Photography by Steven Woodburn
Dean & Nancy on 22, another joint from the Maybe Sammy crew is set to open this Friday, May 21 at the new, premium A by Adina Sydney.
This venue plans to continue their ethos for top notch cocktails with precision and playful service. “At the end of the day, an impressive cocktail list might get people through the door but it’s the experience they have with you which keeps them coming back,” says Dean & Nancy co-founder and Creative Director Andrea Gualdi.
Dean & Nancy on 22 co-founder, Stefano Catino agrees. “Our guests’ happiness is our top priority. Yes, we have a lot of fun, but we prepare for that. We are very detail oriented; nothing is overlooked. Once guests arrive at Dean & Nancy, we want to float around the room and make sure everyone is happy,” says Catino.
One glance at the Dean & Nancy on 22 cocktail list and you can tell this place is all about fun. Order the Rolling A Double cocktail and you will be delivered a pair of dice. Throw a double and score a champagne upgrade. For a sensory revelation, opt for the Coffee Champagne which comes with a personal pot of house-made vanilla and coffee-infused hand-cream.
For a quick sip and bite, opt for the Minis and Bites menu which marries a morsel with a mini cocktail. Choose from the likes of mini vodka martini with oyster nan jim, mini kir royale with quail saltimbocca and mini adonis with rhubarb cheesecake.
The food menu has been compiled by Executive Chef Jane Strode (Bistrode, MG Garage, Rockpool, Langton’s). Chef Strode’s 25 plus years working in some of the best restaurants in the country has taught her to balance restraint with innovation.
“I’m a big believer in the notion you need to know the rules to break the rules, and that’s something I’ve applied to this menu,” said Strode. “If you want food to be simple yet pack a punch, you need to know what’s important to put on the plate and what you should leave off.”
One glance at the Dean & Nancy on 22 cocktail list and you can tell this place is all about fun. Order the Rolling A Double cocktail and you will be delivered a pair of dice. Throw a double and score a champagne upgrade.
The concept of bringing the magic of the 1950s-style ‘hotel’ bar experience from Maybe Sammy into a premium hotel is something Catino and the team have been wanting to do for a while. The challenge lay with architect George Livissianis (Sammy Junior, Chin Chin Sydney, The Apollo, The Dolphin Hotel) to develop a design concept that complemented the luminous 360° cityscape.
The mid-century minimalist-inspired design matches the simple yet bold ethos embraced by Chef Strode and the Maybe Sammy team. Ascend the curved brass staircase from A by Adina’s lobby to the bar, take in the glossy, gold-veined marble tables, baby grand piano and debonair bartenders. The black and gold palette provides glamour without detracting from the arresting skyline, while seating for 120 comprises low black leather banquettes, intimate tables for two and high bar stools.
Dean & Nancy on 22, A by Adina Sydney, 2 Hunter Street, Sydney Website & Bookings: www.deanandnancyon22.com.au Instagram: @deanandnancyon22