By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
The Alfred, a sprawling dining and entertainment complex by Urban Purveyor Group, will open on Friday 15 July in Melbourne.
(L to R) Team members for The Cut, Callum Savage (Bartender), Lorena Smyth (General Manager of both The Cut and Fratelli), Timothy Martin (Executive Chef of both The Cut and Fratelli), Claire Macleod (Manager of The Cut), Amy Cunningham (Waiter at The Cut). Photo by James Thomas.
Located at 7 Alfred Place, UPG took over the site at the end of February after purchasing the building from Stokehouse Restaurants, with the desire to turn it into a dining and entertainment hub. The site has now been revamped, under the guidance of Melissa Collison Design, and includes a Fratelli Fresh casual eatery, bar, glass-panelled drying room and laneway on the ground floor, a grand staircase that leads to the second floor, that leads to The Cut steakhouse, and The Library bar. Fratelli Fresh and The Cut are both UPG restaurants that have locations throughout Sydney.
The offering include wood-fired pizzas and other Italian favourites for under $20 at Fratelli Fresh, while the adjoining Fratelli Bar will include $10 Spritzes and Negroni on tap, along with beer, wine and spirits that will all be discounted to $5 during Aperitivo Hour from 3-6pm.
The first floor component of The Alfred is a much more formal setting, with a lobby bar immediately at the top of the staircase, followed by The Cut, a New York-style steakhouse, decked out with black and white marble tiling, and deep green leather banquettes. Another adjoining bar, The Library, includes a 300-plus wine list, over 80 whiskies and a selection of craft and local beers.
Group culinary director, Martin Heierling, emphasised that all of the menus at The Alfred were produce and provenance inspired.
“We’re working with best-in-class, boutique producers and the beef, especially, is the finest Australia has to offer,” Mr Heierling said. “Aging premium beef in our own aging room is immensely satisfying, both for our culinary team and also our customers who will find our dry-aged collection difficult to beat.”
Thomas Pash, CEO of Urban Purveyor Group, said that the offerings throughout The Alfred, allow for a variety of choice for patrons.
“Having a premium casual restaurant like The Cut and a full-service casual restaurant like Fratelli operating cheek by jowl means there is something for every occasion and potential for diners to explore both options.”
“We hope our Sydney stalwarts will be every bit as successful in Melbourne as we strengthen our portfolio in the city.”