Former Entertainment Centre site lures Tapavino owner

Architect Kengo Kuma's circular building taking shape where the Entertainment Centre once rocked Sydney is proving hypnotic for local food operators.

Frank Dilernia, the rising restaurant and bar star behind Tapavino and Balcon in the CBD, has joined the growing list of sign-ons.

Dilernia confirmed he'll open Boque by Tapavino there in August.

"I've always wanted to open down towards Chinatown. It'll be Spanish, there'll be a big bar you sit around.

The kitchen will be the bar … and there'll be sangria on tap," he explains.

The restaurant-bar will have some upwardly mobile food neighbours.

Restaurant giant Golden Century Group is opening a restaurant upstairs at The Exchange at Darling Square.

And downstairs the so-called Maker's Dozen space, where Boque by Tapavino is sliding in, already has the signatures of cake maestro Andy Bowdy and a JV food project from Ume's Kerby Craig and Hamish Ingham and Rebecca Lines (Banksii).

Cabramatta staple Bau Truong has also been lured to open a city offshoot at the venue, and Fish & Co and Fishbowl are also starters.

With Sri Lankan street food hotter than a Colombo summer, Darlinghurst's Hopper Kade is also joining the party.