus and Ash Street, delivers food of the same exceptional quality.

All the classic French cues are here: the ever-changing ‘Plat du Jour’, the rotisserie section and that incredible oyster bar. You can lounge at the noisy bar and nibble some chicken liver pate with your champagne, or slide straight onto a banquette and begin with something raw and delicious. Ocean Trout Terrine ($20) or the classic Prawn Cocktail ($18) are a good place to start before you move on to something a little more serious, like Steak Frites, Lamb Pie ($32) or newly trendy Skate ($28), with brown butter sauce, capers and caramelised witlof.

If you swing by for a light lunch, there are salads that take the leaf to another level. Grilled Rainbow Trout ($20), with pickled vegetables and radicchio, is the perfect mix of sweet and slightly sour, while a classic Reuben Sandwich ($18) brings a little bit of New York to the table.

After a lighter than light Passionfruit Soufflé ($18) to complete the ultimate bistro experience, I’d be surprised if you don’t leave saying ‘Tres Bon’.