New Zealand-born. Australian adopted. Monley has spent the bulk of his adult life pushing the boundaries of dining and hospitality. Damien rose to prominence in the mid-2000s as co-owner and head chef of Flat White Café on Holdsworth Street in Woollahra, where he remained for almost a decade. In 2015 Damien founded a new business venture, Think Tank Hospitality, which quickly built a reputation for creating unique and aspirational dining experiences. Part of this saw Monley’s gaze turn to Bowral in the Southern Highlands of NSW where he opened the award-winning modern Australian restaurant, Grand Bistro alongside Howards Lane Vineyard.
In 2019, he seized the opportunity to take his considerable culinary talents even further afield, moving to London as Executive Chef & Co-Owner of the acclaimed LIV Restaurant in Belgravia.
Monley has returned to Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs with an all-new bar and dining experience called Roxy’s, situated in the Fortis Group’s landmark corner address in Double Bay known as Pallas House.
Roxy’s all day and late night venue (named after Monley’s fun, spirited daughter), will bring a lighthearted, welcoming and fun energy to Double Bay’s new dining precinct. From breakfast through to late evening the vibrant space and casual bar will produce exciting, delicious food choices coupled with a compelling drinks menu.
At Roxy’s Damien cooks how he likes to eat at home, having fun with flavour and utilising punchy spices, house made pickles, lots and lots of herbs. Drawing on Middle Eastern flavours, local ingredients will see a twist on the classics diners know and love, with added spices and personality.
The menu will offer fresh, healthy and vibrant salads, grains, house-made dips, hearty meals, and an array of snacks at any time of the day or night, making repeat visits to experience all that Roxy’s has to offer a must. Roxy’s understands the need to sometimes eat and drink light and sometimes lean into the call to splurge.
A reimagined ‘aperitivo hour’ feature known as Spritz Sessions will offer seasonal spritzers between 3pm – 6pm. Utilising preserved fruit and house infused spirits these sessions will sing to all season get togethers.
The Roxy’s team includes Head Chef Denzer Aseoche who hails from Kepos Street Kitchen, dynamic Mixologist Rhys Jordan Budd (ex Mimis) and the much loved and crack Barista Chris Cowan (ex Flat White). The sleek venue interiors have been designed by Julia Sullivan at The Caswell Group.
Roxy’s is warm, welcoming and fun with a strong focus on farm to plate quality produce. Damien and his team are excited to welcome the locals of Double Bay and the wider community to their new home!
Roxy’s will open early July 2021.
For more info and to book head to: https://www.roxysdoublebay.com.au/
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