Mary's, Porteno and Young Henrys to Resurrect The Unicorn

Some of Sydney's best foodmasters are joining forces to take over The Unicorn on Oxford Street. Mary's owners Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham are teaming up with Bodega/Porteno's Elvis Abrahanowicz and Young's Henrys' Oscar McMahon are teaming up as a Sydney supergroup to revamp the Paddington pub. Yeah, holy crap.

It's not going to be a Mary's in the eastern suburbs, it's not going to be a craft beer pub, and it's not going to be the dreaded buzzword: a gastropub. According to Australian Gourmet Traveller, it's going to be a "pub-pub", somewhere the lads themselves would like to drink. Location is key, being outside the lockout, so this could be your new go-to for 2am kick-ons.

Speaking of tipples, the dranks in this establishment will be largely and wonderfully local, with a totally Australian wine list — some of South Australia's top South Australian winemakers (think Tara Ochota, James Erskine and Tom Shobbrook) are already armed with wine for the new pub. Obviously Young Henrys will have plenty of goodies behind the bar, but there'll also be a round-up of Australian beers represented.

With the minds behind Mary's and Porteno behind this, what of the nosh? Abrahanowicz is in charge of the menus, and apparently, the horizon is pub food done well, going back to basics instead of doing any fancy schmany modern twists — AGT is talking of roast chicken, both "cheap and fancy steak" and generous sangas with cheese, chutney and glazed ham cut right off the bone. Obviously, there'll be Mary's burgers on the menu too.

This will hopefully be a long and happy new chapter for The Unicorn, who just closed their doors a few months ago  — along with the closure of '70s basement bar Easy Tiger. Redesigned in March 2014, after a disastrously Westfield-like renovation of Fringe Bar in 2012, The Unicorn seemed to have found its Paddington groove once more. But after closing up shop, here's hoping the Mary's, Young Henrys and Porteno crew can see The Unicorn ride again.

The Unicorn will reopen at 106 Oxford St, Paddington, NSW. Details TBC.

Via Australian Gourmet Traveller.