Latest news with #NeilPerry
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Celebrity chef Neil Perry announces shock closure of his popular bar: 'Absolutely devastated'
Celebrity chef Neil Perry has called last drinks at his luxe Double Bay cocktail bar Bobbie's, just under 12 months after opening it. The stylish basement bar in Sydney 's eastern suburbs, is tucked beneath his popular Cantonese restaurant Song Bird inside Gaden House. The nine-month-old establishment was a passion project Perry launched in partnership with New York-based hospitality heavyweight Linden Pride, co-owner of Dante and Caffe Dante - two of Manhattan's most acclaimed bars. The team from the swanky jazz bar broke the news of the sudden closure on May 29 - leaving customers devastated. 'Last drinks at Bobbie's. Tonight we raise a glass one final time - to the memories, the music, the cocktails, the team and the incredible guests who made Bobbie's so special,' a Bobbie's spokesperson said on social media. 'A heartfelt thank you to everyone who sipped, danced, and shared all the good times. Your support meant the world. 'And today we remember and honour the man who inspired it all - the legendary Bob Rogers. Bobbie's was named for you, and you will always be in our hearts. With love and gratitude, The Bobbie's Team.' Perry revealed the decision was made jointly as his business partner shifts focus to his booming business overseas. 'Linden's US-based hospitality group, Dante, is expanding rapidly, with multiple new venues planned across America in the next 18 months,' the top chef said in a statement, according to Hospitality Magazine. 'Our landlords are in discussions with prospective operators interested in taking over the space.' The restaurateur opened both Bobbie's and Song Bird in August 2024, with Bobbie's cocktail bar occupying the basement, and Song Bird just above on street level. With an ambitious vision of delivering world-class cocktails to Sydney's eastern suburbs, Bobbie's dream was short-lived, with operations winding up quietly amid behind-the-scenes reshuffling at Gaden House. Locals were quick to comment last week at their dismay of the popular bar closing, with many referring to it as an 'institution'. 'So sad to see you go. An institution. Thanks for the great memories. Thinking of all the beautiful thoughtful staff who worked there,' one wrote. 'So sad - fantastic cocktails and such amazing bartenders and service. You will all be missed,' another added. 'This is heartbreaking - we love you Bobbie's,' one shared. 'My favourite bar - such great shame,' another revealed. 'Absolutely devastated - Sydney needed this,' one said. While the bar's closure has sparked speculation around the future of Song Bird upstairs, Perry was quick to quash rumours that his multi-level Cantonese restaurant is also shutting up shop. 'Song Bird is absolutely not closing,' he told Hospitality Magazine, clarifying that recent reports in the Australian Financial Review referred to a strategic review of the restaurant's footprint - not its demise. Instead, Perry revealed he's scaling back from four floors to three, with the top level - originally set to house an event space and a la carte dining - now being handed over to become private offices. 'Managing three levels as part of the restaurant proved more complex than we anticipated. Streamlining our footprint will greatly enhance our operations,' he explained. With the changes, Song Bird will now seat 140 diners, including outdoor tables, and introduce a new menu inspired by Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese flavours. Perry described the revised layout as 'the ideal size to manage and a key part of the Margaret Family Precinct moving forward.' The closure of Bobbie's marks a rare misstep for Perry, whose dining empire includes restaurant's Rockpool, Spice Temple, Margaret, and Next Door located in Sydney, as well as Rockpool and Rosetta in Melbourne. 'Running Bobbie's has been a fantastic experience. While we're disappointed to see it go, this move allows Linden to focus on Dante's growth and gives me the opportunity to concentrate fully on Song Bird, Margaret, Next Door, and our bakery,' Perry said.
Time Out
6 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
Sneak peek: Australia's ‘cleanest' airport just got a luxe new business class lounge
Flying out of Adelaide just got a whole lot fancier – well, at least for travellers with a hunk of frequent flyer points (or cash to burn). This month, Qantas unveiled its first domestic business lounge at Adelaide Airport, which was recently named the world's sixth cleanest airport for 2025. It's the airline's first all-new domestic business lounge since Melbourne in 2018, and possibly its most luxurious yet. Let's take a look inside. The signature offering of the new lounge is its sleek Market Kitchen, featuring a live cooking station inspired by Adelaide Central Market and producers across the state. Here, guests can order rotating dishes created by Qantas' Food and Beverage Director Neil Perry – think Skala Bakery pie floaters loaded with gravy and peas; lamb cutlets topped with chutney; or a hearty roast veggie paella. Lighter snacks are also available, designed by South Australian culinary treasure, Maggie Beer, alongside a standard buffet spread featuring local cheeses, charcuterie, bread and condiments from the likes of Barossa Fine Foods, Marino, Balfours and Udder Delights. Naturally, the lounge champions South Australia's world-class regional wines, pouring top drops from the likes of The Lane Vineyard, Penfolds and Torbreck. Open from midday, the bar also serves up a signature Adelaide Hills G&T, plus a non-alcoholic Maggie Beer sparkling ruby cabernet. The spirit of South Australia also shines in the lounge's decor, which takes inspiration from three of the state's most iconic locations: the Adelaide Botanic Garden, Adelaide Central Market and Kangaroo Island 's Flinders Chase National Park. These landscapes are portrayed through earthy green and light brown furniture, clay-red tiles in the buffet area and bathrooms, and a stunning blown-glass light installation by JamFactory. Whether you're in work or business mode, the lounge caters to every kind of traveller with a mix of solo nooks and social spaces. It has capacity for up to 190 guests, with 80 per cent of the seats equipped with power stations, including USB-A/C and wireless charging mats. Talk about high-tech! Access to Qantas' new Adelaide domestic business lounge is complimentary for Business Class passengers and Gold or Platinum Frequent Flyers. But if you're eager to experience the high life, you can also score access with the airline's new low-cost subscription models.
