Parlar games

Sydney may be in the grip of an Italian food tidal wave but one restaurateur is bucking the trend.

Andrew Becher, who earlier went against the Italian trend when he opened the French brasserie, Franca, in Potts Point in 2019, is now launching a Catalan-inspired venue, Parlar.

Parlar will occupy a position next door to the glamorous Franca on Macleay St and is expected to open this month.

“On my travels throughout Europe, I always stopped by Barcelona,” Becher says.

“You could say I have a long-standing love affair with the city. I love the Catalonian coastline and surrounding regions, in particular the Perpignan area of southern France which has a strong influence on the Parlar cuisine.”

The 55-seat Parlar (which means, 'to speak' in the Catalan language) will have executive chef Jose Saulog in the kitchen and a menu of sharable dishes in the Catalan tradition.

These will range from tapas dishes such as anchovy churro, to a more substantial dish of fideuà marinera — a hot seafood platter.

To finish, there will be a crema Catalana, the Iberian version of a creme brûlée.

The room is hotly anticipated, given the luxe look Franca brought to the neighbourhood at a time when many restaurants were opting for bare-bones fit outs. Maybe a little luxury is what we all need right now.

3/81 Macleay St, Potts Point