The Apollo Group to launch 2 concepts at The Eve Hotel in Redfern
Jonathan Barthelmess and Sam Christie’s Apollo Group is expanding its Wunderlich Lane footprint with two new venues set to open at The Eve Hotel.
“The food is grounded in traditional Japanese cooking, using the incredible produce we have here in Australia. It’s generous, delicious and somewhere you can come back to often and have a different experience each time.”
The announcement comes after Liquid & Larder confirmed they were winding up their partnership with the hotel, which saw the closure of Lottie and Bar Julius in August this year after two years of operation.
Tenjo is the first of the Apollo Group’s new venues to launch, with the 100-seat izakaya located on the rooftop of The Eve. Former Sushi E chef Fredy Lim is leading the kitchen as head chef, with the team focusing on creating an unrestricted menu that allows diners to have flexibility with how and what they order.
“With Tenjo, we wanted to create the kind of Japanese restaurant where you can eat in lots of different ways,” says Barthelmess. “The food is grounded in traditional Japanese cooking, using the incredible produce we have here in Australia. It’s generous, delicious and somewhere you can come back to often and have a different experience each time.”
There will be a focus on donabe gohan, a rice dish made with seasonal Japanese rice accompanied by meat and vegetables cooked in a clay pot that will be served to guests tableside. Best of all, should there be any leftover rice, the team will send the table home with onigiri to eat later on. There will also be a selection of tempura, yakitori, sushi, nigiri and sashimi and larger options.
Matt Whiley has put together the drinks list, which covers 10 options that each feature a Japanese fruit. Highlights include a yuzu slushie, a sudachi gimlet and a peach highball. Christie has focused on sake for the other part of the drinks program as well as skin contact wines, rose, chilled reds and Champagne.
Long-time collaborator George Livissianis has been working on the redesign of the space, selecting materials such as stoneware, fabric screens, and crystal to tie in with the restaurant’s retractable glass roof and surrounding greenery.
Tenjo is set to open in November, with the official opening date to come.
