Like a canary down a coalmine, Little Red Robin was a brave forerunner for Lane Cove’s major redevelopments. It opened long before the massive Canopy development was built across the road, and relied on good old fashioned word-of-mouth to spread the news: This robin soars mighty high for a little bird.
There’s a charming degree of formality here in the service – the team exudes professionalism in the form of astute menu knowledge, high standards of presentation and a politeness in communicating that could impress the toughest of old-school European diners.
Don’t tighten your bib just yet, though. The cocktail menu showcases a sought-after habanero spirit from Empirical (Copenhagen), and there’s koji on your grass-fed beef. There’s Japan getting freaky with native Australian ingredients at every turn – a good sign that the team here are riding on the right side of the global post-Noma-ferments food curve. It’s a restaurant that knows how to use a range of influences to achieve a punchy and flavourful bar menu most of us could walk away from admitting we tried something new today. A regularly changing menu means you should arrive with an open mind, not an open instagram feed.
Owners Alessandro Nelli & Michelle Warren have clearly poured a lot of passion into this project, the relatively small space an opportunity to focus on the tiny details. Beautiful glassware and crockery adorn their positions in military alignment and the comfortable cushioned seating seems to absorb sound. Well, it’s either that, or the chefs have figured out a secret to working in near-silence. It’s a cool and calm ambience, and whilst any venue can fork out for some classy interior design, it’s the unseen factors that make you feel relaxed and charmed. A wine list over 100 bottles long sweetens the deal residents of this leafy pocket of the north shore.