Something big, bold and extremely fun just landed in the historic bank building on the corner of Baptist and Cleveland Streets. Meet Island Radio, the first of four attractions at Redfern’s new $500 million dining and lifestyle precinct, Wunderlich Lane.

Island Radio is also the first in a one-two punch by House Made Hospitality (Martinez, Hinchcliff House), with a Baptist Street Rec Club opening upstairs early next year. While it’s hardly the group’s first rodeo, the team says it’s absolutely House Made’s most “colourful” venue yet.

“We wanted to push the boat out a little bit and do something different.” Says House Made’s Head of Beverage, Jason Williams. “We want to be a party restaurant.”

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The venue, which takes cues from the tropical islands of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines, is split into two distinct sections: a relaxed noodle bar up front and a pumping “eating house” out the back.

“Most of the dishes aren’t super traditional. We’re using more Western techniques,” says executive chef Andrianto “Andy” Wirya, formerly of Queen Chow and Mr Wong. “But there’s a lot inspired by the flavours or the concepts of the four countries.”

Set in a beautiful, burgundy open space, the noodle bar is designed for a good time, not a long time. It’s perfect for a quick bite and bev before hitting the town, or for dates and solo dining adventures. Think steaming hot bowls of laksa with king prawns and pork wontons, smoky char kway teow, ginger shallot noodles, and Filipino-style skewers. In other words, stuff that’s great for when you don’t feel like sharing.

As you venture further in, the bar’s burgundy tones turn into coastal blues and bright oranges – the official sign that you’ve entered eating-house territory.

On this side, plates are absolutely meant to be shared. The menu spans four pages, starting with snacks such as satay skewers threaded with LP’s smoked ox tongue, and Wirya’s spin on steak tartare – where raw beef is stuffed into Indian panipuri along with a spoonful of chilled rawon brodo broth, Indonesia’s popular black beef soup.

Hits from the noodle bar can also be ordered here – but you’d be wise to save stomach space for Wirya’s larger-format protein dishes. His pick? Babi Guling, or roasted Balinese suckling pig. Massaged with curry-like dry rub, the dish is a labour of love, and takes almost a week to prepare. “It’s one of my favourites but it takes a long time,” laughs Wirya.

To really dial up the party vibes, a DJ spins records from a booth overlooking the dining room on weekends. Plus, a 12-seat private dining room upstairs comes with its own karaoke room for post-dinner singalongs.

No matter where you sit, Island Radio serves resort-style cocktails “with a twist”. Williams, who spent 18 months perfecting the Singapore Sling at that country's iconic Raffles Hotel, does a clarified version which sees the classic cocktail milk-washed and batched to impart a creamier mouthfeel than the OG you know.

Altogether, Island Radio is inspired by the concept of “future desa” (desa being the Indonesian word for a village community in Java, Bali or Madura). And with the imminent arrival of Baptist Street Rec Club upstairs, the community is about to get a whole lot bigger.

Island Radio

Corner of Cleveland & Baptist Streets, Redfern

(02) 9072 9304

Hours

Wed to Fri 5.00pm–late
Sat to Sun 11.00am–late

islandradio.sydney
@island.radio