Overview
It's been a hot minute since a new dining precinct launched in Sydney. Darling Square's Exchange Building was the talk of the town in 2019. Barangaroo was the word on everyone's lips in 2017. And you couldn't avoid a trip to Tramsheds the year before that. Food hubs aren't new of course, Chinatown and the inner west's Little Italy have been around for decades, but they've definitely seen a resurgence in the 21st century. Thanks to a certain pandemic, however, 2020 hasn't been heavy on new openings — until now.
Western Sydney is now home to Parramatta Square: a $3.2 billion, 3000-square-metre precinct that's attracted some big names in the hospitality industry. When complete, it'll be home to more than ten restaurants — as well as plenty of office and retail space — and a chunk of them have opened their doors today, Wednesday, October 21.
Maurice Terzini and Lang Walker by Nikki To
Maurice Terzini — who's behind Bondi favourites Icebergs Bar & Dining and Ciccia Bella — has opened a second outpost of Ciccia Bella in the precinct, which — after a changing of the guard in the OG kitchen — focuses on cucina povera (rustic-style peasant food) and woodfired dishes, rather than just pizza and pasta. Created by Nic Wong (The Apollo and Cho Cho San), the menu stars plenty of cheese and charcuterie (including that mortadella from LP's Quality Meats), chilli-spiked mussels, pork cotoletta and wagyu steak. You will find some pasta here, too, including a spicy broccoli orecchiette, fusilli alla norma and wagyu lasagne.
Also opening in the precinct today is a new 160-seat restaurant by the duo behind Henrietta and Nour, Ibby Moubadder and Jorge Farah. While their other restaurants have a definite Lebanese edge, Lilymu is serving up dishes from China and Southeast Asia. For this, the duo has hired ex-Mr Wong chef Brandan Fong who's making tom yum prawn dumplings, pipis with XO, red curry scampi and — for dessert — tres leches cake. Drinks are equally creative, featuring the likes of a dragon fruit and gin sour, and a margarita made with Thai chilli-infused tequila.
Rivareno Gelato by Nikki To
You'll also find Noosa-born Shake Shack-style burger favourite Betty's, poke bowl chain Fishbowl, Rivareno Gelato and Sushi Yuzen at the Square, and they're set to be joined by florist Rose & Co, Harvey's Hot Sandwiches, Threefold Pastry and Ruse Bar and Brasserie in the not-too-distant future. We'll be sure to let you know more about those when they open their doors.
Find Parramatta Square on the corner of Darcy and Macquarie streets, Parramatta. To check individual restaurant's opening hours, head to their websites.
Top image: Nikki To