Good news for Sydney fans of Shuk

While we are just shy of the new year, Bondi favourite SHUK have already confirmed plenty of expansion for 2019, with the cafe welcoming two new venues in December. The beloved Eastern Suburbs eatery will be bringing its take on Middle Eastern fare to Chatswood and Elizabeth Bay with the arrival of a duo of new venues. After five years spent manning Shuk in Bondi, and recently welcoming Shuk Bakery to the fold, owners Ariel Hefer, ErezBeker and Yonatan (Yoni) Kalfus are ready to take their Israeli brunching North. “Finding the perfect venue for SHUK to grow was more important than how quickly we could expand”, says Kalfus. “We absolutely love our two new spaces and look forward to bringing the specialities that SHUK is known for to two new areas.”

First to open will be Chatswood

Both new venues will retain the same style (and fare) for which Shuk has become known. “We wanted there to be a familiarity between the venues, the single round table upon entry and the long share style tables seen in Bondi will feature in our new spaces,” explain the team. The Chatswood hub is first cab off the rank; the 100-seat eatery will open on Monday December 10. Designed for business crowds and locals alike, the focus will remain on breakfast and lunch with al fresco dining encouraged thanks to the offering of 40 outdoor seats. There’s also talk of extending business hours to offer evening dining in time.

As for the Elizabeth Bay eatery

The cafe will open in early January on a back street, neighbouring Roslyn Gardens and just a short stroll from Rushcutters Bay. The 50-seat venue comes equipped with a sun-drenched balcony, sitting pretty on the corner of the new Trebartha Apartments. This outlet also boasts Shuk’s first private dining room, designed as a special space for guests to host intimate events.

What to order

Head Chef German Sanchez will continue to lead the kitchen at both new Shuk outlets, and has confirmed that the venue’s famed dishes including the Shakshuka, Teff pancakes, hummus with lamb and grilled haloumi salad will be available at all three. But there will of course be a few new dishes introduced to differentiate each outlet; “Shuk is known for its Isreali/Middle Eastern classics, we want to hero these and continue to push the boundaries with new dishes, ” explains Sanchez, “We want each venue to have its own personality.”