For over a quarter of a century, CJs French & Fondue Restaurant at Neutral Bay has been the place to go to experience traditional fondue!
When the weather turns cool, there’s something undeniably appealing about gathering around a bubbling pot of authentic Swiss cheese fondue. While the dish has all but disappeared from Sydney’s dining scene, it’s still the star attraction at CJ’s French & Fondue Restaurant in Neutral Bay, where locals have been dipping crusty French bread into molten cheese for almost 26 years.
CJs also offers French-style’ Fondue which features hot oil with sauces and meats (Beef, Chicken & King Prawns) and Chocolate Fondue, as well as a diverse French à la carte menu. They’ve also recently added a must-try for French foodies – the ‘Vol au Vent aux Escargots (snails)’.
For owners Brigitte and Calwin, fondue isn’t a passing trend – it’s a family tradition.
The story began long before CJ’s opened its doors in 2000. Brigitte’s parents established Le Petit Savoyard in North Sydney in 1981, introducing Sydneysiders to traditional French and Swiss cuisine. When that restaurant closed in 1997, the family took a short break before Brigitte and Calwin decided to continue the legacy in Neutral Bay.
While fondue restaurants have largely disappeared over the decades, CJ’s has remained one of the few places where diners can still experience the real thing.
“There are no shortcuts,” says Calwin, who has spent more than 35 years cooking French, Swiss and Italian cuisine. “You have to use the right cheeses.”
His signature Swiss fondue combines premium Gruyère matured for up to 24 months, Emmental, Schallerhocker and other carefully selected Swiss cheeses, blended with white wine, garlic and a hint of nutmeg before being served with fresh French bread. The longer-aged cheeses deliver the rich flavour and texture that have kept customers coming back winter after winter.
The steaks have earned an equally loyal following. Cut to order, served with sauces made fresh for each meal and featuring premium Angus Reserve eye fillet, they’re proof that sometimes simplicity, done well, is all you need.
For Brigitte, the secret has always been keeping things authentic without overcomplicating the menu. Every dish is prepared fresh, minimising waste while ensuring every plate leaves the kitchen at its best.
Neutral Bay itself has changed dramatically since the couple first arrived. Calwin remembers a bustling neighbourhood filled with American and Japanese residents, while today the area continues to evolve as businesses adapt to changing times, rising costs and the challenges left behind by COVID.
Yet CJ’s has stayed true to what it has always been.
“We’re old school,” Calwin says simply, and it’s an approach that extends beyond the kitchen. With its cosy French atmosphere, welcoming service and year-round BYO policy, CJ’s feels less like a restaurant and more like a neighbourhood institution where people gather to celebrate birthdays, reconnect with friends or simply warm up over one of Sydney’s last authentic fondue experiences.
CJ’s French & Fondue Restaurant
📍 Shop 4, 99-111 Military Road, Neutral Bay
🕒 Open Tuesday – Thursday from 6:30pm, Friday and Saturday from 6pm
🌐 https://cjsrestaurant.com.au/
📞 (02) 9909 3249
Story: Elissa Bramley
