Food Drink

Huge new CBD bar, Eleven, is a hidden oasis within Adelaide’s business district

The CBD’s newest bar and bite destination has opened, courtesy of Sprout’s Themis Chryssidis and Callum Hann.

Nestled under the shadows of a series of high-rises is one of Adelaide’s most exciting new openings.

Eleven, a new restaurant and bar, was born of the minds of powerhouse duo Themis Chryssidis and Callum Hann of Sprout Cooking School and Masterchef fame.

While the still-in-progress restaurant is slated for opening in March 2021, its adjoining open-air bar, located between Waymouth and Franklin Street, is welcoming visitors as of today.

Themis looks tired but proud as he pinpoints Eleven’s features, which he assures us set the venue apart from the nearby offerings.

“I suppose Waymouth street, for me, is the hub of the CBD,” Themis says.

I’m inclined to agree with him as we sit in the shadow of the EY building. Across from it stands ANZ, and near that, Deloitte, BHP, and a slew of other grey monoliths.

Eleven appears to be a venue that has been sorely, but unknowingly, missing amongst the plethora of comfortable-yet-sleek, cosy-yet-revered restaurants that neighbour it.

Open air and reliant on conditions, Eleven Bar can fit a comfortable 162 even with COVID-19 restrictions, making it a large oasis of sorts.

A compact grey shipping container is the source of Eleven Bar’s food and beverage assembly.

“I’ve been calling it, ‘the little bar with big dreams’,” Themis laughs.

“We’ve jam-packed a lot of equipment, a lot of manpower, just a lot in that space designed to produce quality food and quality beverages.”

“We wanted to create an experience that really met the local demographic; it’s a slightly more premium food and beverage experience,” he says.

We’re to expect “a food menu that will challenge some and a wine list that is unique and extensive in its own way,” by former Appellations Restaurant head chef, Daniel Murphy.

Themis Chryssidis and Head Chef Daniel Murphy

Not only think, but picture, a Swiss brown mushroom and Taleggio toastie, spiced lamb and Swiss chard pie handmade by the chefs, duck liver parfait, salmon Rillette, beef tartare, prawn and lobster roll, amongst others.

“This is not a typical bar menu, its not your nuts and chips, it’s a place where you can come, eat quality food, and not feel full of regret,” he says.

However, the importance of a space that welcomes is not lost to Themis and the venue speaks to that.

The bar can be described as a sunlit courtyard, placed conveniently within an urban jungle that lets plenty of light strike through.

The food is affordable with plates priced in the $8 to $15 range.

“You can have a few snacks or a whole meal,” Themis explains that four to five plates between a group will feed the lot, and put everyone back around $20 each.

Bottles of wine start at $50 and are placed on an extensive menu alongside spirits, beers, and cocktails.

While it’s hidden from street view, this venue will not be a hidden gem. Eleven’s bar is already taking enough bookings to fill the space, with the remainder of open spots likely be snatched up by passerby.

Its accompanying restaurant, which will open in three-or-so months, will be a level up in experience and service.

Themis likens Eleven Restaurant to regional restaurants such as Hentley Farm, Appellation Restaurant, and the permanently closed d’Arenberg Cube restaurant, as well as Jock Zonfrillo’s former upscale city restaurant, Orana.

At Eleven’s Restaurant, you can opt for the a la carte menu, the tasting menu, or the Experience Eleven menu.

The latter of which is a consistently modifying menu curated by Dan.

“The chef might turn around and say ‘these truffles look phenomenal, this lobster, this porcini mushroom, I’m going to feature this on the Experience Eleven menu’,” Themis explains.

“This is basically where you sit back and relax and the chef will take you on a journey that you didn’t know you’d come on.”

Eleven Restaurant is currently in design, and the next step will be a four-to-six week build.

The subtle themes of Eleven Bar will be apparent in the restaurant through similar earthy tones of rust, copper, forest greens, accompanied by premium furniture and premium finishes.

“We are incredibly grateful that people are spending their hard earned money with us, so we’re going to give them an experience that you can’t get in the CBD,” Themis says.

Eleven will be open from 7am daily serving coffee and pastries, and trading into the evening between Wednesday to Saturday.

Find Eleven at 11 Waymouth Street.

Learn more about Eleven at https://elevenadl.com.au/.

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