Marco Ambrosino and Manny Spinola are gearing up to open Lola’s Level 1 in Bondi Beach this week.
The 94-seat venue will welcome diners from 15 October for lunch, drinks and dinner.
Former Crown Sydney and Four Seasons chef Paula Patano is heading up the kitchen and has curated a menu inspired by a Mediterranean style of eating.
“We want Lola’s to be approachable – a place where you can drop in for a drink and some oysters; a place for a dinner with the family or a long lunch on the balcony overlooking Bondi,” says Ambrosino.
“The menu is focused on the plancha grill, and we’ll also be serving beautiful oysters shucked at the bar.”
Patano’s menu is designed to share, with options divided into oysters, small plates, off the plancha, larger plates and desserts.
Diners can choose from up to four different types of oysters to kick-start their meal before taking their pick from dishes such as burrata with citrus and basil and anchovies with piquillo peppers.
Plancha options encompass Angus hanger steak with chimichurri and bullhorn peppers along with octopus with charred eggplant and tahini, with larger plates covering a lasagnetta with white osso bucco ragu and gremolata; grilled fish with salad and semolina spaghetti with gamberetti and bagnacauda breadcrumbs.
Louis West (Bentley Restaurant Group) and Mon Ditbunjong (Cumulus Inc, City Wine Shop, Dear Sainte Eloise) are behind the beverage offering which focuses on Australian craft spirits along with local and Mediterranean wines.
Cocktail highlights include two martini options and a Rosita plus a 20-option by-the-glass wine list.
Lola’s Level 1 is located at 180-186 Campbell Parade, Bondi, and will open from midday to 10:00pm daily.
Image credits: Nikki To