Customer baffled over $10 Jatz cracker entrée at Sydney restaurant

A Sydneysider who visited a trendy restaurant was left surprised after their $10 entrée turned out to be a jazzed-up Jatz cracker.

Posting onto the Reddit forum r/Sydney, the bemused customer took a photo of their Arnott's crackers, which had been delicately arranged on a plate with a dollop of smoked butter and an anchovy.

The unlikely Australian canape appears to be a hit at the new Surry Hills restaurant and bar, Kiln. However, it seems the diner who shared it online didn't quite agree.

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"Is this peak Sydney? $10," they wrote, alongside a photo of two unmistakable Jatz crackers. 

"At a new fancy restaurant. described as Jatz, smoked butter and anchovy. And yep that's what it was!"

Kiln, which opened its doors in October 2022, doesn't shy away from the fact their entrée is literally made with supermarket crackers.

On the restaurant's Instagram page, a photo of the entrée is captioned: "Jatz, smoked butter, anchovy. Says it all."

And even the team at Arnott's have noticed the fun twist on their iconic biscuit.

Amy Wagner, director of PR, told 9Honey Kitchen: "It's come as no surprise to us that Jatz is seeing a surge in popularity, the iconic cracker has been a trusted staple in Aussie households for decades.

"We love how versatile Jatz is! From party platter crowd pleaser to restaurants taking Jatz to the next level with their own unique spins, mixing nostalgia with incredible new flavours."

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When Reddit users questioned why the customer ordered the food when the menu clearly stated it was a Jatz cracker, he replied: "I questioned the waitress and said I have Jatz at home."

He added: "She informed me it definitely was great and worth it."

Some observers claimed they wouldn't have ordered the seemingly expensive Jatz, while others said it was a snapshot of Sydney's inflation crisis.

"If it was in-house made crackers I would've given it a shot, $10 still sounds ridiculous for that," one wrote.

"Millennials can't afford to buy houses in Sydney because they spend all of their money on anchovies on Jatz," another added.

One social media user then defended the chef's decision to serve a fancy Jatz entrée. 

"Remember you're not paying $10 just for a dish," they wrote. "The new Kiln space is one of the nicest restaurant setups in Sydney. It's the atmosphere and staff you're really paying for."

Kiln's head chef Mitch Orr also served Jatz crackers at his previous Sydney restaurant, Acme.

Speaking to Broadsheet last year, Orr says his customers enjoy the nostalgia of feasting on such an iconic Australian snack while at a high-end venue.

"It's something that's fun and silly – and it's nostalgic for everybody," Orr explained.

"A lot of my food is that sort of high-low approach. I like to play in that sort of realm and play off that combination."

Kiln's dinner menu lists the Jatz appetiser price at $8, while those dining for lunch pay $10.

Other small menu items on offer include an oyster with finger lime and kombu oil for $7, a ricotta and tomato tartlet for $12 and bread with koji butter for $7.