The Colosimo family’s extravagant new build Mullane’s Hotel at Baulkham Hills is now open, offering an epicentre for Italian craftsmanship and consumption.
The new multi-level Hotel near Norwest train station features on the ground floor a traditional public bar, VIP lounge and café delivering fresh Italian coffee and small bites.
But the star of the show is Sarino’s Restaurant and Bar, on level two, serving up refined Italian fare and interiors. It represents a special venture for the Colosimos, and pays tribute the family patriarch who was nicknamed ‘Sarino’.
The Hotel was christened Mullane’s in recognition of long-time local resident, Councillor and Shire President, Bernard Mullane.
The venue is led by Amanda McDivitt, bringing experience from the likes of Merivale’s Hotel Centennial, while executive chef Joe Cavallo showcases the family’s Calabrian heritage using local, seasonal produce from the Hawksbury, Hills and regional NSW.
Inspired by their traditional background, the Colosimos and Cavallo incorporated Italian favourites with a level of sophisticated drinking and dining new to The Hills area. Cavallo even invited his mum to be part of the recipe development process.
Classic dishes include Ravioli buffalo ricotta with buffalo mozzarella, parmigiano Reggiano, burnt sage butter and pistachio, and Kuronuta spit roasted Porchetta with apple sauce and leek ash, coming from a central Josper oven and an open grill cooking on wood and coal.
There is an entire ‘Grazing table’ menu loaded with delicacies such as oysters and wood-roasted Tajima Wagyu Hanger, and an entire menu dedicated to Italian and Australian artisan cheeses.
Sarino’s dining area embraces minimalist design, beneath lofty ceilings and dappled sunlight from expansive skylights, aiming to draw attention to the theatre in the open kitchen. There are also three opulent private dining rooms, hidden behind a secret door seamlessly disguised as part of a wall.
The dining space flows into a decadent cocktail bar and lounge areas, with plush bar stools and blush tones. Over 200 wines are on offer, and Bollinger Champagne, plus reinvented classic Italian cocktails such as The Sunday Roast Negroni ‘Arrosto’. There are also private liquor cabinets for guests to enjoy top drops in storage, including Macallan Reflexion by legendary whisky maker, Bob Dalgarno.
Able to be viewed from the bar, set to open early 2020, Mullane’s will have its own craft distillery, producing almond liqueur for affogatos, fresh limoncello using lemons from the family’s orchard, as well as a range of craft liqueurs.
Level three will soon open luxurious conference and function room facilities perfect to service nearby corporate groups.
The new “Sarino’s experience” can even include transportation for guests to and from Mullane’s and their home or hotel in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes Benz, Thursday to Saturday nights, from 5:30pm.
Despite the unapologetic display of opulence, Mullane’s is wise enough to not take itself too seriously, as seen in the Biggie Smalls quote ‘Now we sip champagne when we thirsty’ emblazed in neon on the wall.
“Launching Mullane’s Hotel, and particularly Sarino’s, is very special to our family because it recreates a slice of our heritage with a new world approach,” explains Momento Hospitality CEO Marcello Colosimo.
“The area is crying out for something like this, where locals don’t have to travel to experience a restaurant of this calibre. We are excited to fill this gap and bring our community a standard of venue that they deserve.”
