Perth
CO OP DINING
This innovative, local produce-
driven East Perth fine-diner from
husband-and-wife team Kelly and
Kiren Mainwaring closed in June,
citing financial pressures. We’ll
miss the attention to detail, the
careful sourcing of biodynamic
and organic ingredients and, of
course, the kombucha icy-poles.Adelaide
BAR MALLOZZI
Jock Zonfrillo (Orana) closed his
Rundle Street wine and snack bar
seven months after it opened. The
combination of spuntini and an
Italian-leaning drinks list from the
Orana sommelier didn’t fly, but
Zonfrillo’s fine diner (recently in
pop-up mode in Sydney) and Bistro
Blackwood continue to draw crowds.Brisbane
ARIA BRISBANE
Matt Moran’s Brisbane outpost
closed in June, a victim of the current
juggernaut that is redevelopment
in the Queensland capital. The
building housing the restaurant will
be demolished as part of the Eagle
Street Pier precinct development,
which will include two towers and
additional riverfront space. Melbourne
ESP & SAINT CRISPIN
Scott Pickett has re-purposed two
of most high-profile restaurants
this year, replacing his acclaimed
fine-diner Esp with an expanded
version of his bistro The Estelle
and flipping his mod-Oz diner for
the Italian-accented Lupo.
THE MAYFAIR
The late-night NY-style, jazz-tinged
oering from David Mackintosh
and Joe Jones never really took
o, despite a strong menu of bistro
classics (RIP spanner-crab crumpet)
and reliably superb cocktails from
Jones. Matt Wilkinson’s Pope Joan
has filled the void.
LONG CHIM MELBOURNE
The casino outpost of David
Thompson’s Bangkok street-food
mini chain closed in July, following
a mutual decision between Long
Chim and Crown that it was time
for a parting of the ways. The
replacement? A Thai restaurant
called Ging Thai.
THE PRESS CLUB
George Calombaris’s rough year
included the closing down of his
fine-diner The Press Club after
12 years. The space has morphed
into Elektra, with ex-Press Club
exec chef Reuben Davis dishing
up sophisticated pan-Mediterranean
food alongside amped-up wine
and cocktail lists.
RAMBLR
Nick Stanton’s always-interesting
Chapel Street diner closed in March,
its demise fuelled in part by the
success of Leonardo’s Pizza Palace
in Carlton that was keeping him away
from the Ramblr kitchen. It’s been
replaced by a Leonardo’s spin-o,
Leo’s by the Slice.
RESTAURANT SHIK
The very talented Peter Jo closed
his first stand-alone restaurant in
April when, despite great reviews
and word-of-mouth, his “old-world
Korean” restaurant failed to gain
traction. The good news is that
Jo is planning another venture.ROCKWELL AND SONS
One of Melbourne’s original
American-style diner food joints
closed in June with the owners
(who also have Bar Liberty and
Capitano) deciding it was time
for a change. Rockwell has been
replaced by Falco Bakery.SARTI
Long-time CBD Italian fave Sarti
was retired in August by owner
Joe Mammone, who decided it
was time for a refresh. It has been
replaced by Marameo, a more
relaxed, but still Italian-accented,
joint with a focus on flexibility.WOODLAND HOUSE
Ambitious, detail-orientated and
decidedly old-school fine-diner
Woodland House called it a day
in July with owner-chefs Hayden
McFarland and Thomas Woods
citing a tightening corporate dollar
as a key to the restaurant’s demise.