AU Financial Review
28-05-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Justin Hemmes on a Sydney collision course with Neil Perry
The Neil Perry -fication of Sydney's luxe Double Bay is sputtering. The divine ponytail's job on restaurant Margaret (turning it into a favourite spot with a wait list and people-spotting) has been flawless. Then came the very successful casual eatery Next Door and bakery Baker Bleu. But as this masthead revealed last week it's his Cantonese restaurant Song Bird hitting the skids. It's not even about the food or dining experience.
AU Financial Review
23-05-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Neil Perry gives the lazy susan at Song Bird a spin
If you're dreaming of celebrating a special occasion at the stately top floor of Neil Perry's Chinese restaurant Song Bird, in Sydney's Double Bay, you'd better get in quick. It's about to be handed back to the landlords and possibly turned into offices, one of many changes under way as Perry tries to make Song Bird sing.
Time Out
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
It's official: These are the 9 best burgers in Sydney right now
There are a few dishes that seem to rile Sydneysiders up more than others. The best bánh mì, for instance. Or the top places to get cracking fish and chips. Sydney's best burgers is another lava-hot topic, with people caring about buns (nearly) as much as their firstborn. We are those people. There are a million and one variations on the burger, of course, but the essence of a truly great burger remains the same: a two-handed meal made with fresh, quality ingredients, a complementary balance of flavours and textures – salt, zing, crunch – and one that makes you smile. Here is Time Out's guide to the nine best burgers in Sydney right now, based on us eating our way right around town. Odds are, your list will be a bit different – but the two things we can all agree on are: charcoal has no place in burger buns. Same with anything low-fat. We're simply not interested. 1. Gidley Burger at The Gidley The burger at subterranean swish steakhouse The Gidley is our absolute favourite in Sydney. And it's not just us – it was the only Aussie burger to make the coveted Top 10 Burgers in the world 2024 list. Made on a milk bun, it features a double beef patty sourced from their in-house butchery at sibling restaurant Alfie's, rich cheddar cheese, secret sauce and zingy pickles. Best not to share. 2. American Cheeseburger at Next Door Neil Perry's Margaret was recently voted the second-best steak restaurant in the world, so it makes sense that the patty at his next-door venue – aptly named Next Door – is bloody good. The burger features a 200g Coppertree Farm beef patty (a mix of brisket and chuck), grilled to medium so it's a touch rosy in the middle. It's topped with cheese, pickles, tomato sauce, mustard and jazzed-up mayo, all on a soft bun. 3. Yellowfin Tuna Cheeseburger at Saint Peter Bar King of the sea Josh Niland gives beef and pork a run for their money – while proving we should be eating more of the fish than just its fillet – with his legendary yellowfin tuna and swordfish bacon cheeseburger. It's available at the Saint Peter Bar in Paddington's Grand National Hotel. Think: two patties of yellowfin tuna, swordfish belly bacon, both sourced from Mooloolaba in Queensland, served with melted cheese and a sharp sauce on a fresh bun. V smashable. 4. Original Smash Burger at Eat at Robs Eat at Robs (short for Rozelle's Original Burger) was born when owner Michael Carter returned home from travelling and found a lack of good smash burger options. What began as a market stall has grown into a full-blown burger shop with loyal fans. The menu is short and simple: choose from grilled chicken or a smashed burger featuring 100 per cent grass-fed beef, caramelised onion and melted cheese on Martin's Potato Rolls that are soft, squishy and a little bit sweet. 5. Cheese and Bacon Burger at Clam Bar Clam Bar 's burger isn't cheap, but thankfully, just like the restaurant, it's a clam dunk. The 250g grass-fed patty is pretty and blushing pink, fatty and juicy, with perfectly melted American cheese, topped with a tangy mustard sauce and onion. Thick-cut bacon and pickles are served on top of the sesame bun and stabbed with a knife. It's rich, messy and yum. 6. Mary's Burger at Mary's We've long been fans of rock 'n' roll burger joint and bar Mary's and their cracking American-style burgers. The classic burger features quality beef, melted cheese, fresh lettuce, thick slices of tomato, white onion and Mary's secret sauce, all held together in a soft white bun. They serve vegan burgs, too. 7. Paul's Famous Works Burger at Paul's Famous Hamburgers Loved for its old-school, Aussie-style burgers, Paul's Famous Hamburgers has been in operation since 1957. Our pick is the works burger – with a well-cooked patty, fresh tomato, raw onions, beetroot, crisp bacon, a fried egg and pineapple. You'll find this banging burger joint in Sylvania, in Sydney's south – and we reckon you should. 8. Classic Burger at Chebbo's Burgers Chebbo's Burgers has taken the social media world by storm, and for good reason. They specialise in smash burgers, and they're as delicious as they are good looking. The team started as a food truck in Roselands and recently opened their first bricks-and-mortar store in Marrickville. We love their classic bad boy, with a smashed beef patty, American cheese, the usual suspects (lettuce, tomato, fresh onion) and Chebbo's special sauce. 9. Cheese & Bacon Burger at Regatta Club The burger at Regatta Club (at UTS Rowers in Haberfield) comes stacked with a large beef patty, a chunky slice of very thick-cut bacon, diced onions, a big gherkin slice, melted American cheese and creamy, tangy burger sauce on a sesame-seed-topped milk bun. It's everything we want from a salad-free burger.
