Short Bites: Restaurant replacing Calombaris’ Gazi

Skewers, sushi and draught beer will soon take up the space vacated by George Calombaris’ Gazi. Dan Stock has Melbourne’s latest food news.

Bar Bianco is opening in Hawksburn Village.

In another sign of confidence that Melbourne’s CBD will again hum with the thrum of hungry-thirsty hordes, a group of some of the city’s most experienced restaurant operators have taken the keys to what was George Calombaris’ Gazi at the old Herald & Weekly Times building on Flinders St.

While South America has been the focus for Jason and Renee McConnell and brothers Dave and Michael Parker since they opened acclaimed Argentinian steak house San Telmo in 2011 — following it during the next decade with Palermo, Asado and the Peruvian Pastuso, all also in the CBD — they are heading to Japan with their latest venture, turning what was Calombaris’ Greek flagship into a Japanese charcoal grill restaurant, Robata.

Named after the charcoal grilling method robatayaki — literally “fireside cooking” — it’s a style of cooking familiar to chef Stephen Clarke, who will swap the San Telmo assado he’s tended for more than eight years for the binchotan-fuelled fire here.

Robata owners Jason McConnell, Dave Parker, Stephen Clark, Renee McConnell and Ben Wood. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Along with a large range of skewers to snack on while sipping draught Japanese beers, the grill will turn out prime cuts of chargrilled beef, while away from fire sushi and sashimi will be offered alongside a selection of sake.

“It’s going to look amazing,” co-owner Renee McConnell says of the space designed by Melbourne architects Ewert Leaf who’ve been given a loose brief of Blade Runner — think sleek neon with nods to traditional craftsmanship and materials.

Robata is scheduled to open at the end of April at 2 Exhibition St, Melbourne.

SHAKEN AND STIRRED

“It will never be a Nick and Nora (at 80 Collins) or a Curious (at W Hotel), just a Melbourne institution back from the dead,” says Jonny Cortizo of Campari House on Hardware Lane.

Cortizo has picked himself up after the pisco sour hot spot he was involved with, Harley House, became a CBD COVID casualty last May.

The seasoned operator is now giving new life to an old favourite, with two hidden gem rooftops on which to eat, drink and be merry.

Taking care of the former are a range of “one hand meals” — tacos, prawn and crab rolls, and a burger, of course — with pizza and pasta also on offer, while six different negronis and Cortizo’s signature Long Island Ice Tea help with the latter.

“I just want the venue to be super fun. (Think) Harley House on the roof!”

camparihouse.com.au

Hawksburn folks have a new wine bar, Bar Bianco, to get excited about.

FINE WINE TIME

The lucky folk of Hawksburn have a rather swish new wine bar in which to clink glasses. Part of the luxury Hawksburn Place development (cnr Williams and Malvern Rd), the ground floor Bar Bianco is an intimate 35-seater offering Euro-centric wines and small plates curated by Glen Bagnara (Hemingway’s Wine Bar). Open Tues-Fri from noon and Sat from 5pm.

barbianco.com.au

HERE’S CHEERS

Entries are open for the world’s largest annual beer competition, the Australian International Beer Awards. Held by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, more than 2600 beers from 400 brewers from around the world will be judged at the Melbourne Showgrounds in May.

A new trophy for best non-alcoholic beer will be presented for the first time, along with a new Champion Victorian Brewery gong.

Entries are open until March 26. For more: rasv.com.au/beer

The Australian International Beer Awards are back.

FAB FEED FOR LESS

Restaurant booking app The Fork is encouraging Victorians to get out and support their favourite restaurants — and discover new ones — during The Fork Festival.

Over six weeks, more than 40 eateries across Melbourne, from Bay City Burrito in Hawthorn to Petite Leaf in Brighton through Mazin in Brunswick, are offering discounts of up to 50 per cent off the food bill. For bookings and offers: thefork.com.au

ART WITH HEART

Melbourne artist Gemma Leslie has created four new limited edition posters featuring recipes from top chefs Andrew McConnell (Trader House restaurants), Kay-Lene Tan (Tonka), Lisa Valmorbida (Pidapipo) and Lenox Hastie (Firedoor, Sydney). Proceeds go to FareShare, with the first collection last year raising more than $40,000 for the food charity. Each poster purchase provides 70 meals through FareShare and are available for pre-order ($80) until February 25 via foodforeveryone.org.au

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@dantonstock