Overview
Tomorrow, Woollahra's Hotel Centennial will reopen with Merivale at the reins. Not more than a month ago, the Centennial was abruptly bought by Merivale's pub collector Justin Hemmes for $15 million. And after a turnaround of only three weeks, the Oxford Street watering hole will open again on Wednesday, December 13.
Ben Greeno has been brought on as executive chef. The Brit has had a varied back-of-house career, having worked the kitchens at Momofuku Seiobo, Noma and London's Michelin-starred Sat Bain. More recently, he's been at Merivale co-acquiree The Paddington and its classic chicken shop adaptation next door.
He'll be joined by Danielle Alvarez of Fred's, who has collaborated with Greeno on the bar and dining room menus, along with head chef James Evangelinos of New York's Musket Room and Megan Sullivan of est., who'll manage the floor.
The Centennial's food pickings will move towards meats and breads inspired by the Mediterranean. It'll be strong on the seafood, offering delicacies such as wood-fired squid with aioli and cherry tomatoes, and grilled flounder with seaweed salsa verde. There will also be flatbreads with toppings like minced lamb, merguez, yoghurt and pickled chilli, and fennel, greens and garlic cream. Other dishes will include rib eye, steak frites and, in classic Greeno style, whole-roasted chicken.
Of course, it wouldn't be a Sydney pub in 2017 without charcuterie and cheese boards to graze on. And desserts will include the new — a lemon verbena custard tart with fresh stone fruits — and the old, like waffles with banana caramel sauce and whipped cream, which is a Hotel Centennial classic.
Regarding decor, there will be no significant changes to the interior — after all, it was only three years ago that Anthony Medich purchased the dive for $6 million, giving it a new vibe and vastly changing the clientele. An overhaul of the front bar is set to begin in the new year.
The Centennial is Merivale's latest acquisition. The group also last month bought Bondi's Royal Hotel, and is set to reopen The Collaroy on Sydney's northern beaches in the new year.
Hotel Centennial will open to the public on Wednesday, December 13 at 88 Oxford Street, Woollahra. It will be open Monday to Saturday noon till midnight and Sunday noon till 10pm. For more info, visit merivale.com.au/hotelcentennial.