There’s something to be said about performing an act at its appointed time. Depends on the act, of course, but it seems to me that even though we are moving further and further away from our natural world and into something new, something technical, something artificial, the day and its journey into the night still has an effect on us.
We may not want to believe it. We may believe that we are impervious to it –that we have evolved beyond the diktats of the sun, moon, and stars. And yet, there they are. Silently journeying beside us. Or rather, more aptly, we beside them.
The time of day isn’t just a backdrop. It shapes our actions, frames them. We, with our calendars and clocks, are still tethered. Lightly, but surely. There’s comfort in that continuity. A humble companionship.
Morning light doesn’t demand much of you; it waits, patiently. It says: here is another beginning.
Night, on the other hand, invites release. The day takes off its shoes.
There is a sense of harmony when moving alongside that rhythm. That’s not to say that disobeying it doesn’t have a thrill of its own. Breakfast for dinner is a small rebellion and perhaps one of life’s purest delights. Pancakes at 10 p.m. can feel radical. But do it too often and the charm wears thin. Delight turns into indulgence. The same could be said (and perhaps should be) for a breakfast slice of pizza. Whether it’s fresh or from the night before –I leave up to your discretion.
I have spent a large majority of the past nine years considering the importance of meal times. What they mean; what they ask of us; what they make possible.
Our restaurant began as a little seed within the G5A warehouse as an outlet for thoughts, ideas, and coffee. Since then it has grown and flourished into something that I couldn’t have imagined back in 2016. And yet, somewhere deep within, it was there. And fortunately, from that seed, something rooted began to grow: we took many steps to come to where we are now.
A café, as we’ve come to know it, is shorthand for convenience. Grab, go, get on with it.
A restaurant, though, is different. Longer. Slower. Intentional.
To go from one to the other isn’t just a cosmetic shift.
It’s a tectonic change.
And we do not like change.
So we tried to change slowly. Gently, like the turn of light. I have endeavoured to implement a gradual change that isn’t jarring but instead feels like a natural progression. Until, one day, someone walks in and says, “Ah. Of course. This is what they were building toward all along.”
And for those who have noticed that evolution: thank you.
For those who miss what was, I understand. I hope, in time, you’ll understand too.
Over the last few menus at the restaurant, we have moved away from an all-day style offering of sameness toward something that is informed by following the sky. I feel each meal time asks us for something different. The way we experience light in the morning is no less special than how we experience the stars (or billboard lights) at night –and what we feel and desire is certainly not the same.
So why would what we offer you to eat be any different?
The morning brings with it a blank slate, ready and waiting. And so, our DAY menu offers you a similar promise, one that says you will be equipped to go forth and step lively into whatever your dreams might be calling you to. Whether that looks like our Caramelised Leek Benedict on a morning you’re feeling fancy and want to revel in the spoils, or a simple fried egg with sliced sourdough, your mornings with us will set you up for a day you can enjoy.
Speaking of dreams, I find a well-fed sleeper has the most wonderful dreams. Our NIGHT menu shifts the energy –your day is done and hopefully it went well but perhaps it did not: there is a lot that you can experience by pulling up a chair and sitting at our table.
Whether you arrive alone or with friends, start with something small—Cicchetti—maybe a Caprese Puri or Mushroom Paté Crostino and then move onto something bigger with our favourite: Ricotta and Sourdough Polpette before you top it off with some fresh hand rolled pasta. Don’t skip dessert.
Of course, we know you won’t always have time for a full sit-down meal, and in those moments when you want something that has been made with the same level of care, intention, and heart, our Aperitivo Hour(s) will fit the bill. A small offering for the in-between.
We have worked steadily over the years to come to this new starting point.
Some will miss it entirely. That’s alright.
But I know you won’t.
And I look forward to seeing you at the restaurant soon.