Overview
The duo behind some of Sydney's fine-dining greats is trying its hand at something new this spring: pizza. Yep, Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt, whose restaurants include Barangaroo's seafood-focused Cirrus Dining, award-winning Bentley and wine bar Monopole, are putting down the tweezers and picking up a pizza peel for their latest culinary trick.
Called Ria Pizza + Wine, the new restaurant is set to open inside Monopole's old Potts Point digs this spring. As announced earlier this winter, the eight-year-old wine bar is relocating to Hunter Street in the CBD in October and will serve its last meals on Macleay Street this September. But, the restaurant won't be empty for long.
After a quick refresh, the space will reopen in November as Ria, which is set to be casual and fun, with crisp sourdough pizzas, snacks and small dishes. "Nick and I both love pizza and we have always joked about starting our own pizza place," Chef Savage said in a statement. "When we decided to relocate Monopole to the CBD, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to launch the concept in Potts Point".
Savage says the pizza won't be Italian or American in style, but "Australian". So, in true Savage style, expect plenty of local ingredients sourced direct from farmers and growers. Whether any pizzas will pay homage to the restaurant's predecessor is still up for debate — salt cod brandade or scallops and sweet corn atop pizza? I wouldn't say no — but, Monopole's greatest hits will be returning to the menu from Thursday, September 3 for a final run.
Similarly, Hildebrandt's well-known wine ethos will also shine through at Ria — albeit on a significantly smaller scale. At the moment, Monopole has upwards of 500 bottles, whereas Ria's list is expected to be "short and considered".
Find Ria Pizza + Wine at 71 Macleay Street, Potts Point from early November. Monopole will close in late September before reopening on Hunter Street in October.
Top image: Monopole by Letícia Almeida.