Waterman's Lobster Co opens summer pop-up in Bondi

Bondi is about to receive a dose of Maine-style lobster love, thanks to a summer pop-up by Waterman's Lobster Co. From Boxing Day, the Potts Point smart casual seafood restaurant is setting up shop in the Hall Street site once occupied by mescal shrine Mr Moustache for a three-month summer fling.

"We're really excited about people walking into our restaurant in bare feet from the beach, grabbing a couple of lobster rolls and then heading back down to the ocean," says owner Matt Swieboda. "It's going to be really unfussy, inexpensive seafood."

Waterman's is keeping things simple for the pop-up, serving an abridged version of its Potts Point menu. Rolls filled with lobster or soft-shell crab will star alongside fresh prawn po-boys, kingfish tartare, fish rillettes and a few other salad and side offerings. Everything will be available to eat in or takeaway.

Swieboda, who also owns popular Darlinghurst wine bar Love Tilly Devine, is paring back Waterman's celebrated wine list for the pop-up too. "We realise that not everyone wants to drink chardonnay and champagne in the daytime, so we'll be looking at having some beautiful fresh-pressed juices," he says.

That doesn't mean the made-for-lobster wine will disappear completely. "We're certainly going to lead with our Waterman's chardonnay, which is made for us in the Hunter Valley by one of our favourite winemakers, Richie Harkham," Swieboda says. "His wine is also 100 per cent kosher. We're looking at having an Australian-focused list, mainly leaning towards wines that have had very minimal intervention and are naturally produced."

Waterman's Hall Street neighbours include A Tavola, Gelato Messina, bills and Maurice Terzini's Da Orazio. Will the natural wine and lobster joint stay beachside? "Time will tell," Swieboda says.

75-79 Hall Street, Bondi. Noon-11pm daily. watermanslobsterco.com