By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
Good Beer Company soft-launched it’s French-American eatery, Duke’s Bistro, at The DOG Hotel in Randwick last Friday, amid other activity for the group.
The eatery continued the New Orleans aesthetic of the hotel, and a menu to suit. French colonial style furnishings are topped off with an attention-grabbing chandelier, and an open plan kitchen which features a pair of bespoke rotisserie ovens.
The American influences of the menu – think beer-brined chicken and smoked brisket mac and cheese – are complemented by the more refined French dishes, such as escargot vol au vants and duck rillettes.
Good Beer Company owner, John Azar, was very happy with the ethos behind the new bistro.
“It’s a continuation of our theme, the American-French theme. We’re trying to produce good quality pub bistro food at very affordable prices – that’s what we’re about.”
With marketing of the new bistro to begin next week, Azar is already pleased with the reaction the bistro has had so far.
With plenty of investment going into The DOG Hotel, Good Beer Company’s most recent addition to the portfolio, Azar was hesitant to dub the hotel, the flagship venue, but suggests that big things are expected for it.
“It’s an interesting concept. I don’t know you define a flagship, but it’s certainly a very big hotel. Yes it has consumed a lot of money and has some expectations on it.”
Good Beer Company’s most lauded venue, Dove & Olive, was recently placed on the market, partly to fund redevelopment of The DOG Hotel.
“We’re just looking at growing in the group from within. We’re trying to create bigger venues form our already established venues. The Dove & Olive is doing very well but I think its further growth is probably a little bit limited in terms of where we want to go and what we want to do,” stated Azar.
“It definitely holds interest for other people to do other things that they would have in mind, that don’t fit into our planning moving forward. We want to stick true to what we’re doing.”
Azar suggested that there have been several parties interested in the Dove & Olive, with a few offers having already been placed.
“Watch this space.”