Former Oscillate Wildly owner opens new venue

Former Oscillate Wildly owner Ross Godfrey swings open the doors on a new venue on Thursday at the former site of Balzac and Montpellier Public House, on the corner of Belmore Road and Avoca Street in Randwick.

The Cook House Randwick will bravely retrace the gastropub formula of Montpellier, which bombed despite having the talents of chef Matt Kemp in its kitchen.

''Our prices will be cheaper, and when Balzac turned into Montpellier it didn't change a lot,'' Godfrey says.

''The tablecloths went, but it's hard for a fine-dining team to make really big changes.''

Casual affair: Ross Godfrey, left, with The Cookhouse head chef Shane McCready and bar manager Stephane Pigliapoco.

He says The Cook House will be more casual.

''When you walked in the door at Montpellier, you were greeted. We won't be doing that.''

Godfrey has bankrolled the venue with business partner Michael Carter. The interior looks bright and funky, with lashings of sandstone still on show.

Belmore Road is due a hit, with most of the action in the area still congregated around The Spot.

Source: Good Food, 17 April 2013