Solotel opens Middle Eastern eatery in Newtown

This Thursday 6 May, the inner-west Sydney suburb of Newtown will receive a vibrant new Middle Eastern eatery and cocktail bar courtesy of Solotel Group.

Avi’s Kantini will be located inside one of the area’s popular pubs, The Bank, also home to live music venue Waywards. The new eatery will focus on elevated bar snacks with heady Middle Eastern flavours.

At the heart of the offering will be mezes, including octopus and potatoes with green olive, capers and Aleppo chilli; oozy baked saganaki with honey, pistachio, and rose; and chickpea falafel with muhammara, pomegranate.

There will also be three pides on the menu, including one topped with spicy Merguez sausage, pumpkin, walnut, goat cheese and molasses; pita breads stuffed with sesame fried chicken; and a lamb burger with fried egg, date chutney, mint and pickled onion.

Behind the bar, the legendary Ed Loveday (ACME, Bar Brose) will be curating a cocktail menu that incorporates arak, sumac, pomegranate, saffron and bergamot flavours to complement the food offering. The cocktail list moves from the more refreshing side of the spectrum (such as with the Karpuz, made with tequila, watermelon, rosewater and lime) to bolder options (such as the Ceviz, a spin on the espresso martini that uses spiced rum, coffee, date and black walnut).

Although The Bank courtyard will be the heart of Avi’s Kantini, customers can enjoy the food or drink offering on any of the venue’s three levels, including in front of the stage at Waywards.

In anticipation of the opening, the open-plan courtyard has been upgraded with revamped furniture, new seating nooks and a colourful wall mural by Wollongong artist El Oso Negro.

Avi’s Kantini will be open daily for lunch and dinner service from this Thursday 6 May.