An ode to ‘suburban cuisine’ and the food cooked by babas, served in a kitschy-cool warehouse tucked in the backstreets of Marrickville. Why we love it: Yes, some of the prices at Baba’s Place may make you raise an eyebrow ($69 for half a roast chook?). But few Sydney dining experiences are this original, this joyous and this delicious.

Stumble through Marrickville’s industrial backstreets and you might come across Baba’s Place, a homey, living room-esque restaurant behind an unassuming garage door. Through a small doorway, the warehouse space opens into high ceilings, knick-knacky decor and busy tables filled with happy guests. A short but sweet Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-influenced menu offers snacks and bigger share plates, with a neat drinks list spanning Greek, Croatian and Lebanese wines.

Persian rugs, religious iconography and an assortment of vintage tableware have turned a Marrickville warehouse into the welcoming living room of a Middle Eastern grandmother. The kitchen-side bar is the best spot for solo diners to sample small plates, particularly if you appreciate a chatty chef explaining the virtues of Afghani bread. The pan fried rice noodle with chickpea miso, taratour and garlic oil ($18) is an unusually delicious combo, packed full of umami.

Following a series of pop-ups, Kelly and the Baba’s team found a permanent home in a red brick warehouse in Marrickville. The Sydney restaurant’s fitout is designed to drop you straight into a family dinner at your grandma’s house, illuminating the beauty of the suburban home with family photos, white frilly tablecloths and 80s tableware. And, as with any meal around the family table, the dishes are all designed to be shared.

It’s no secret Marrickville is the coolest place on earth (seriously, look it up) but, somehow we’re still managing to find hole-in-the-wall hotspots that haven’t yet been taken over by the general public. Baba’s Place is definitely one of these. Located just off the beaten track in a warehouse that reeks of rustic charm, this Sydney restaurant is unlike any other, but that’s precisely the point.

The unobtrusive entrance—tucked between mechanics and warehouses in Marrickville’s industrial district, it looks like a garage from the front—isn’t enough to keep Baba’s Place under the radar. On any given night, but particularly Fridays and Saturdays, expect to find the inner west joint positively teaming with locals and—gasp!. —those who’ve made the great journey across the bridge.

One of the first places I will be heading to when lockdown is over is Babas Place, but until then, we can all get a healthy takeaway craving fix. Serving up the type of food you know well if you grew up in your grandmother's kitchen, their wholesome, flavour-packed food always hits the spot. Don't forget to grab a can of Aldi soft drink to go.

In Marrickville’s gritty heart lies this celebration of Sydney’s cultural and culinary diversity. The music and the vibe crank up a notch after 10pm, but you can still get a snack and a slosh of vino here right up until they shut the roller door at midnight.

Location: 20 Sloane St, Marrickville, NSW 2204 Ph: (02) 9090 2925. First up, should this eatery really best on our rundown of the best Greek restaurants in Sydney?