‘It’s a struggle’: Frustrated with Sydney’s lack of late night dining options, Bar Conte owner takes matters into his own hands
Sick of a lack of places to eat late in Sydney, Raffaele Lombard took matters into his own hands. Luckily, the Bar Conte owner had the perfect venue: his own.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
After struggling to find quality restaurants in the city that served food post 9pm, bar owner Raffaele Lombardi has taken matters into his own hands.
Lombard, who runs Australia’s first negroni-centric bar — Bar Conte — in Surry Hills, has introduced late-night dining.
Like the bars in Italy, where Lombardi spends 50 per cent of his time, patrons can order food from an acclaimed chef till 11.15pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
“It’s been a struggle for me in Sydney to have dinner late and being from Italy, our lifestyle is to have dinner late,” said Lombardi.
“Even 9pm is too early for me, but so many restaurants close their ovens off before then.”
Lombardi said he was sick of only being left with fast food options for dinner after work, or after his son, who trains with soccer team Sydney FC, would finish practice.
“So now when I’m hungry, I can come here,” he said.
Head chef and co-owner Steven De Vecchi has updated Bar Conte’s menu from smaller share plates to include larger, more substantial dishes.
De Vecchi, who used to work at Potts Points famed Apollo, dishes include a choice of over seven pastas including king prawns and a squid ink spaghetti as well as a 500g O’Connor rib-eve on the bone.
“Everything is made to share and they are substantial portions. It’s quality food, but it’s not fine dining which is very Italian,” said Lombard.
The transformation into a late night venue comes two years after the venue first opened.
Like the bars in Italy, Bar Conte services customers from first thing in the morning for their coffee and pastry all the way to late night digestives.
Lombardi added the venue is looking to extend their trading hours earlier in the week as well.
More Coverage
Is Sydney Swans’ former $10m man strapped for cash?
In a deal rumoured to be worth up to $200,000, Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin as the face of Hahn’s newest campaign. Some wonder if the drinks deal’s a sign his finances are running dry.
How much Slim Dusty’s estate is worth revealed
Twenty one years after the death of Aussie country music legend Slim Dusty, a reorganising of the music star’s empire has revealed how much money it has in the bank.