The Thousands

From time to time, you stumble upon a restaurant so mind-bendingly good you feel compelled to tell your friends, treat your folks and start a Facebook group extolling the virtues of this sanctum of culinary gold. Almond Bar is exactly this type of establishment with one exception; I don’t want to tell anyone. Hell, I don’t even know why I’m telling you because it’s hard enough to get a table as it is.

Stepping through the dark timber facade of this unassuming Darlinghurst eatery feels like setting foot in an Arabian fairytale. The Syrian specific menu contains all manner of toothsome treats like muhamarra (a dip of red capsicum, chilli, walnut and pomegranate) and samki harra (roasted barramundi fillet with coriander, tahini, lemon and garlic). You might want to wipe that drool of your chin about now because I haven’t even begun to mention the reassuringly fitting wine list, nectarous cocktails or ambrosial desserts.

Owned and operated by sisters Carol and Sharon Salloum, Almond Bar is an altogether family affair and one that charts the evolution of generational traditions through the most simple and satisfying of indulgences – eating and drinking. Now please don’t tell anyone else.