Moonah eateries eager to rival Salamanca and North Hobart strips

A MOONAH warehouse converted into an upmarket restaurant is part of a food revolution in Hobart’s northern suburbs.

L-R Lucy Baker Manager, George Cox Head Chef, Josh Paull (Paull) Bar Manager. New Moonah restaurant St. Albi has opened. Picture Nikki Davis-Jones

A MOONAH warehouse converted into an upmarket restaurant is part of a food revolution in Hobart’s northern suburbs.

St Albi, owned by Rockwall co-owner and former AFL player Garry Baker and managed by his daughter Lucy Baker, is the latest in a string of restaurants to open in Moonah.

Ms Baker has a background in fashion and helped design the “industrial-look” interior of St Albi’s large, 160-seat space.

The food focus is on protein, with former Rockwall head chef George Cox running the kitchen.

“I guess you could call it modern Australian food,” Ms Baker said.

“There’s a focus on the grill.”

Mr Baker bought the warehouse two years ago with plans for his other daughter Paris to set up a gym.

Ms Baker said with the range of new eateries opening, Moonah could soon rival Salamanca or North Hobart as a foodie hub.

“There’s a few things that are popping up. It will be interesting to see what happens in Moonah in the next five or so years because I think it has so much potential.”

Salt was one of Moonah’s first gourmet cafes.

Texas Pantry — a Tex-Mex restaurant which opened earlier this year — has been hugely popular and is often booked out.

Other newcomers include Riva, a new Mediterranean eatery and pizza and pasta bar, and Bento, which caters for lovers of Japanese cuisine.

Dawat Indian restaurant has recently been refurbished.