Baxter Inn and Lobo Plantation Crew to Open Big Poppa's

If you've swung by Hello Sailor's old digs lately, you might have noticed some paint stripping and hammering going on. Well, we can now tell you who's been making all the noise. On April 12, the keys to 96 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, were handed to a mighty hospitality duo — Lewis Jaffrey, who's been managing operations at The Baxter Inn, Frankie's and Shady Pines, and Jared Merlino of Lobo Plantation. And, at the end of June, they'll be opening a 134-seat Italian eatery-bar named Big Poppa's and starring three of life's most important things: cheese, wine and hip hop.

"We've spent a lot of time together eating cheese, drinking wine and listening to hip hop, so we thought it'd be fun to turn our interests into a venue," says Jaffrey. Merlino adds, "All our venues have come about the same way — by building around elements we enjoy."

Big Poppa's will have three sections: an Italian restaurant and a small bar upstairs, and a cocktail lounge downstairs. The plan is to keep the beautiful, heritage-listed spaces classic-looking and relaxed. And, because food will be served right through to the wee hours, lockout laws won't apply. Hurrah!

On the food menu, you'll find simple Italian offerings made with high quality produce. And lots of cheese. "There'll be 10 to 12 dishes, with between one and three on rotation," says Jaffrey. "And between 15 and 25 cheeses."

A similar philosophy will inform the drinks list. You can expect classic aperitifs, digestifs and cocktails — like Negronis and Americanos, as well as some creative signature concoctions, designed by the beverages team. As for wines, there'll be more than 200 to choose from, with more than half coming from Italy and an emphasis on rosé, which doesn't always get the attention it deserves on Sydney wine menus.

Big Poppa's is scheduled to open at 96 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst the end of June.

Image: Lobo Plantation.