Overview
An all-day diner and aperitivo bar has just opened in Bondi from the team behind The Shire's beloved eatery Blackwood Pantry. Blackwood Bondi is the second outpost from the team and is open for breakfast through to dinner seven days a week, just a short walk from Bondi Beach and a few doors down from Beach Road Hotel.
The venue welcomes you in with a gentle green and grey fit-out. The food and drink menu will change throughout the day, and has been created by co-owner and Executive Chef Rob Lechowicz. Lechowicz completed his apprenticeship under Tony Bilson who is often called a 'godfather of Australian cuisine', and has honed his skills at Michelin-starred establishments in London and Paris.
The brunch menu is available from 7am until 4pm each day and spans from breakfast classics to more hearty options for the lunchtime crowd. Blackwood's version of a big brekkie features scrambled eggs, chorizo, sweet potato, kale, pickled onion, goats cheese, avocado and sourdough; while the spicy bacon and egg roll is topped with sriracha and lime mayo as well as crispy shallots.
If you had your morning Weet-Bix hours ago and you're looking for more of a midday spread, there's a curry roasted cauliflower bowl, and a chicken schnitzel sandwich featuring truffle ranch and pickled zucchini, a Moreton Bay bug roll with truffle casarecce.
Once the weekend rolls in, dinner is served until late. The curried cauliflower, casarecce and Moreton Bay bug rolls make the cut for the nighttime menu, placed alongside seared snapper fillet, pecorino-crumbed veal cotoletta and chargrilled spatchcock coated in a sage and garlic beurre noisette. There's also a host of snacks for those looking to dip in and for a drink and a nibble.
Oysters, warm olives, San Daniele prosciutto, truffle salami and a chef's selection of cheese are all on-hand to accompany the drink menu headlined by an array of signature cocktails curated by award-winning bar Maybe Sammy.
Aperol features heavily across the drinks list. For exmaple, the Sebastian Spritz combines peach liqueur, Aperol, prosecco and yuzu soda. You can also opt for a Croissant Martini with almond croissant-soaked vodka, Mr Black and espresso, or the Blackwood Margarita which introduces watermelon and Tio Pepe to the classic combination of tequila and agave.
Reservations can be made via the Blackwood Bondi website, or you can swing past the 90-seat venue and nab a table day and night.
Co-owners Paul Pisani, Daniel Sorridimi and Rob Lechowicz
Blackwood Bondi is now open at 3/87–89 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi, 7am–4pm daily and 5pm–11pm Friday–Sunday.
Images: Felix Forest