A new Italian small bar and eatery, Joe’s Bar, is due to open in Canberra’s Kingston on 31 July.
Located at the East Hotel, Joe’s Bar will be operated by brother and sister duo Dan and Dion Bisa, who created the establishment as a nod to their Italian heritage and their father, Giuseppe (or Joe).
The space is big on textures and layers with earthen finishes and materials as well as a floor-to-ceiling concrete curtain at the entrance. The 10 metre long solid marble bar and open kitchen offer a mix of high and low seating, and intimate corners.
The team creates ginger beer, limoncello and cocktail syrups in-house, and also infuse (fatwash) their bourbon with flavours, such as pancetta for its Bitter Pig cocktail, and pistachio with whiskey.
Fergus McGhie, The Canberra Times wine reviewer and wine judge penned the regularly rotating wine list where Italian wines are balanced with a selection of locally sourced drops.
Italian-born chef, Francesco Balestrieri, has created a modern Italian menu inspired by his home country and designed to share, with produce sourced from within 100km of Canberra. Menu highlights include polpettine di carne; housemade Tuscan chicken liver parfait with pancetta, porcini and crostini; smoked burrata with shaved local truffle, EVOO and crusty bread; lasagne with slow braised deboned pork ribs; and wagyu beef brisket with charred polenta and porcini butter.