New restaurants in Parramatta an encouraging indicator

GROWING HOSPITALITY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN PARRAMATTA

The City of Parramatta has long been recognised as a restaurant hub with its Eat Street on Church Street. The many cafes and restaurants serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to the residents, visitors and office and retail workers in Parramatta. As the City continues to grow, Parramatta continues to attract new eateries to complement the already thriving food and hospitality scene.

Parramatta’s growing restaurant hub

The latest restaurant to join the mix is CicciaBella. Owned by Maurice Terzini, famed for his iconic Bondi Icebergs restaurant, his second CicciaBella restaurant will open in September 2020 in the new Parramatta Square development.

Terzini’s first CicciaBella is also located in Bondi but, like many other business owners, he was drawn to the City of Parramatta because of its growing hospitality investment opportunities.

Parramatta Square restaurants

The three-hectare Parramatta Square development project is set to change Parramatta’s skyline with six new buildings and a refurbished Town Hall all linked by 6,000 square metres of public domain.

The $2.8 billion project, which Walker Corporation broke ground on in 2017, will open in stages with the first couple already open.

When it is completed in 2022, it’s estimated the precinct will house almost 24,000 professional workers, many of whom will frequent the many eateries and restaurants within the new development.

The restaurants and cafes of Parramatta Square will operate extended hours to accommodate commuters and locals who choose to dine in the area, linking Parramatta Station to the retail precinct in the Square.

Some of the new restaurants in Parramatta are:

• CicciaBella
• Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co.
• Newly refurbished Alex and Co
• Rockpool Group

CicciaBella

CicciaBella’s Maurice Terzini says he is excited to enter Parramatta, stating “Parramatta Square is an incredibly exciting development, revitalising the city centre and creating a new culinary experience in Parramatta”.

Terzini launched CicciaBella Parramatta in conjunction with Walker Corporation. Lang Walker previously partnered with Terzini on his first Sydney restaurant Otto in Woolloomooloo Wharf in 2000.

“Over the last three months, I’ve worked really hard to maintain CicciaBella, a brand that is dear to my heart. It’s a true reflection of my childhood in Italy, bringing together an accumulation of all the Italian concepts I love. It gives me great pleasure to introduce CicciaBella as 100% Famiglia Terzini owned and operated and I look forward to serving you all,” said Terzini.

CicciaBella Parramatta takes its inspiration from classic Italian food (cucina classica) often found in the great trattoria’s of Italian cities. The food is focused on being reliable, satisfying and comforting. It will reinterpret these great traditions rather than just following and will be supported by a bar that recreates Italian classic drinking and blends the Italo/Australian culture.

Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co.

The popular burger restaurant Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co. opened recently at Parramatta Square. Betty’s, a classic 1950's inspired Australian burger shack started flipping burgers in Noosa in 2015 and is now part of the high-profile Boost Juice group. Each burger is made fresh to order and the Concrete in the name refers to a frozen dessert. The new outlet opened its door in July at Parramatta Square, celebrating its opening with a burger festival with a difference.

Alex & Co

Not far from the growing commercial precinct is another popular restaurant that originally opened overlooking the Parramatta River in 2017. Alex & Co has recently done a complete refurbishment and is reopening on 10 August 2020.

Alex & Co serves modern Australian cuisine set in an expansive, open-plan venue with indoor & outdoor areas to take in views of Parramatta River. The popular restaurant caters for a relaxed coffee and cake in the café, casual lunches, business meals in the dining rooms, and after-work drinks in the expansive bar area.

Rockpool Group

Closer to the river is another major development in Parramatta that will feature an upmarket restaurant. It is believed that when the new multi-storey residential and hotel development at 8 Phillip Street is completed, it will feature an upmarket rooftop bar and a Sake restaurant which is part of the Rockpool Group, further cementing Parramatta as a dining destination.

More dining options for local workers

As Parramatta’s commercial district grows, its office and retail workers will have a range of dining options to choose from.  From business-focused breakfast and lunches, to relaxing after-work dinners and drinks, people coming to work in Parramatta will not want for choice when it comes food.