Food News: North Sydney four-in-one “mega-venue” to open on Walker St.

By ANNA USHER

An ambitious hospitality “mega venue” headed by hatted chef Rhys Connell is about to thrill local foodies from July 9.

The Walker St precinct is the latest offering from Etymon Projects, the group behind Lou Lou Bistro, Poetica in North Sydney – and The Charles Brasserie in the CBD.

Connell, a former Sepia chef, will oversee four diverse restaurants at 168 Walker St: Sol, a bakery and wine bar; artisanal providore, Una; LA-inspired, relaxed dining, bar and lounge Soluna; and contemporary Japanese dining with a little edge at Genzo.

“North Sydney is gaining buzz lately and opening these four venues is an opportunity to create a vibrant dining precinct in an area where there’s a real appetite for more quality hospitality,” Connell said.

Located on the same block as the new Victoria Cross metro station, Connell says he wants to create a “community hub” for the suburb and particularly for the new residents of Aura by Aqualand, the huge 386 apartment building above the site.

The thinking is that locals can pick up fresh bread and pastries at Sol in the morning, then enjoy lunch, drinks, or dinner at Una, Soluna or Genzo.

There are a few familiar Etymon faces joining Connell, including Sol head baker Brendon Woodward, who looks after sister venue Loulou Boulangerie; head of pastry Rhiann Mead, who also oversees pastry at The Charles Brasserie & Bar; Sol head chef Christan Potter and precinct sommelier, Thomas Craig both have made the move over from Loulou Bistro.

Here’s a deeper dive into the Walker Street precinct venues:

Sol Bread + Wine is a neighbourhood bakery that serves breakfast favourites by morning and then transforms into a cosy, local wine bar from afternoon through ‘til late. Interiors take inspiration from Italian and Spanish streetscapes with bold combinations of stone, timber, and tonal colours. Inside, the kitchen bar and bakery display face out to a mix of dining with several tables creating an outdoor terrace meeting place. A stunning curved staircase leads upstairs to the busy bakery and sister venue, Soluna. Like a traditional paninoteca, Sol effortlessly flips from bakery and breakfast to evening wines and cicchetti.

Genzo is contemporary Japanese dining, with edge. A busy open kitchen and robata grill, a 28-seater cocktail and sake bar with temperature-controlled sake room, pops of colour emanating across the ceiling’s LED lighting, anime-style cartoon characters, and dining for 90 that spills out to the outdoor terrace. The food menu has a focus on kushiyaki (skewers), noodles, and raw dishes that can work just as well in the restaurant or paired back as bar snacks. There’s a compelling sake offering and Japanese wines alongside other classic wines and clean, balanced cocktails.

Open from lunch through to dinner, Soluna dining, bar and lounge is the perfect local spot for family get-togethers, relaxed meals, and catch ups over drinks. Designed to cater for an array of occasions, Soluna has three distinct offerings to suit your mood. Sip cocktails at a high table in the 60-seater indoor and outdoor bar. Linger for a casual long lunch or dinner with family and friends in the 110-seater dining space, which spills outside onto the covered sandstone terrace. Or, if laid-back wines and snacks is what you’re after, settle into the eclectic and very cosy armchairs in the 30-seater lounge. Soluna takes design cues from relaxed Los Angeles coastal vibes, with lush greenery throughout, sheer curtains to create flexible spaces, curved joinery and banquet seating, eclectic timber furniture with marble tabletops, and a calming colour palette of green, concrete and timber.

Una is North Sydney’s new neighbourhood providore, a foodie’s utopia filled with house-made and expertly sourced gourmet artisanal produce and essentials. From local and international cheeses and charcuterie to house made pastas, condiments, boutique wines and spirits, and even a homewares edit. Una’s textured and tactile monochrome tonal palette takes inspiration from the simplicity of Italy’s alimentaris, displays overflowing with an abundance of quality produce. A restrained interior framework allows the vibrancy and beauty of the produce to pop.