Crown confirms new restaurants

Crown has finally confirmed the speculation that Neil Perry will open a Melbourne version of his successful Sydney restaurant, Spice Temple, at the casino precinct.

It’s announced that Spice Temple will open in October in the space that currently houses chef Guillaume Brahimi’s Bistro Guillaume.

In a bit of musical chairs, Bistro Guillaume will close and then reopen in mid 2011, as a classic “Parisian-inspired French bistro” with an outdoor terrace in the space that has been home to the Brasserie by Philippe Mouchel for the past seven years.

The Brasserie by Philippe Mouchel is closing at the end of this month. Crown said the restaurant will then be rebadged The Brasserie and will be open until early 2011 when it will be closed to be turned into the new look Bistro Guillaume.

The developments follow the much awaited opening of Gordon Ramsay’s Maze and Maze Grill restaurants at the new Crown Metropol hotel. Also ahead is the January 2011 opening of the new The Atlantic restaurant by entrepreneur Hatem Saleh and Con Andronis of Clamms Seafood fame, Tony Schiavello and chef Donovan Cooke. It will comprise a modern-style seafood eatery, featuring an extensive oyster and crustacean bar, while the restaurant will focus on the best of the premium seafood market.

In addition, Neil Perry will be opening a new lobby bar at Crown Towers that will be open from early morning until late at night.

Crown’s chief executive officer David Courtney said the addition of the new restaurants and new lobby bar coincides with Crown’s $212m upgrade, which is currently underway throughout the complex.

“The dynamic trio—Neil Perry, Donovan Cooke and Guillaume Brahimi—all have proven track records and like Crown, are committed to excellence,” Courtney said.