Family-owned pub group JDA Hotels has given new energy to the food and beverage offering at the Mountbatten Hotel with the opening of Thai restaurant Sita within the hotel.
Owned and operated by the Feros family, the Mountbatten Hotel’s new restaurant offering puts chef Air Jantrakool at the helm of the kitchen in the heritage Haymarket pub. Born in Chiang Mai, Jantrakool’s cooking is shaped by her Northern Thai heritage, with the authentic flavours of her homeland reflected in Sita’s menu.
A celebrated chef in Sydney’s Thai culinary scene, Jantrakool worked alongside renowned chef David Thompson for 15 years at Sailors Thai. With more than 35 years’ experience in the kitchen, she has also worked in other esteemed Sydney restaurants such as Chon Thai, Betel Leaf, Tapioca and Noble Canteen.
“Sita is more than just a restaurant – it’s a love letter to the food of my childhood,” says Janrtakool.
“Each dish is made from the heart, as if I were cooking for family. JDA Hotels has given me a space to share these flavours with Sydney in an environment that values authenticity and warmth.”
Crafted from decades of Thai culinary experience, the menu at Sita puts a modern spin on traditional Northern Thai specialty dishes.
Jantrakool’s signature, Muu Krob Piew Wan, is a crispy pork belly dish in a sweet and sour sauce that has been perfected over the course of 20 years. Other highlights from the menu include Khao Soi, a Northern-style Thai curry with soft egg noodles, crispy noodle topping and pickled mustard greens; Chor Muang, hand-shaped butterfly pea dumplings; and Northern Larb Moo, minced pork salad.
The Thai influence extends to the cocktail list at Cherries Bar, also located inside the venue, with highlights such as Phuket-Calada (pandan-infused tequila, dark rum, Malibu, mango juice, lemon juice and cream), Pandan Paradise (Malibu, coconut syrup, pandan syrup and pineapple) and the Mandarin Silk Margarita (tequila, Cointreau, lime, orange juice, mandarin silk and orgeat syrup).
Dating back to 1882, the historic pub has retained its heritage while giving the Sita restaurant space a more contemporary feel. Designed by Span Design Studio, the classic Aussie pub image seen from the outside makes way for a more vibrant interior with cherry-toned ambient lighting, mirrored walls and ornate gold mouldings.
Here’s what to expect:
