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Acre Artarmon opens sprawling cafe/restaurant on Sydney's lower north shore

Scott Bolles
Scott Bolles

Greenery decorates the light-filled cafe/bakery section.
Greenery decorates the light-filled cafe/bakery section.Supplied

Even by big block north shore standards, Acre Artarmon is big. Its cafe is already serving coffee and on Friday, November 6 the venue's Italiano Restaurant & Bar will join the party. But there's the small matter of size.

At 2000 square metres, it's half the size of its Camperdown sibling. Did they consider naming it Half Acre?

"We thought about it but we don't want to be too cute," says co-owner Luke Heard.

The cafe/bakery will cater to the brunch crowd with avo toast, smoked yoghurt and citrus.
The cafe/bakery will cater to the brunch crowd with avo toast, smoked yoghurt and citrus.Supplied
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And it's plenty big enough to include a cafe, restaurant, bakery, children's playground and gardens.

You'll discover edible flowers, a worm farm and even a chicken coop.

Near the Royal North Shore Hospital, the site is conveniently positioned to pull lower north shore customers.

Expect an Italian restaurant menu, including white anchovy crostini (left rear), zucchini fritti (front) and arancini.
Expect an Italian restaurant menu, including white anchovy crostini (left rear), zucchini fritti (front) and arancini.Supplied

"Both my business partner [John Tully] and I have operated businesses in the area and Camperdown has a strong following with people on the north shore, so we're confident," Heard says.

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After a successful Italian pop-up last year, they've decided to go all-in on the cuisine at Artarmon.

"I think it's the best menu we've done," he says.

The generous restaurant/terrace area.
The generous restaurant/terrace area.Supplied

Included is a muscled-up giant cotoletta, chicken stuffed with fontina cheese and finished with fragrant burnt sage picked from the kitchen garden.

Throw in puttanesca and Neapolitan pizza. There's also a "barrel-aged" negroni.

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"We'll ramp up the hours over coming weeks, [and] by December we'll be doing breakfast, lunch and dinner daily," Heard says.

1 Frederick Street, Artarmon (adjacent to Home HQ Artarmon), 02 7204 0070, acre-artarmon.com.au

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Scott BollesScott Bolles writes the weekly Short Black column in Good Food.

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