Rocker comes to Bondi

Three Blue Ducks owner co-owner Darren Robertson is expanding from Bronte, Byron Bay and Rosebery.

It’s only fitting that Robertson, a keen surfer, is now setting up an eatery, Rocker, in Bondi. He has partnered up with Cam Northway of drinks agency Sweet&Chilli and operations manager Ian Clark.

The 100 seat part-coffee bar and part-restaurant will be located on the former Hill Eatery site on Campbell Parade, serving up breakfasts, Single Origin brews, and takeaway toasties seven days a week.

And from Wednesday to Sunday, it will offer a proper lunch and dinner service.

The pared back restaurant menu will be in the hands of British butcher Stuart Toon, who worked with Jamie Oliver for nearly a decade.

It will be divided up into "smalls", "bigs", "sides" and "desserts".

It will include such dishes as freshwater crayfish with burnt citrus butter to baby octopus with cream fraiche, nasturtiums, preserved limes and caperberries. Those looking for pasta will find orecchiette with clams and urchin or flat-iron steak with beach greens and mustard seeds. Add to that the sides and sweets: iceberg with pickled grapes or a slice of honey pie. Winter specials will include sticky lamb ribs, pappardelle lamb ragu or beef cheeks with polenta and pickles.

For families on the run looking for an early-in and early-out dinner, the eatery offers a "little rockers" menu.

There is also a drinks list put together by former Guillaume sommelier Chris Morrison. Watch out for good beers and premixed cocktails.

Robertson says Rocker is all about “trying to find the balance between stuff that is accessible and interesting". 

"Bondi has loads to offer anyway but there's still room for a place like this just because of where it is," says Robertson told Good Food.

"There's a bit of a community vibe up in North Bondi. It's just a nice place to hang, up on the grassy knoll – it's beautiful."

for more information please visit www.sweetandchilli.com

by Leon Gettler, May 30^th 2017