Wenty Leagues Club foyer, Char restaurant almost open
Wenty Leagues’ grand foyer will soon reopen as part of the popular club’s redevelopment.
Parramatta
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Wenty Leagues diners can rest assured their tastebuds will be indulged with Colin Yabsley and Serkan Tamcelik helming the club’s swanky steak and seafood restaurant.
The 200-seat restaurant, Char, is expected to open by the end of the year and will follow the grand foyer reopening at the club on Thursday.
Both local products, the chefs are ready to add stylish a la carte offerings to the club that has traditionally catered for families.
The restaurant, next to the Starlight auditorium, will house booths, a private dining space for 16 people and overlook Ringrose Park.
A cocktail lounge, Envy, is slated to open alongside it in April and will serve small plates from Char’s menu.
“Our other offerings in the club are very family driven so this is a bit more elevated,’’ the club’s commercial manager Mary McTaggart said.
“It’s not quite fine dining but it’s a beautiful a la carte menu.”
Char entrees will range from $15 to $18 and mains from $30 to $45.
Wenty Leagues executive chef Yabsley said Char would source fresh seafood from Australia’s east coast and meats from the NSW Riverina region.
He believes the Argentinian-style grilled meats and smoked ribs, beef, pork and brisket will be popular — and even vegans won’t go hungry.
“Even though it’s a steak and seafood restaurant, vegans and vegetarians are a huge part of our business,’’ he said.
Like many clubs’ transformations, Yabsley has witnessed Wenty Leagues evolve over the past decade.
“When I started here almost 10 years ago, it was very much old school; everything was deep fried,’’ the 45-year-old said.
“Everything came out of the bain marie and on the tray. Now we engage with local growers and farmers and source our produce direct and not just from distributors.’’
After working in London kitchens, the former Greystanes boy has come full circle at the club.
“I had my first beer at 18 years old at Wenty Leagues,’’ he recalled.
“I actually remember when I was a young kid and the Chinese restaurant was at a different spot where the cafe now is. I remember the fish tanks and it was dark and it had booth seating.’’
He might have been too young to recall the old Chinese noshery, but joining Yabsley in the kitchen will be Quay junior sous chef Temcelik who grew up around the corner from the Smith St club.
The former Parramatta High School student has a knack for cooking seafood after having worked at Pier and Rockpool.
Char’s opening follows casual dining area, The Plaza, which opened at the start of the year.
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