After closing its doors, Central Markets restaurant Aces is making a comeback and getting ready to say ‘Ciao’ to the Gouger Street dining scene.
Culinary Director Tom Tilbury, founder of Gather Food & Wine and former executive chef at Press, said the venue is expected to open its doors in November.
Tom says Aces was a much-loved hangout for Central Markets stallholders for more than 30 years, and he is excited to have the opportunity to help take the venue to a new location: 96 Gouger St.
Located next to the Chinatown mall on corner of Field Street and Gouger Street, the dining room looks straight out to the impressive Chinatown arches.
“Gouger Street has always been a dining street, when people go for a meal in the city they look to the street as a good option. It has got a lot of history; I’ve got so many fond memories, dining on Gouger Street and going to the Central Market to pick up produce. It is such a cool part of the city,” Tom says.
The new Aces will transform from its original ‘pizza bar’ style to offer a more upmarket dining experience. But the good energy will continue, exuding 1980s Italian vibes with 18th century-style crockery from Italian company Ginori 1735.
“Everything has had a lot of thought put into it. The playlist and the style is going to be 80s and 90s music, the team will be wearing tailor-made pants and Vans Australia are supplying footwear for everyone, frame creative have put together a slick design and Soul Built are making the build happen,” Tom says.
The menu begins with a range of small plates, everything designed to be shared. The restaurant is very pasta-focused and working down the menu you will find a whole fish and other proteins, sides, salads and classic Italian desserts. If you can’t decide, there will be three set menus to choose from.
And in a fun twist, lunch will be served ‘Yum Ciao’ style, an Italian spin on traditional Chinese Yum Cha.
“Being Italian food, we want it to be really approachable and delicious. Sharing food is such a nice way to eat, it is conducive to creating conversations across the table, the way I myself and also the Italian culture likes to eat is sharing and community, so it just makes sense,” Tom says.
“I grew up in McLaren Vale that has a large Italian community so we were always eating food and socialising. My mum’s surname was Florence, so there is some Italian history in my family, so Italian culture and food is very close to my heart.”
Chefs will be cooking in an open kitchen and Tom is passionate about working closely with farmers and producers to bring the best possible food to the table, and he will carry this ethos through to the new Aces.
Separate sections throughout the venue will allow groups to hire the space, including a balcony, several areas in the dining room and a private dining room that seats 12 people with a Lazy Susan, which chefs can visit to put finishing touches on dishes and engage with diners.
Aces will serve lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday. Visit Aces on Facebook and Instagram.
WHAT: Aces Restaurant.
WHERE: 96 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA, 5000.
OPENING: November.
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