Guy Grossi's Puttanesca opens at the new Clifton Hotel this Saturday
On Saturday, 19 August, Clifton Hotel in Kew will welcome guests once again after dynamic hospitality group, PUBLIC, and Melbourne's much-loved Grossi Group partnered to give the unique space back to the local area.
Entering through a vibrant red door, the newly restored corner entrance on Studley Park Road and High Street (Kew Junction) opens up into the 154-year-old building’s front bar and connects to a private dining room across the hall.
Restaurant and aperitivo bar full of flirtatious Italian flair, Puttanesca by Guy Grossi, is found at the heart of the venue with direct access to the outdoor terrace. Split between two spaces – the main dining room and lounge, Puttanesca brings a touch of playfulness by blending Clifton Hotel’s rich history and the Grossi family’s Italian heritage.
“It is great to see our collective vision come to life with PUBLIC. The spaces we have created at Clifton Hotel are warm and inviting, so we look forward to welcoming locals and seeing the venue full of life,” says Grossi Group Chef and Restaurateur, Guy Grossi.
Drawing on Grossi’s Italian roots, the menu includes an array of hearty pastas, antipasti, and pizzas made from 48-hour fermented dough and cooked in the newly installed wood-fired oven. Highlight dishes across spuntini, antipasti, pasta, pizza, polpette, secondi, bistecca and dolci include:
- Bolognese Jaffle with salted ricotta
- Crocchette di Tonno with tuna crocchetta and salsa verde
- Vitello Tonnato with capers and lemon
- Mamma’s Lasagne with bolognese and bechamel
- Cotoletta crumbed chicken with slaw
- Spaghetti alla Puttanesca with tomato, anchovies and olives
- Mamma's Beef Meatballs with parsley, garlic, parmigiano, tomato and a choice of polenta, spaghetti or burger and chips
- Pizza alla Puttanesca with olives and anchovies
- Cannoli with ricotta, citrus and pistachio
- Tiramisu with coffee, pavassini and mascarpone
Grossi adds, “Our menu celebrates family traditions, recipes, and food that we grew up eating together, and we want to share this with the community. For example, Mamma's lasagne made with rich bolognese sauce and creamy bechamel is a recipe that we have passed down through generations and is a highlight for me.”
The Maybe Group, which was this year acquired by PUBLIC and operates the multi-award winning Maybe Sammy (The Rocks, NSW), has developed a classic cocktail list across all areas of the establishment with highlight drinks including the ‘Puttanesca’ with vecchia romagna, cherry heering, vermouth rosso, ‘Ciao Bella’ with gin, Aperol, white chocolate liquor and the ‘Graziell’a with on tap limoncello, bianco, riesling wine and kombucha, plus more.
In keeping with Grossi Group and PUBLIC’s shared values in family and heritage, the wine list includes a curated selection of the finest drops across Australia, Italy and France, along with beers on tap at the bar.
Restored by award-winning architecture and design firm Luchetti Krelle, the interior is layered with hues of deep blues and reds, varying textural elements and rich woods sourced from preloved design stores that bring to life the spaces’ old-world charm.
"The transformation of Clifton Hotel is nothing short of incredible. Between our esteemed partners at Grossi Group and outstanding team involved, I am certain this will be a standout in Kew and beyond. We look forward to raising a glass to the return of Clifton Hotel in Kew and to PUBLIC’s first Melbourne asset opening in such a pivotal location,” says Jon Adgemis, PUBLIC's Executive Chairman.
Clifton Hotel welcomes guests to explore its unique areas and vibrant outdoor terrace fitted with lounges, TVs and greenery for the Spring and Summer months.
Uniting the best in hospitality, Clifton Hotel is set to become a pillar of the community and enjoyed by all.
PUBLIC & Grossi Group, 15th August 2023
