New eatery and bar Two-Pot Screamer to take over Rundle St site of Jock Zonfrillo’s Orana restaurant

One of Adelaide’s iconic restaurant locations, made famous by MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo, is set to be transformed into a new two-level eatery and bar.

An emerging hospitality group is hoping to put its own stamp on one of Adelaide’s most iconic restaurant locations.

The former site of Jock Zonfrillo’s award-winning Orana restaurant, 285 Rundle Street, will be transformed into a new two-level eatery and bar by local business Penny Hospitality.

Called Two-Pot Screamer, the venue is the brainchild of rising SA entrepreneur Hugo Pedler, and is set to open on December 3.

Pedler, 28, said he was hoping to pay homage to the “iconic space”, which was home to Zonfrillo’s Orana upstairs and Street/Bistro Blackwood downstairs from 2013 until it closed last year. Prior to that, it was the pioneering Universal Wine Bar.

Penny Hospitality, led by Hugo Pedler, is launching new venue Two-Pot Screamer with an eatery downstairs and a bar upstairs at 285 Rundle Street – previously the site of Jock Zonfrillo's Orana. Picture: Emma Brasier

“I know we’ll do it justice. We won’t be stepping on the toes of Jock … we’re doing a fun and playful, very nostalgic offering here,” said Pedler, who’s also behind city venues such as Lions Arts Factory, Super Bueno and the West Oak Hotel.

“The whole concept is something outside the box and we’re representing what we think is Australian culture through food and wine.”

The downstairs restaurant will feature “fun, fine dining” with unique Australian touches such as a reimagined Chikko roll and sausage on bread.

Magill Estate Restaurant chef Georgina Fehring, 35, will lead the new kitchen, eight years after Zonfrillo lured five staff, including head chef Shannon Fleming, away from the same venue to work at Orana.

“Georgina’s super exciting, she’s going to allow us to deliver that fun style of food but with that fine dining flair,” said Pedler.

Chef and restauranter Jock Zonfrillo in his former restaurant. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

How the Blackwood bistro/restaurant looked when it was run by Jock Zonfrillo. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Upstairs will feature an all-pink 70s cocktail bar, under the same name, complete with a new balcony overlooking Rundle Street.

“The whole venue is paying our dues to the heritage of the space. What we’re trying to do is bring life and excitement to the post Covid world,” Pedler said.

While MasterChef judge Zonfrillo bemoaned the difficulty of trading along Rundle Street outside of Fringe and festival season, Pedler said things were slowly changing.

“East End Cellars is booming, Mother Vine is amazing, Daughter in Law across the road … I think no doubt it’s been a difficult spot but we and these other venues are part of the East End revival,” he said.

Hugo Pedler says Two-Pot Screamer will “deliver that fun style of food but with that fine dining flair”. Picture: Emma Brasier.

Interior of the old Universal Wine Bar restaurant at 285 Rundle Street, Adelaide.

Last week, Penny Hospitality also received council approval to host a late-night outdoor music festival called Mango Motel right next to the site of the proposed Riverbank Arena, in December and January.

Pedler said he was hopeful the 600-person pop-up venue can go-ahead if dancing restrictions are eased.

“We’re super excited to have that opportunity and we’re just hoping the government and SA Health will listen to the cries of the people and bring the dancing back,” he said.

“SA is the only state left that doesn’t have dancing and this summer, hospitality really needs it to come back strong.”