Manly, northern beaches: New eateries opening despite Omicron setbacks

The Omicron strain has hit the hospitality industry hard, but optimistic new eatery owners on the northern beaches are still prepared to open their doors.

Potential staff shortages caused by Covid isolation rules and fears that customers will stay home rather than go on a night out, to avoid Omicron, have not put off optimistic new eatery owners on the northern beaches.

A number of eager restaurateurs and cafe operators have just, or are about to, open their doors even though the peak of the new Covid strain is yet to hit.

The move to get their businesses up and running comes as a local peak business body calls on authorities to better support the hospitality industry.

Executive chef Jason Roberson with Alexandria Thoma, 23, (left) and Ella Schamschula, 22, at the Little Pearl Bar in Manly. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Manly Business Chamber is urging the federal and NSW governments to immediately introduce a range of measures to keep businesses afloat including reducing income tax for casual staff to attract more workers; tax rebates for small business operators; rent relief from landlords and; priority access to rapid antigen tests for staff.

A leading hospitality company, Australian Venue Co, this week opened the Little Pearl Bar & Dining on the beachfront at Manly — on the ground floor below The Sebel hotel.

Little Pearl Bar & Dining on South Steyne at Manly. Picture: Australian Venue Co

Little Pearl’s executive chef, Jason Roberson, said he was keen to see customers walk through the doors.

“Despite the current situation we are facing in the hospitality industry, we couldn’t be more excited to be opening Little Pearl right now and welcome back our local Manly community to serve delicious food and drinks this summer in the safest way possible.”

Australian Venue Co’s chief executive officer, Paul Waterson said opening the venue, which he described as a casual, all-day destination, “felt like “a breath of fresh air”.

“Especially during the current climate of the hospitality industry,” Mr Waterson said.

Little Pearl Bar & Dining on South Steyne at Manly. Picture: Australian Venue Co

.

“Little Pearl is designed for maximum ease and an effortless drinking and dining experience.”

It opened on Monday and bookings are now open.

The owners of a soon to open restaurant and cafe, Bubala, at Allambie Heights, said they were optimistic about its success. It’s on the site of the former Mr Grigor’s cafe, popular with locals, which closed in March last year.

Jess Broll (left) and Daniel Salerno at Bubala restaurant and cafe at Allambie Heights. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Bubala — a Yiddish word that translates as “little sweetheart” — will feature a modern Australian menu with cuisine influenced by the Middle East, Israel and Italy.

Co-owner Jess Broll and venue manager Daniel Salerno were at the business on Friday overseeing its fit-out ahead of an expected opening in early to mid-February.

Mr Broll, who is currently head chef at Stella Blu Kitchen and Pizzeria at Belrose, said the upcoming opening of the venue, which will operate independently of Stella Blu, had sparked a lot of interest.

“Every day we have people coming up to talk to us, to find out when we’re opening, how everything is going,” he said.

Jess Broll (left) and Daniel Salerno at Bubala in Grigor Pl, Allambie Heights. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

“From what we’ve heard so far I’m sure we’ll get a lot of support from the community.”

Mr Salerno said they were also receiving a lot of inquiries about jobs.

A Forestville, a new Charlotte cafe outlet is set to open at The Centre shopping mall.

It will be the cafe chain’s 14th outlet, and third on the northern beaches. There are Charlotte cafes at manly and Balgowlah.

Management is looking for new staff including a manager, chef, barista, waitpersons and kitchen hands.

Manly Business chamber hospitality subcommittee chair Matt Clifton, owner of Donny’s and The Cumberland bars in Manly, said they met recently with council, NSW and federal government members to advocate for help.

“As small business operators, especially in the service sectors, we have faced challenge after challenge these past couple of years, with Omicron yet again gifting us royally,” he said.