Andrew McConnell closing Moon Under Water to open Chinese Ricky & Pinky
Andrew McConnell announces major changes that should have diners salivating.
A major player on the Melbourne restaurant front has announced significant developments for the second half of the year.
One of the city’s most influential chef/restaurateurs, Andrew McConnell, is killing off his bespoke Moon Under Water restaurant, and its sibling bistro at The Builders Arms, in Fitzroy, to launch his first pure Chinese restaurant, Ricky & Pinky.
The remodelling and relaunch of the famous Fitzroy corner pub signals the end of McConnell’s business relationship with Builders’ exec chef and partner Josh Murphy. His next move is unknown.
“I’m never one to sit on my hands for long,” said McConnell. “It’s been a great four years, but it’s time for a change … There’s a lot of pubs now doing what we were doing with the Builders four years ago.”
McConnell, who lived in Hong Kong and Shanghai for a significant period, has chosen the name of a tattoo parlour, in Wanchai, for his new restaurant.
Chef Ar Chan, a former McConnell staffer currently at the soon-to-close Moon Park, in Sydney’s Redfern, will come on board as head chef of the restaurant. He’s planning to be open late August after a remodelling of the site that will see the Arms get an open kitchen.