Grossi family to open Garum in Perth and update Merchant Osteria Veneto, Melbourne

The Grossi family has been involved in the Melbourne hospitality scene for almost 60 years.

But now it's expanding westwards, opening "Roman rustic" restaurant Garum in Perth's east end in April.

Invited to set up a restaurant in the 368-room Westin Hotel and Hibernian Place development, the Grossis grabbed the historic Hibernian Hall, built in 1902 to service WA's Irish settlers.

Garum's head chef, Mario di Natale, will draw on the food of Rome and the surrounding Lazio region, using Western Australian produce such as Arkady lamb, Manjimup truffles and marron.

Expect things like chilli-licked bucatini all'amatriciana, coils of lightly smoked Lucanica sausage, and abbacchio a scottadito ("finger-burning" lamb cutlets) alongside a 100-strong wine list that balances Italian and WA wines, plus a few "friends" – a barolo and a few champagnes.

Meanwhile, the Grossi family plans to renovate its restaurant Merchant Osteria Veneto in mid-2018, adding a private dining room and an outdoor kitchen in the piazza serving spit roast and pizza.

The Venetian-inspired Merchant is part of a revitalised Rialto Towers complex at 525 Collins Street. New tenants include Sensory Lab cafe serving coffee and "grab and go" dishes such as vegan salads and reuben sandwiches, and Rustica, selling coffee, bread and pastries.