Owners of the Rockpool Group, Neil Perry and Trish Richards have announced that they will be closing Rockpool Est. 1989 on Saturday, 30 July. It will reopen on Monday, 8 August as a more flexible a la carte restaurant called Eleven Bridge.
The decision to close Rockpool Est. 1989 has been a difficult one for Perry and Richards, who have dedicated the past 27 years to making it one of Australia’s best and most awarded restaurants.
“Our motivations to close Rockpool and open Eleven Bridge are varied but the most significant is that we have two Rockpool restaurants in close proximity, and we have at least 100 guests turn up to the wrong one every month,” said Perry.
“Rockpool has been our flagship restaurant for almost three decades. We’re moving away from that traditional concept of fine dining but maintaining all the elements that are crucial to great dining; excellent produce and service, and a contemporary style.”
While the name and menu will change, a number of key team members will remain, including executive chef Phil Wood, general manager Jeremy Courmadias, restaurant manager Silvio Brentan and head sommelier Sebastian Crowther MS.
While Perry and Wood remain tight lipped about Eleven Bridge’s menu, they have revealed that it will feature some of reimagined favourites as well as new dishes. “Think great produce cooked with great craft,” Perry said.
“We’ll be closing Rockpool on a high as one of Good Food’s three hatted restaurants and having won Gourmet Traveller’s Restaurant of the Year for 2016. We are so incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved over the years.
“However we’re really excited about the next chapter. With a new a la carte menu at both lunch and dinner, we will continue to give each and every guest a great dining experience.”
Rockpool Est. 1989’s last service will be dinner on Saturday, 30 July.
“We hope that in this time, everyone who wishes to enjoy the restaurant one last time can do so.”
“It's one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the country. We’re just fixing the floor and doing a lot of training on the new menu, and then we’ll reopen on the Monday,” Perry told Hospitality.
Eleven Bridge will open on Monday, 8 August. Lunch will be served Monday to Friday from 12-3pm and dinner Monday to Saturday from 6pm.