Guillaume, the restaurant in the Sydney suburb of Paddington that has been the flagship of chef Guillaume Brahimi’s cluster of eateries, will serve its last soufflé at the end of this year.
In a statement released today, Brahimi, who trained with Joël Robuchon in Paris, and has been a mainstay of Australian fine-dining since the 1990s, said that the lease was up on the site and he planned instead to focus on his Bistro Guillaume restaurants at the Crown properties in Melbourne and Perth, and his newly opened branch on George Street in the Sydney CBD.
“While I have loved the last three years at Guillaume in Paddington and it has been a difficult decision not to take up the further option period, I am happy with my decision to focus all my energy into my bistros around the country,” he said.
Over-saturation of Brahimi’s brand in Paddington may have factored in the decision. Brahimi runs the kitchen at The Four in Hand by Guillaume, mere steps away in Sutherland Street, and his role with the Public House Management Group also extends to working as “culinary ambassador” to The Royal, on Glenmore Road, and to Bistro Moncur, in the neighbouring suburb of Woollahra.
Guillaume trades as normal until its final service on 30 December.
Guillaume, 92 Hargrave St, Paddington, NSW, (02) 9302 5222
