Chef Ryan Hong’s classic new Pitt St venture

EXPECT mod-oz with an Asian twist from chef Ryan Hong’s at The Wilmot, the new restaurant in the foyer of the impressive and beautifully restored Art Deco interior of an old Water board building in Pitt St. 

The former Sydney Water Rating Chamber’s spectacular lobby features eight massive red columns, each 8m high, leading to a huge skylight showering the foyer with sunshine.

“The lobby and all of the fitout is fantastic,” says Hong (ex Rockpool Bar & Grill and Black by Ezard).

Expect starters like Moreton Bay bug and “edible garden” salad, mains of lamb loin or abalone, and desserts of raspberry meringue, chocolate frangelico delice.

The Korean-born chef has been on the hunt for NSW produce, including sourcing abalone direct from a diver on the south coast.

“I order from him and he then catches the abalone and sends it straight to me,” Hong says. “I try to tell those kind of stories, using local produce as much as possible.”

Hong expects to tweak the menu over the coming weeks, with the menu changing regularly.

“There is a high-end Art Deco feeling throughout, so we will have to meet (guests’) expectations. I’ll have to bring up the standard of the dishes to the same as that of the building.”

Hong expects a mix of corporates, locals and international visitors to stay in the 172 luxurious rooms over six storeys, which includes a presidential suite and grand ballroom. 

“It will be interesting to hear their opinion on local food and my approach to the food,” he says.

While the restaurant will cater to all comers, the rooftop space including pool and bar, will be for guests only until a liquor licence is granted.

“Like The Old Clare, which has opened its rooftop bar to the public also, I am hoping for locals to use it,” he says. “I’m hoping to do some barbecues or maybe even pizza.

“I’d like to give them the feel, that while you are right in the middle of the city, you’d get that feeling like you are near the beach with a bucket of prawns.”

The Greenland Group’s Primus development will eventually connect to its new 240m residential tower at 115 Bathurst St, via a proposed laneway.

Source: The Daily Telegraph, Grant Jones, 26^th January 2016