After seven years of delayed construction, perfect sets are barreling through Urbnsurf at Sydney Olympic Park – no surf checks required. And as of today, the artificial waves aren’t the only place you can hang ten. Poolside, eatery Sandy’s caters to surfers with an all-day menu, but restaurant Rafi is a standalone affair, welcoming all – surfer or not.
On the upper level of the crescent-shaped building, version two of North Sydney’s Rafi offers panoramic views of the man-made lagoon with the same elegance as its sibling. But the newcomer takes its cue from Applejack directors’ – Hamish Watts and Ben Carroll – love of surfing.
“While it’s an elevated diner experience, you can rock in, it’s casual,” Watts tells Broadsheet. “It was a bit of a passion project for us. We’re both surfers, I’m a bit of a battler.
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SUBSCRIBE NOW“Having this amazing connection to surfing, plus having a restaurant overlooking something that we both love to do, was really exciting for us.”
When working on the concept for the Urbnsurf space, Rafi’s coastal menu kept coming up. “The food just lent itself so well. We just kept thinking, ‘It’s kind of like Rafi!’ This restaurant is perfect for there.” What followed was two years of tweaking the OG Rafi concept for its new location.
While executive chef Matias Cillóniz’s Homebush menu leans toward seafood, there are plenty of grass-fed meat and veggie options too.
All the heavy-hitters from North Sydney are here. There’s the favoured South Coast tuna swimming in aromatic chilli oil and a creamy, nutty tahini; and toothfish – blackened on an open grill until it’s falling apart – topped with a zingy rocket and citrus salsa.
But beyond that, the team has a couple of exclusives here, like steamed barramundi with a miso and yuzu sauce and a winning A5 Wagyu.
The drinks list spruiks twisted classics, and there’s a trio dubbed Sub-Zero, all served at -10 degrees. The chill keeps the flavours perfectly balanced – will you take the Spiced Pecan Old Fashioned with burnt butter and salted pecan? Or maybe the Don Margo, a take on a spicy Marg. There’s also a Mai Tai that’s been given a savoury upgrade with leftover Sonoma croissants from Sandy’s – and it’s best served on the terrace outside.
Luchetti Krelle’s stayed on for the fit-out, executing a design that reflects the beachier brief. Where the original boasts more of a “modern metropolitan” feel, the Urbnsurf counterpart draws inspiration from the Northern Rivers. Natural timber joins warm, earthy tones, while swirls of blue stone nod to the “ocean” outside.
It’s time to ride a wave, book a table and feel the stoke a little further west.
Rafi Urbnsurf
Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush
(02) 8529 8740
Hours:
Wed to Sat 11.30am–11pm
Sun 11.30am–5pm
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