Matt Moran Relaunches The Paddington Inn as a More Casual Grill

The Paddington Inn is welcoming celebrated chef Matt Moran back home with yet another revamp, this time relaunching as a more casual eatery renamed the Paddo Inn Bar and Grill. Moran began his career at the Paddo over 20 years ago and Solotel (North Bondi Fish, Aria) has enlisted his help to bring the space and menu back to basics.

According to Solotel, a casual grill was more in line with what locals were after — seems the relaunched Paddington Inn's fine dining didn't hit the mark as expected after its September 2016 relaunch. Now, let's define casual — this is still not a local pub where you'd stop by for a cheap pint and a schnitty. The dining room's interior is softly lit by hanging globes, and abstract prints adorn one wall. While there are some booths, they look to be of the soft leather, high-end steak house variety and the majority of seating is taken up by classic low tables — though there is not a tablecloth in sight.

The menu, which showcases Australian beef and seafood, isn't exactly casual either — think mains like lamb rump with Jerusalem artichoke and mint sauce ($34) and king salmon with celeriac and lemon ($32), along with a fine selection of steak cuts, including a Rangers Valley rump cap ($34), an O'Connor Premium rib eye ($45) and a Jacks Creek t-bone ($92). A raw bar, duck liver parfait ($21) and steak tartare ($23) are also on the seasonal menu, which Moran will only oversee. Head chef Laura Barratto (Chiswick at the Gallery) is taking the reins day-to-day.

All that being said, we wouldn't call the space a fine dining restaurant either. The term 'casual' might just be an overreach — simply removing your tablecloths doesn't make for an instant casual restaurant. The front bar will remain intact, though, and will serve a decidedly more casual grill menu of salads, sandwiches and burgers.

This is the latest in the fine-dining-gone-casual trend, with Sepia announcing a more casual venture planned for the end of 2017 and Rockpool Est. 1989 reopening as Eleven Bridge in 2016 — which is already being replaced with a new Cantonese restaurant. Interestingly, Moran's Aria did not go the casual route after reopening late last year, but has instead maintained its fine dining stance.

Paddo Inn Bar and Grill is located at 338 Oxford Street, Paddington and open for lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday and dinner seven nights.