The doors are set to close on a Sydney institution
Sydney’s power-lunching elite will be crying in their consommé this morning at the news that one of the city’s favourite destinations for an afternoon off is set to close its doors.
Rockpool (est 1989), the flagship restaurant of Neil Perry, is set to finally close its doors on 30 July. The Black Amex’s of Sydney City will need to find somewhere else to go in order to wash down wagyu rump with a magnum of Grange Hermitage.
From mid-August Rockpool will be known as 11 Bridge Street - a direct reference to the restaurant’s location. Perry and his partner Trish Richards describe the new venue as offering “the same premium, sustainable produce, sourced locally with world-class service, but it will do so in a more relaxed, a la carte style. Thus, while we will be changing the name and menu format, we will be maintaining all the elements that are crucial to great dining."
This is just another signal that the food scene – even at the top end – is continuing to move away from white tablecloths and encyclopaedic wine lists. In keeping with this trend, Rockpool Bar & Grill will continue to operate in nearby Hunter Street, keeping its more relaxed vibe and less fiddly menu.
Similarly, the satellite restaurants Rockpool Bar & Grill Melbourne and Perth will continue business as usual, as will Spice Temple, Rosetta and Burger Project.
However, for those that have followed Perry from the early days, the closure of the original restaurant will mark the end of an era. Just who steps in to pick up the corporate credit cards looking to cruise through the day remains to be seen.