For more than a decade, Longrain has not only served as Sydney’s home of modern Thai cuisine, but also as a popular drinking spot at its adjoining bar, which popularised stick drinks amongst Aussie imbibers.

And as of yesterday the evolution continues, thanks to an extensive expansion into the level below that gives the cocktail bar a fully dedicated room, and launches a casual 18-seater and takeaway – Shortgrain Canteen and Shop. It also features a new upstairs room of dining tables that allow bookings at Longrain for the very first time.

The new watering hole boasts an impressive wall o’ booze, with a dark-stained bar flanked by booths dressed in camouflage. There’s no hiding the fact that this bar was sired by Longrain, with bartenders furiously wielding their muddlers to whip out caipiroskas or Ping Pong cocktails – their ever-popular mix of citrus vodka, lychee liqueur, lychees, passionfruit and lemon. If you’re after something a little more manly, go the Bloody Longrain, a potent mix of vodka, cucumber and a healthy dose of the joint’s ‘Thai style’ bloody Mary mix.

No longer just a holding area for the restaurant, the bar boasts some mighty tasty, cocktail-soaking snacks. Tuck into a reworking of chef Martin Boetz’s signature – caramelised pork hock – topped here with a smoked mussel and served with spicy sriracha sauce. The melt-in-your-mouth lamb breast, served with a spiced plum sauce, is like a meaty thick-cut chip. It’s indulgent and most definitely delicious.

You can enter the bar from the upstairs restaurant or via Shortgrain’s entrance around the corner on Hunt Street. The latter’s seasonal menu currently includes the likes of chicken and winter melon soup or a spicy yellow curry of lamb, cooled by a cucumber relish. The Shortgrain Shop also boasts all the specialty ingredients you need to create Longrain’s fabulous dishes at home, from curry pastes to dressings.

Eat, drink or merrily take-away, there are reasons aplenty for checking out Longrain’s new spread.

 

Where: 85 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills (shop entrance on Hunt St)
Hours: Cocktail Bar, Daily 4pm-midnight | Shortgrain Canteen, Mon-Fri 11am-3pm | Shortgrain Shop, Mon-Fri 10am-6pm
Phone: (02) 9280 2888
Details: longrain.com.au