Tomislav Restaurant (Darlinghurst, Sydney)

Yellow fin tuna with egg linguine.

Fresh on the Sydney dining scene, Tomislav Restaurant offers punters an opportunity to experience owner and Chef Tomislav Martinovic’s distinctive brand of modern Australian cuisine.

Situated in buzzing Darlinghurst, on the cusp of the colourful Kings Cross strip, Tomislav presents a meeting place for everyone from locals to Sydney’s culinary cognoscenti. Neat, yet unpretentious, the restaurant marries old school with contemporary cool, boasting impressive views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and iconic Coca Cola sign – think ‘Blade Runner’ meets Tourism Sydney postcard. The imposing, rustic exterior wall belies the cosy atmosphere Tomislav has created within - the perfect place to enjoy Chef Tomislav’s surprisingly quirky menu.

Duck fillet.

Warm potato cream with peas & ham.

The compact selection of dishes have been inspired by Chef Tomislav’s previous experiences – both from his childhood growing up in Sydney, and his work some of the world’s most revered professional kitchens (including Aria with Matt Moran, Bennelong with Guillaume Brahimi and Heston Blumenthal of The Fat Duck). Surprisingly, it is the former than can truly be credited with forming the basis for the Tomislav culinary ideology.

Many of the interesting, well-priced dishes represent a tongue in cheek play on iconic Australian fare – food that Tomislav enjoyed so much as a child. It is this creative take on contemporary Australian cuisine, immaculately conceived and imaginatively presented, that runs throughout the menu. From the Poached Comboyne Hen’s Egg – a subtle yet surprising take on pea and ham soup – to the Poached Yellow Fin Tuna – a glossy sausage of linguine paired with a square of melt-in-the-mouth tuna and Kraft cream cheese inspired condiment – Tomislav’s dishes have a distinctly Australian bent that is bound to become his signature.

Chocolate & coconut bar with milk ice and chocolate sorbet.

Apple crumble.

Food / Restaurants | Where: Sydney, NSW

While the Tomislav menu harks back to yesteryear, the eclectic, delicately conceived, and visually appealing set of dishes are a testament to Tomislav’s incredible skill and use of contemporary techniques. The result is dishes that people can relate to in some way, a menu as old as it is new - a deliciously incongruous combination that ultimately is as pleasing as it is thought provoking.

‘Extraordinary new future-bistro… this is serious stuff in casual guise, a showcase for the clarity and lightness of modern thinking and cooking. Tomislav Martinovic says he doesn’t want to be taken too seriously but he’s too good not to be.”

Terry Durack, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 2010.