Icebergs restauranteur Maurice Terzini will takeover The Eastern in Bondi Junction in a 17-month residency described as “a love letter to the classic Australian public bar”.
Launching in February with a 3am license, the ground-floor public bar will be reopened as Billy The Pig, a ‘no-frills drinking hole’ featuring a late-night bar, live music and classic pub fare with an Italian twist.
Terzini stated: “Residencies allow me the opportunity to explore less structured models, a bit like when I started my career more on gut feelings and creativity than budgets. I find this energy translates positively to my other projects, bringing a breath of fresh air.”
Working in collaboration with Jacksons on George co-partner Michael Broome on the reopening of the Sydney pub, Terzini’s iteration will honour the venue’s rich heritage, taking cues from its reputation among the eastern suburbs community.
“This venue is an old deco pub with an incredible history as a pumping eastern suburb venue. We wanted to pay homage to its legacy, having been named Billy The Pig’s in the 90s by previous owner Max Hitchins, after the original owner from the 1950s was known to treat all his clients like pigs. He also apparently grunted like a pig,” says Terzini.
Terzini’s homage to the pub’s rich history also extends to the food menu, where he combines his love of Italian food with the nostalgia of old-school pub dishes.
From the snack menu, expect classic Italian street foods such as Calamari Saint Andrea, served alongside party pies, Jatz with cheddar and crisp prawn sliders. Larger dishes include chicken schnitzel, hot dogs and fish and chips, and a nod to Italian cuisine with beef ragu lasagne and late-night pizzas.
Cocktails play a big part on the drinks menu, with the list broken down into three sections each comprising four cocktails: Billy’s Classics, Billy’s Modern and Billy’s Late Night. Classics like the Pina Colada and Lychee Martini sit alongside signature serves such as Yuzu Spritz and Chenin Lime & Bitters.
Billy’s Late Night offers more playful cocktails, including the Fruit Tingle (Don Julio, blue curracao, raspberry and lemonade), Espresso (espresso vodka, Chell-Oh! Caffe, fresh espresso) and the Jap Slipper (Tanqueray Gin, Midori, Cointreau and lemon).
With happy hours set to take place throughout the afternoon and evening, Billy The Pig will pour a selection of Australian draught beers accompanied by modern and minimal intervention wines, predominantly from Australia and Italy.
Terzini also sets out to reignite the pub’s reputation as a destination for live music, with DJs, producers and live bands set to perform at Billy The Pig from 9pm five nights a week.