Eastern Sydney suburbs stalwart, The Charing Cross, has a fresh new face and a menu by ex-Balzac chef Matt Kemp.
The Charing Cross, founded in 1857 by ex-convict William Newland, now has a contemporary coastal feel that reflects the laid back attitude of the neighbourhood and nearby beaches of Tamarama and Bronte.
Of the new menu, Kemp said, “I feel relaxed cooking this food; the menu is simple and honest using flavours that naturally go together – we dry our own lavender for the buttermilk pannacotta and we make our own celery salt for our king prawn cocktail – all working with the best produce that I can get my hands on.”
Charing Cross owner Warren Livingstone said, “I have lived around the corner for a decade and as a local I wanted to create something that my family and friends from the neighbourhood could enjoy. I want the hotel to be casual and good value – geared towards people going a couple of times a week rather than for a special occasion.”
The interiors feature a seven metre long high Chesterfield bench seat in powder blue leather, vintage-style pendant lighting and soft white polished concrete floors. The glass ceiling in the dining room leads the way to a courtyard featuring seven metre high illuminated lettering from the former Concorde Lafayette Hotel sign.
The marble topped, corrugated American oak clad bar is designed to give the main bar a relaxed, New York vibe.
The Charing Cross is located at 81 Carrington Road, Waverley.
