The food

At Xage in Sydney's Surry Hills, Vietnam-born Minh Nguyen is recreating some of his childhood favourites as well as interpreting modern Vietnamese offerings in a casual environment.

Xage (pronounced "sage") honours the philosophy and culinary traditions of central and southern Vietnam, with an emphasis on spices, freshness and balance. Xage aims to deliver food that's contemporary, simple, tasty and value-for-money.

Overview

Cuisine: Modern Vietnamese

Chefs/owners: Minh & Nui Nguyen

Interior design: Minh Nguyen

Established: December 2009

Price guide: E $8.5-$11.5. M $13.9-$19.9

Features: Wheelchair access, BYO, group booking, alfresco dining, casual, take away

Did you know... The name "Xage" is a Vietnamese blendword of lemongrass (xa) and turmeric (nghẹ)

The chef

One of the talents behind Xage is owner-chef Minh Nguyen. With his partner, Nui, he is also co-founder of the award-winning Summerrolls, Australia's first Vietnamese salad bar. Before dedicating his life to food, Minh was a lawyer and published human rights writer.

The restaurant

Designed by Minh, the interior is minimalist and casual, with smart glossed finishes softened by recycled fence-post timber wall features and furniture.

With an open plan indoor-outdoor dining area, the restaurant is designed to be environmentally-friendly, relaxing, open and accessible.