Sydney’s Macquarie Street is more a hotbed of dentists, doctors and politicians than a destination eat street, but there’s finally some restaurant action headed its way.

One of the more gregarious and talented chefs to hit town is opening a restaurant.

David Thompson protege Annita Potter will open a Thai restaurant next month at The Mint building.

“It’s 70 seats, we’ll open it as a pop-up next month, then properly [with a more complete fitout] next March,” she says.

The yet-to-be-named restaurant will spill out onto the balcony of the historic Mint, which was originally built between 1811 and 1816 as a wing of the Rum Hospital.

Potter has been Thompson’s go-to chef as he’s opened venues around the world, journeying from Nahm in London to Singapore, Hong Kong and briefly in Sydney for the opening of Long Chim.

Potter, who recently joined Mint caterer Pearl, explains the restaurant will be different to Long Chim down the hill: “It won’t be street food, it won’t be fine dining, but maybe a little of what Darley Street Thai and Sailors Thai were doing in the beginning as well as some ideas from overseas.”

It also won’t be the only restaurant arrival on the strip. Italian restaurant scion Paola Toppi’s new restaurant in the building at the top of Martin Place is nearing a start.

The Macquarie Street pollies must be licking their lips.

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