Say hola to Lottie, a sun-drenched rooftop Mexican restaurant, now open atop the soon-to-launch Redfern hotel, The Eve. The 107-seat open-air diner is the latest from the Liquid & Larder crew – the team behind The Gidley, Bistecca, The Rover and Alfie’s – and is the second venue to open at the boutique hotel within Wunderlich Lane, joining the Euro-style Bar Julius, also now open. Alejandro Huerta, the former head chef of Comedor, who has spent time in the kitchens of Noma in Copenhagen and Pujol in Mexico, is leading the kitchen as Lottie’s head chef, alongside executive chef Pip Pratt. Come for house-made tortillas piled with fresh, zingy and charred toppings, shaved-ice Margaritas and flaming-orange sunsets.
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The menu, which is 100 per cent gluten free, features fresh, Mexican-inspired snack-style dishes using the best Aussie produce. Expect vibrant herbs, citrus and floral notes to complement the spice. Menu highlights include raw scallop with celery, apple and pickled cucumber; rockmelon and watermelon brocheta with Tajin; trout ceviche with tomato, Geraldton wax, avocado and black habanero oil; Swiss brown tamale with pickled shimeji, pinto bean and kombu broth; Murray cod pibil baked in banana leaf with achiote sauce; and a beef chop dry-aged at Liquid & Larder’s butchery at Alfie’s, served with roasted onion and salsa picante.
Huerta said: “I feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. I’ve loved working closely with Pip to help bring this menu to life, showcasing some of the best Mexican flavours and local ingredients that will challenge what Sydneysiders think of Mexican cuisine. I’m excited to showcase new dishes, some inspired by my upbringing, and continue to evolve the Lottie dining experience as we welcome our first guests to our rooftop haven.”
Of course, there’s a cracking line-up of tequilas and mezcals, alongside three types of Margaritas – classic, spiced and seasonal. Plus, traditional Mexican spirits like raicilla and sotol are also on offer.
Located on the top floor of The Eve – right next to the rooftop pool – Lottie boasts sweeping views of Surry Hills and Redfern. The space features landscaping by Daniel Baffsky of 360 Degrees Landscape Architects and design by Sydney-based George Livissianis, with soft pink tiles, lush greenery, banquette seating and an elegant marble bar that channels a chic coastal oasis.
Liquid & Larder co-founder James Bradey said: “With only a small number of elevated Mexican restaurants in Australia, we’ve taken on the task of creating something exceptional at Lottie. Having recently spent time in Los Angeles, we were inspired by how LA approaches Mexican cuisine in a modern way. It’s time to champion a cuisine that is often misrepresented in Australia.
“We’re excited to show Sydney what contemporary Mexican looks like to us, in an unparalleled setting where you can escape the world below, soak up the heady scent of white copal Mayan incense floating through the breeze, and transport yourself to where you’d rather be,” he added.
See you on the rooftop.
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