Located in a stunning terrace lies one of Surry Hills’ newest neighbours, Fauna. This contemporary Australian restaurant blends seamlessly with the suburb’s charm, creating a cosy abode for relaxed weeknight dinners, Sunday family lunches, or a quick bite after work.
Co-owners Geraint Coles and Julia Quisumbing have built the dining experience at Fauna around connections to the natural world, native ingredients and the people who care for our precious flora and fauna. The restaurant brings these majestic and curious relationships to life by combining native Australian elements with aspects of European heritage.
Designed by head chef Ace Espiritu (fresh from Icebergs Dining Room and Bar), Fauna’s modern Australian menu draws inspiration from Italian-Mediterranean cuisine, but with a twist. At Fauna, Espiritu steers away from Nonna’s classic Italian fare, instead focusing on native produce and weaving in his Filipino roots.
To kick off your meal, choose between Appellation rock oysters dressed with finger lime caviar and Champagne mignonette; tartare chips with nori, kangaroo, miso aioli and cured yolk; and Berkshire pork cheek piadina, which is inspired by Filipino sisig (a sizzling pork belly dish).
Fresh seafood is also a common theme throughout the restaurant’s pasta and mains, seen in a centrepiece whole flounder with grilled lemon and herb butter; a subtly spiced Balmain bug arrabbiata, and the Tasmanian octopus with olive tapenade and eggplant puree inspired by insalatang talong (smoky eggplant salad which Filipino’s usually serve with grilled squid). These plates are ideal for sharing alongside standout meat mains like Bass Strait rib-eye, barbecued spatchcock and twice-cooked pork belly.
You’ll find plenty of places to cosy up with family and friends, whether it be in Fauna’s intimate 16-seat front dining room, moody upstairs bar or outdoor garden oasis. The aesthetic, characterised by marble tables, rattan sofas and lush greenery, is both romantic and inviting, while custom illustrations featuring flora and fauna evoke a further sense of connection to the natural world.
