The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement

Neil Perry has big plans for Rockpool in Brisbane

Callan Boys
Callan Boys

Get ready to rumble, steak and seafood fans, Neil Perry is bringing Rockpool to Brisbane in a big way. The award-winning chef and restaurateur is attached to the opening of more than ten Queensland venues in the next 12 months including Burger Project, Spice Temple and Rockpool Bar & Grill.

Perry's expansion into Brisbane is financed by a deal signed late Friday evening, where the chef sold Rockpool Group's restaurant portfolio (excluding Sydney fine-diner, Eleven Bridge) to Urban Purveyor Group (UPG), the hospitality arm of Quadrant Private Equity.

Double cheese burger at Burger Project.
Double cheese burger at Burger Project.Edwina Pickles

The acquisition has birthed Rockpool Dining Group which will also manage UPG's existing venues including Sake, Fratelli Fresh, Munich Brauhaus and The Bavarian. The combined group is lead by UPG chief executive officer Thomas Pash, a veteran of the US hospitality industry. Perry will serve as "head of culinary".

Burger Project (Perry's burger chain popular in NSW and Victoria for its hand-made Cape Grim beef patties and classic-style milkshakes) is on track to open February 1 at South Bank's new Southpoint precinct.

Advertisement

A CBD Burger Project will open on Edward Street in May and scouting is underway for other Project-friendly sites. "I wouldn't be surprised if we have three or four Burger Projects in Brisbane, and potentially the Gold Coast, by the end of next year," says Perry.

Yum cha at Spice Temple, Sydney.
Yum cha at Spice Temple, Sydney.Supplied

Rockpool Bar & Grill and Spice Temple are set for Brisbane openings in late 2017. Both restaurants are already established in Melbourne and Sydney and all four venues have two Good Food Guide hats each. Rockpool Bar & Grill is all about seafood, steak and old world glamour while Spice Temple focuses on first-class Chinese cooking served in a dark and sexy den.

Perry is tight lipped on locations, but it's understood the venues will be in very close proximity to each other in addition to a new concept known as Rockpool Bar. Perry says it will use the best parts of Rockpool Bar & Grill's New York-style bar component as its foundation.

"You've got the wagyu burger, minute steak, fish from the charcoal oven and beautiful little things like empanadas, prawn cutlets and anchovies on toast. Lots of fun and lots of fantastic wine by the glass. I think it will go really, really well in Brisbane."

Advertisement
Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney's opulent entrance.
Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney's opulent entrance. Supplied

"Tasmania's Cape Grim and David Blackmore [Victoria] are our cornerstone beef suppliers, but we also like to do Bar and Grill specials that showcase other breeds of cattle. We'll definitely be looking to work with local to farmers and give the restaurant a real Queensland flavour.

"And the seafood in Queensland is just awesome. A lot of it leaves Brisbane, though, so we're going to try and stop that from happening."

Other openings scheduled on Rockpool Dining Group's Brisbane calendar include a mid-December launch of Fratelli Famous, a new build-your-own pizza concept at Eagle Street Pier, and a Munich Brauhaus will start pouring at South Bank's heritage-listed Allgas Building in April.

Advertisement

Another Brauhaus is slated to open in the second half of 2017 at Brisbane Showgrounds

"We're very committed to the state," says Perry.

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.

Sign up
Callan BoysCallan Boys is editor of SMH Good Food Guide, restaurant critic for Good Weekend and Good Food writer.

From our partners

Advertisement
Advertisement