Pub Grub: Belgrave Cartel
Three Italian brothers (plus one pal) have set about creating an all-day/all-night venue that has a touch of Italiano.
BAR SIDE
Three Italian brothers, Joe, Mick and Drew Bruzzese, along with their buddy Pete Mill, have set about creating an all-day/all-night venue that has a touch of Italiano.
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Headed by chef Jen Elliot, who trail blazed her way through Manly’s Bluewater Café and Bistro Marlo before her stint at the helm of Cartel, the Italian influence is perceptible in everything, from the pesto-laced breakfasts to the nightly specials and tapas platters. A taste of the Mediterranean is available from 6am to 2pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, 6am to late from Wednesday to Friday and between 7am and 12am on Saturday.
Styled with vintage Parisian chic in mind, the café/bar combination works tastefully and reflects that intangibly chilled vibe only found in Manly. If you’re popping along for some Friday night beverages, be sure to arrive hungry and prepare for the feast of a lifetime! The Italian brothers recommend starting with a lollapalooza of tapas (or stuzzichino) which changes seasonally to ensure only the freshest local produce is used. From there, move on to Mama’s Lasagne or the smoked salmon, followed by a raucous night of drinks and live entertainment.
If you’ve not experienced the pure joy of persevering through an Italian degustation at the behest of Nonna, then be sure to attend the ‘Taste of Italy’ nights on the last Wednesday of every month to plough through a five course foodie adventure reflecting different Italian regions and their specialties. Wines are matched according to taste and for the fans of a naughty cocktail or three, the bar lads can whip up something trusty and traditional or fabulously weird.
The Belgrave Cartel hosts blues nights on Thursdays as well as live DJs every Sunday. In addition to supporting local musicians and bringing some sweet tunes to Manly’s shores, the boys also support local and emerging artists with their Cartel Culture Club installation. Every month a new exhibition is mounted and patrons are free to come to the launch on the first Wednesday of every month, or simply enjoy the pretty pieces over their lunch and lager. Bellisimo!
FUN FACT
Belgrave Cartel is the first business in Manly to sign up to the Urban Beehive initiative that aims to reintroduce bees into Sydney to reinvigorate the natural spread of flora as well as producing fantastic local honey! With a whopping 40,000 European honey bees on the roof, the brothers next plan to install an herb garden in the hopes that they can contribute to the sustainable eating trend sweeping Sydney by storm.
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