Cult Australian restaurant opens ‘hole in the wall’ takeaway
An iconic Australian restaurant has launched its first takeaway venue, opening to mammoth crowds that caused food to sell faster than expected.
Keen diners have been waiting in mammoth queues to snag a slice of pizza from a new “hole in the wall” eatery.
Merivale opened Oti’s, an Italian takeaway joint with no physical menu and no dine-in space, in Sydney’s CBD on Wednesday.
The tiny George Street joint is inspired by the hospitality giant’s cult Totti’s brand, famed for its signature pairing of burrata and wood-fired bread, served at its five restaurants in NSW and Victoria.
However, Oti’s only sells pizza-by-the-slice and antipasto sandwiches, a miniature menu offering that has already caused a buzz on social media.
Viral videos on TikTok show large crowds queuing for up to an hour on Oti’s opening day, though Mike Eggert, the executive head chef at Oti’ and Totti’s, told news.com.au the wait time was already much lower.
“We did not expect Oti’s to be this popular, it’s amazing and we’re so grateful,” he said.
“We sold 1300 portions on Wednesday and are doing everything we can to keep up with demand.
“Yesterday was our second day open and the line was roughly 10 mins from the back to front.”
He added that should anyone find themselves waiting in line, “the queue moves quickly”.
Oti’s bread is slightly different to the viral “whoopee-cushion” variety sold at Totti’s, with Eggert instead choosing a classic Roman pizza base cooked in a Moretti stone floor deck oven.
The chef worked with the team who run Merivale’s pizza and bread production to master the schiacciata dough – using a mix with burrata as the base as well as stracchino, ricotta and parmesan.
“It melts and holds together better with a combo. We also have garlic and kombu on it,” he said.
The menu is published daily on Instagram as it changes based on what produce is available – but since opening the most popular pizza slices, priced between $12 to $15, have included salami, ham and pineapple and mushroom.
Eggert said the salad sandwich is his favourite, describing it as its “loaded with sprouts, a coulee of cheeses and all the crunchy fresh veg you want”.
TikTok users are just as enthralled with the menu offerings, with many labelling their purchases as “amazing”.
However, there were some left disappointed after discovering the sandwiches had “sold out” in just 90 minutes of opening.
The Italian joint is the latest offering from the hospitality giant owned by billionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes.