Mumu Grill: 70 Alexander St, Crows Nest NSW (02) 9460 6877 or www.mumugrill.com.au At Mumu Grill the old steakhouse norms have been put out to pasture. The new Mumu concept combines the highest quality sustainable and organic produce with the age-old, flavour-enhancing cooking process of the wood-fired oven. The very best of seasonal Australian meat,
The Undertaker: 329 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn VIC (03) 9818 3944 or www.theundertaker.com.au After a healthy lifespan of three years — making Undertaker about the ripe old age of a half-century in hospitality years — Olivia Frawley and family decided to bury the old design and layout, and resurrect the venue with a touch of Melbourne
Sofitel Brisbane: (07) 3835 3535 or www.sofitelbrisbane.com.au Sofitel is upping the ante. The primo French hotel chain is giving its brand a polish, thanks to a name change (Sofitel Luxury Hotels) and a regime of oo-la-la refits. The Sofitel Brisbane is one of the more recent to benefit from a makeover, $7m worth to be
Pacific Dining Room: (02) 6680 7055 or www.pacificdiningroom.com.au Donning the sandals and shorts and road tripping North towards the sun and sand is an inviting prospect for some in the Southern states. Far from a holiday though, John and Lisa Van Haandel decided to make the trip work for themselves handing over a generous sum
Giuseppe, Arnaldo & Sons: Crown Promenade, Southbank VIC (03) 9694 7400 or www.idrb.com Italian-sounding enough for you? For your info: in this case the ‘Sons’ are the brains of the operation. More to the point, the ‘Sons’ (Robert Marchetti and Maurice Terzini) represent the golden partnership behind Bondi’s top-shelf Icebergs Dining Room. Marchetti and Terzini
Verde Restaurant and Bar: corner Stanley & Riley Sts, East Sydney NSW (02) 9380 8877 or info@verde.net.au I can’t imagine anyone doubting the authenticity of Verde Restaurant and Bar — it’s as Italian as an Azzurri, Ferrari and Sophia Loren pizza. Owned by Antonio Ruggerino, Louie Kallas and Vince Squillace, the three cousins from Calabria
Maedaya Bar: 400 Bridge Road, Richmond VIC (03) 9428 3918 Toshi Maeda grew up in the province of Hyogo, Japan, famous for having the best sake rice. For the last 10 years, he has based himself in Australia, while touring the world with punk rock group Mach Pelican. Realising that his motherland’s sake wasn’t widely
Loungueville Hotel: 80 Longueville Road, Lane Cove NSW |(02) 94272021 or www.loungevillehotel.com Longueville Hotel engaged Marchese + Partners to complete the $3.5m refurbishment of the existing hotel including the public bar, lounge, restaurant and kitchen areas, and the addition of an extensive outdoor deck area. The deck area has a range of seating options with
Locanda: Cnr Little Bourke & Exhibition Streets, Melbourne (03) 9635 1246 or www.locanda.com.au How do you get the cultured ‘A List’ to rock up to a restaurant/bar debut? Your very own private ‘Grange Hermitage by the glass’ tasting session has to be about as compelling an inducement as it gets. Apparently Locanda Cucina Bar is
Souk in the City: 431 Bourke St, Surry Hills NSW (02) 9357 7577 or www.soukinthecity.com Souk in the City is the latest venture by Omar Majdi, with interiors by Baxter Creative. It blends the allure of Morocco with the clean design that is demanded of Sydney’s design savvy diners. A unique opportunity for design director