Coming Soon: Acclaimed Chef Dany Karam Will Bring a Trio of Dining Concepts to a New Southwestern Sydney Lifestyle Precinct
The former Executive Chef of BLACK at The Star will debut two venues this November as part of the $230-million Cabravale Club Resort redevelopment.
Chef Dany Karam might just be the hardest-working man in Sydney hospitality. Since wrapping a five-year stint as Executive Chef at The Star's fine diner BLACK in 2022, he's taken on several consulting gigs, brand ambassadorships, and even launched a catering business. And come November, the celebrated chef will return to the pass as he brings a taste of the city's high-end dining scene to Southwest Sydney with three new venues in Cabramatta.
The first to arrive are Magma, a fire-led fine diner, and Caffè Vicini, a sprawling all-day cafe and bakery, both set to open on Sunday, November 16. They'll be followed in mid-2026 by Primitivo, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, completing the Karam-led lineup inside the Cabravale Club Resort — a $230-million redevelopment of the former Cabra-Vale Diggers, anchored by a Novotel hotel with resort-style amenities.
The headline act is Magma, an ambitious grill-focused restaurant Karam describes as "four years in the making". Designed around a central open kitchen, the space will put diners front and centre of the action, with dramatic charcoal flames fuelling a menu that brings together premium Australian produce with Karam's Lebanese heritage and Japanese precision. Expect a tight edit of high-quality proteins, boutique vegetables and bold fire-kissed flavours, crafted with Karam's signature flair.
Adding to the theatre is The Butchery, a purpose-built facility set within Magma that will service all three venues. Here, meat and seafood will be dry-aged and prepared in-house, ensuring a consistent quality and supply chain across the precinct.
While Magma promises the drama, Caffè Vicini — 'neighbours' in Italian — will provide the comfort. The all-day cafe will serve specialty coffee alongside house-baked pastries, focaccia sandwiches and light snacks featuring seasonal produce and meats prepared at The Butchery. The final piece of the puzzle will arrive in 2026 with Primitivo, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant set to further bolster the precinct's dining credentials.
Karam has carefully hand-picked his suppliers and team for the new venues. He's continuing a 12-year partnership with David Blackmore Wagyu, while also collaborating with Appellation Oysters, Caviar Luxe, boutique local farms and artisanal producers like Simon Johnson. He's also reassembled his dream team from BLACK — Executive Chef Sebastien Geray and Restaurant Manager Tim Chen — who helped earn the venue a reputation as one of Sydney's best steak restaurants.
"To say I am excited about bringing my home community these new dining experiences is an understatement," says Karam ahead of the openings. "My team is dedicated to creating and delivering a standard of dining that knocks people over. I can't wait to get back on the grill and welcome my guests on the floor."
Magma and Caffè Vicini are slated to open on Sunday, November 16 at Cabravale Club Resort, 1 Bartley Street, Canley Vale. Primitivo will open in 2026. For more information, head to the precinct's website.
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