Josh Brown and Ciarra Dundas open Tenebris at St John Street
Two years after opening his first restaurant, a Tasmanian hospo guru is set to debut his second venue, roping in his manager as well to unveil a moody, ambient bar and dumpling house.
Food and Wine
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A northern Tasmanian city’s dining scene is set for another boost, with a late-night cocktail bar and dumpling restaurant set to throw its doors open for the first time on Friday night.
Tenebris will serve its first Negronis and Nepalese dumplings (a.k.a. momos) at its new digs at 97 St John St, Launceston, from 5pm.
Tenebris is owned by Norwood noshery Apricus’ owner Josh Brown, who roped his restaurant manager Ciarra Dundas into the new venture as co-owner.
Mr Brown said he first went to check out the space, formerly Kameo Coffee Lounge, in August last year, with his lease commencing on January 1.
The intervening period has been spent getting the fit-out just right.
“Tenebris is the opposite of Apricus. Apricus (is Latin for) ‘filled with sunshine’, Tenebris is ‘filled with darkness’,” hence why the new space would be “dark and moody,” Mr Brown said.
The Nepalese dumplings are a nod to Apricus’ beloved chef Vishma Sitoula, who will run the Tenebris kitchen.
“He’s very passionate about dumplings, so to celebrate his culture in the venue is a really special thing for us to be able to do,” Mr Brown said.
The opening caps off a stellar few months for St John Street and surrounds, with recent openings including Du Cane Brewery and Dining Hall, Delicia Acai and Protein Bar, Chocolateria San Churro and Eleven, to name a few.
“It’s so exciting to see so many people willing to take that risk of starting their own business and feeling that local support is behind them,” Mr Brown said.
“We’ve already built a relationship with a number of businesses around the Quadrant mall, we’re so thankful to be a part of this beautiful area.”
Ms Dundas said the pair identified a gap in the Launceston scene, which they hoped to fill.
“We really thought that launceston was lacking a dumpling bar, as well as somewhere nice to sit down and eat later in the evening, and who doesn’t love cocktails?” she said.
Tenebris will be open Wednesday – Sunday, 5pm – late, with entry from the rear, off Dicky Whites Ln.
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