China Doll, Steak and Oyster Co coming to West HQ in Rooty Hill
The boss of what was then known as the Rooty Hill RSL has made a bold move to change the food court he worked on for three years into a new dining destination with a high-end Chinese restaurant and steak house.
NSW
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Once mocked for its name, Rooty Hill is having the last laugh as its dining options are turning it into the Woolloomooloo Wharf of the West.
It’s thanks to Richard Errington, the boss of what was then known as the Rooty Hill RSL, who has worked for three years to turn the former food court into a dining destination.
“People kept saying to me all the time: ‘It won’t work … it won’t work’,” said Errington, who also oversaw the recent name change from Rooty Hill RSL to West HQ.
“But I just knew that, if we did it properly, the people would come and they would see our commitment.”
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Errington knew the key was securing a major Chinese restaurant.
He promptly targeted one of his favourites, Woolloomooloo Wharf’s China Doll and eventually persuaded owner Steve Anastasiou to sign on.
From there, he said, the others fell into place.
“Once Steve signed I think others realised we were serious about what were doing,” he said.
“China Doll was like the first big fish that lured the others.”
Soon after, Italian pizza legend Stefano Manfredi jumped on board, signing on to open an outpost of his lauded PizzaPerta Manfredi.
And finally the third of the big chef scalps, Sean Connolly, inked a deal to bring a slick meat and seafood offering to Rooty Hill with Steak And Oyster Co By Sean Connolly.
“Once (Manfredi) was on board I thought: ‘OK, that’s good enough for me’,” said Connolly, who has created a format that will allow guests to choose their cut of meat or fish from a cabinet before it’s prepared to taste by the kitchen.
“It’s an egalitarian way of eating, which I really like,” he said. “I think it’s a nice, no-fuss way to do it and it suits me because I’m a basic, meat and potatoes guy.
“There’s no flowers or foams or bubbles here.”
There still remains one unfilled piece of the West HQ puzzle, with Errington reserving space for one more big-name offering.
The first stage of the $40 million upgrade, which also includes a Gelatissimo and Newtown Thai Town, will launch on July 6 with Chu by China Doll to open in October.
With the completion of the $100 million Coliseum theatre in December, Errington said the end goal is for West HQ to become a genuine food and entertainment “destination”.
Originally published as China Doll, Steak and Oyster Co coming to West HQ in Rooty Hill
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