Once you would have bought rifles and fishing tackle there, but three enterprising young Ballarat men have revisioned and reversioned the former Rehfisch’s store in Mair Street to open Ballarat’s latest Asian restaurant.
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Now you can buy Kung Pao chicken, shumai and xiao long bao, alongside a sampling of western dishes as well.
Ran Jin, Tony Gan and Oliver Woo are three friends who saw a need for a more authentic approach to Chinese cuisine in the city.
“I do believe there is good Chinese food in Ballarat, but we can always be innovative and bring something new,” says Ran Jin.
“We’re doing something different from the others. We are from the south-east of China, and Oliver is from Malaysia, so we do have a mix. But we are doing new Asian food.”
Oliver and Ran had met while studying accounting at Fed Uni, while Tony Gan did his apprenticeship as a chef at the old SMB.
The two Fed Uni students met Tony at the Noodle Canteen in Wendouree, where he was chef.
“The whole story starts from last year, when Tony asked me to help at the auction of this building,” says Ran.
Tony Gan, who has 10 years experience in cooking and hospitality in Ballarat, in eventually purchased the former gun shop, home to H. Refisch for 115 years.
“Then Tony said to me ‘are you interested in joining this team to open a new restaurant?’
“I said yes, because I’m always keen to change the situation here in Ballarat in the food industry, especially Chinese food,” says Ran.
“This is a more traditional Chinese food that we do here. Although in traditional Chinese food you share a bowl between guests; we can be little more western here. You can get a single plate if you want.”
The new restaurant is part of a growing reorientation and rejuvenation of the north of side of the CBD towards dining and entertainment, following several new venues opening in Mair, Armstrong and Doveton streets, including the Sporting Globe and the relocated Cafe Meigas.