Former Rockpool chef to open new Sydney restaurant

Phil Wood is opening his first independent restaurant in Sydney.

The yet to be named restaurant will be located at the former site of renowned restaurant Darcy’s, previously owned by Attilio Marinangeli and Aldo Zuzza.

Wood, who has been an executive chef of Rockpool for eight years and was previous Culinary Director of Mornington Peninsula's much-loved Pt. Leo Estate, announced he would open his new restaurant on 26 May saying, "Restaurants are more than just food – they are the full expression of hospitality and I feel after a 20-year-long chef's apprenticeship I am finally ready to add restaurateur to my job description."

The venue located in Hargraves Street, Paddington, has been home to many chefs in the past decades.

In 1968, it was a Swiss eatery run by D’Arcy Glover, then in 1975 Marinangeli and Zuzza took over, opening an Italian eatery named Darcy’s. They were in business for nearly 40 years.

For a short while after that, the venue housed Guillaume Brahimi's restaurant Guillaume before that restaurant moved to the CBD and Brahimi opened Paddington Venue Four in the Hand.

"It is an honour to be opening in a building with such a strong dining history that goes back over 50 years. These corner sites dotted throughout Paddington are so special and part of what makes the suburb a vibrant part of Sydney's story," Wood said.

The opening date and further details will be revealed in the coming months.

Irit Jackson, 3rd June 2021