Sydney brunchers, hold onto your smashed avo toast because The Rusty Rabbit has landed in Concord, and it’s bringing all the charm, cheek and killer eats that made its Darlinghurst and St Leonards siblings local icons.
The newest outpost is a bit of a homecoming for brothers Jamesray and Joshua Khoury, who first opened in Darlinghurst back in 2014. After closing their Burwood location, the pair wanted to return to their Inner West roots, and Concord locals clearly approve. Within days of opening, a whopping 70% of their former Burwood regulars were back at their favourite brunch spot, proving community isn’t just a buzzword here, it’s everything.
To celebrate the Concord launch, they teamed up with Son of a Baker for a pastry pop-up every Saturday and Sunday in July. If you miss it, fear not, because they’ve assured us there’s plenty more fun collaborations to come from fashion to food, keeping the space playful, funky and fresh is the aim of the game.
How do you describe The Rusty Rabbit vibe? It’s something that extends past the four walls, as it’s able to be captured in all three locations. Think warm industrial interiors, cheeky signage, indoor and outdoor dining spots, and a welcome mat out for kids, prams and pups. All the sibling spots ooze creativity, from the whimsical Rusty Rabbit character (yes, there’s enviable merch!) to the whimsy-led touches that come straight from Jamesray’s background in design.
We could talk all day about the place feeling like a home away from home, and that may be what keeps you there, but the food is what will you get you there to start. It’s nostalgia with a twist. The menu nods to the Khoury brothers’ Lebanese heritage, serving up childhood favourites with a brunch-friendly spin. Think Shawarma Tacos, Lamb Eggs with labne and za’atar oil, Sweet Potato Fritters, and their famous Signature Pancakes stacked high with whipped ricotta and fresh fruit. Steak and Eggs is a popular protein bomb that was voted onto the menu by the people after the special went wild – such is the power of the community here. Don’t miss the fresh juices though, especially the mint lemonade, which immediately transports you to a sun-drenched beach no matter how terrible the weather.
While Darlinghurst continues to be the OG flagship (and can even be hired out as a private event space), St Leonards keeps North Shore locals well-fed, and Concord’s got Sydney talking – at The Rusty Rabbit this is more than coffee (although the barista team make a strong argument against that with their latte art); it’s community, connection and one seriously good brunch.
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