Overview
After a couple of bleak years featuring dim hovels and establishments dressing-up overcooked slop as hand-made pasta, Parnell has regained its title as a sparkling culinary suburb. Though, even with decent restaurants, it hasn't always been easy getting people to the city fringe; one-time Parnell institution Iguacu famously closed its doors after being crippled by extortionate rent and low turnover.
Set to take on the iconic space at 269 Parnell Road is a new eatery shifting high-end modern Greek cuisine. Gerome arrives under the leadership of head chef James Kenny, who was trained by Gordon Ramsay himself— you can rest assured that he can cook a f*****g good meal. In fact, the owners are so confident with Kenny and the new opening that they state it, "has arrived to blow all expectations out of the water."
Together with his culinary team, Kenny will utilise a charcoal and wood barbecue to pump out shared dishes based on flavours from the Greek Islands, like: seared kefalograviera (hard table cheese), chargrilled oysters, ribs of harissa rubbed lamb, short rib of beef, flame grilled Piper, roasted cauliflower, burnt eggplant, and spit-roasted pineapple.
The space has been giving a once over by award-winning designer Paul Izzard to complete the Mediterranean theme, flaunting charcoal marble table tops, velvet booths, handmade lighting and a glass wrapped private dining room.
Labelled as a place to, "absorb the relief of an expansive ambience combined with the exhilaration of delighting the most fundamental senses," [Translation: nice setting with good smells and tastes], Gerome is worth a visit soon.
Find Gerome at 269 Parnell Road, Parnell. It's open seven days, 11.30am til late.