What hospo crisis? Hottest new places to eat in Sydney
Staff shortages and price surges aren’t slowing down Sydney’s hospitality scene, with a host of iconic locations and restaurants opening new premises.
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Staff shortages and price surges aren’t slowing down Sydney’s hospitality scene, with a host of iconic locations and restaurants opening new premises.
The historic location of Flying Fish at the end of Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont is set to be transformed into an Italian restaurant, Sala.
The restaurant is the brainchild of hospitality couple Kerrie and Con Dedes and chef Danny Russo.
They are hoping to maintain the seafood element of Flying Fish with Italian flavours.
Due to open at the end of the month, the restaurant will also be able to offer catering for boats, which is so very Sydney!
Speaking of Italian, Bondi’s iconic red door restaurant Da Orazio has been the training ground of many a great chef and now one is opening their own pasticcerie Mia Dolci Italiani. But he’s doing it with famed chef Orazio D’Elia of course.
Riccardo Falcone was the group pastry chef at Da Orazio and Rockpool.
Now, with D’Elia, he’s converted a warehouse space in Alexandria into a cafe serving house made Italian sweets and will also deliver wholesale to the biggest hospitality groups in Sydney.
Think ricotta-filled cannoli, rum baba and tota della nonna.
The cafe, which opens at the end of the month, will also have a rotating menu of by the slice focaccia slab style pizza.
Iconic beachside venue Coogee Bay Hotel has also had a spring clean and opened up a relaxed but delicious new restaurant Marra Bar and Grill. Playfully leaning into how the hotel has been a home away from home for many English and Irish backpacker, Marra is the Northern English word from which mate derives. The restaurant serves a mix of quality classics like steak and burgers, with revamped Josper grill meats and fish and an expansive new cocktail menu. It’s new art-deco inspired cocktail and dining area, The Arden Lounge, will open at the end of the month.
Contemporary Lebanese restaurant Al Aseel has opened it’s seventh venue, this time in Parramatta. Famous for it’s family-style feast, the restaurant chain has opened a 300 seat restaurant on Victoria Road and has new menu items including Kibbeh Mishwiyeh and Hommos Beiruti.
COUNTRY AND WESTERN WARS THE NEXT SYDNEY BAR SHOOTOUT
From Halloween to smoked meats, in the past five years American culture has staked its claim on Sydney’s hospitality scene.
Now, there is a new bar shootout taking place over country music.
Jolene’s is a basement whiskey and country bar in the heart of the CBD that promises to take it’s food and cocktails seriously, but not itself.
It is the brainchild of Simon Rose-Hopkins, who brought Surly’s American BBQ to life, and aims to recreate the vibe of Nashville Tennessee.
“The venue is based on my travels to America. The first time I went there, the trip was life changing. I was blown away by the Southern hospitality. I love that any bar you go to, whether it’s a dive bar or cocktail bar, within five minutes the bartender is your best friend,” he said.
Rose-Hopkins also wasn’t a fan of country music until he visited Nashville’s famous Broadway, now he can’t get enough of it and the venue plays live country music three nights a week. And on the weekend, you’re bound to hear Shania Twain being blasted for a whole bar style sing-a-long.
“Until then I thought it was all my ute died and I’m sad. Standing on Broadway in Nashville, I never experienced anything like that … every single bar had live music and it brought this energy. This doesn’t exist in Australia and it took a little bit of convincing to my business partner, but I knew there was a market for it. Singer Luke Combs sold out stadiums in Australian quicker than Billie Eilish,” he said.
However they aren’t the only toe-tapping joint in town. Jolene’s emergence on the scene has brought competition to Swillhouse’s Shady Pines Saloon, although Rose-Hopkins said while they focus on old country, he focuses on new country and also adds in Australian country artists.
American country television show Yellowstone has seen a rival of country and western culture. For the month of November, Jolene’s is offering thanksgiving style menu with turkey dogs and pecan pie. Jolene’s sister venues NOLA and jazz bar The Swinging Cat also offer Thanksgiving themed experiences to mark the American holiday which takes place on Thursday Nov 24.
For those who protest the Americanisation, Rose-Hopkin’s said it’s not going anywhere.
And if you’re sceptical of, come down for a drink and if you’re wearing an akubra, he will probably shout you a shot!
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