Former Fratelli Paradiso and 10 William co-owner Marco Ambrosino is finally doing what most industry pundits expected him to do at Lola’s Level 1 from the start – switching the food brief from Mediterranean to Italian.

And to help implement the new direction, the Bondi restaurant has recruited one of the rising stars of Sydney kitchens.

There’s also a name change. From April 24, Lola’s Level 1 is no more. Say hello to Lola’s Italian and Bar.

This week Toby Stansfield joins the Bondi restaurant, which opened in late 2021, having left the role of head chef at The Old Fitz. He brings some handy Italian experience gained as a member of the team at Fabbrica pasta shop, as well as pedigree as a former head chef at Monopole and Yellow.

Good Food tracked down Stansfield, who confirmed his move to Lola’s. While he enjoyed the freedom of the Old Fitz, he says, “I’m pretty keen to get back into a restaurant rather than a pub.”

Ambrosino’s business partner at Lola’s, Manny Spinola, says Stansfield has the kitchen muscle to lead the restaurant reboot. “Italian is Marco’s heritage, his first love… We want to reposition the restaurant to be a fantastic local Italian.”

Back at the Old Fitz in Woolloomooloo, word on local eat streets is that British chef John Lyons (of Cottage Point Inn) is taking the reins from Stansfield. He has big clogs to fill, the Fitz having earnt a reputation for snaring talent – former Good Food Guide Young Chef Award winner Anna Ugarte-Carral is among those to have passed through its kitchen.