0°C | Thursday November 13, 2025 
25 August 2025
By James Mullan
In the middle of the COVID pandemic, Jamesray Khoury, co-owner of the Rusty Rabbit, took a risk
by expanding his Darlinghurst café to St Leonards. More than four years later, his Freelander
Place venue is not just surviving but thriving, becoming a North Shore favourite.
Khoury, who has worked in hospitality since the age of 14, told The Sun that the original
inspiration for the Rusty Rabbit came from its Darlinghurst location. “We wanted to do
something earthy, industrial, rusty,” he said, referencing the sandstone building that housed the
first café. He started the business with his brother Josh, who also had extensive experience in hospitality.
The menu takes a “contemporary modern Australian” approach with “a little bit of a Middle
Eastern twist.” Many dishes, Khoury explained, are “based off our childhood memories,” giving
diners a comforting yet distinctive take on familiar flavours.
Breakfast and brunch staples include brekky wraps, eggs benedict, burgers and the signature
ricotta pancakes—“lovely fluffy” pancakes served with ricotta, pistachio and passionfruit berry
compote.
The Middle Eastern-influenced dishes have proven particularly popular. The dukkah avo pairs
smashed avocado on soy linseed with whipped feta, dukkah, cherry tomatoes, pomegranate,
pickled onion and a poached egg. The biggest crowd-pleaser is the lamb eggs: sourdough
topped with labne, lamb kafta, grated cucumber, mint, pomegranate and zaatar poached eggs.
Other fusion highlights include chicken shawarma tacos with parsley herb salad, pickled
peppers and garlic tahini. Khoury added that the sweet potato fritter and wasabi salmon are also
strong sellers.
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Consistency is central to the Rusty Rabbit’s appeal. “We don’t really change the menu that often
because we find our core that people love and then we hold onto them,” Khoury said. He also
pointed to the café’s unique ice crushes—mint lemonade variations that have evolved into
refreshing blends like watermelon.
The move to St Leonards came after a Darlinghurst regular from Mirvac, which was developing
a building in the precinct, suggested the brand for the site. Khoury noted that the exterior shared
design elements with their Darlinghurst shop. Many Darlinghurst customers were already from
North Sydney, creating a natural crossover when the new café opened.
The St Leonards venue has weathered ups and downs but now enjoys a loyal following. While
several neighbouring businesses have closed, including the Mayflower, Rusty Rabbit continues
to grow.
Recently, the business expanded again, returning to Concord after closing its Burwood location
during COVID. The reopening was warmly received. “Over 70% of our customer base was old
Burwood customers saying, ‘Thank God you’re back,’ which is awesome,” Khoury said.
Looking ahead, Khoury emphasised the family-run nature of the business and a cautious
approach to expansion. “As much as I’d love to open up more, it has to be within our means,” he
said. “As long as we can provide the same quality and the same service wherever we do it,
that’s the most important thing—making sure everything remains premium.”