Deli death match 2
Darlo’s in the middle of a reality TV-esque run of great deli’s and providores. It’s beyond dispute. But my last report only told half the story.
The thing started when a friend said this a few months ago:
The younger generation of the family has taken over the Seven Star convenience store next to Una’s. It’s now closer to a deli than a 7-11.
Pelagio, the expensive deli across the road, was renovating, but it’s reopened. Now they’re stocking roughly the same stuff.
It’s like having a reality TV show in the hood: we’re not sure who is going to succeed, but it really only makes sense that one of them will.
Lee Tran‘s comment reminded me to follow it up.
On one side of Victoria Street, the Seven Star’s had a reverse bout of plastic surgery – unchanged exterior, fancy products and fresh produce inside.
The guys behind A Tavola, the great Italian restaurant a few doors down from Seven Star, have taken over the deli across the road, Pelagio.
Formerly known as Providore Pelagio, it’s been heading downhill for ages, with old produce and overpriced products.
The A Tav guys have radically changed the renamed Gastronomia Pelagio, installing a long communal table, and focussing the product line to high end deli products – cheeses, baked goods, meats. It’s much better than before, still pricey though.
I miss the old Pelagio, only cause they had yummy items which were easy to take away.
It kinda seems like the produce on the shelves at the new Pelagio is purely for decoration only.
Still, I’m not complaining, it’s always nice to have a new place to chilax :D
Aaron
27 Oct 08 at 4:31 pm
True, the deli goods do seem like decoration for the cafe/communal aspect. Maybe Pelagio’s out of the game, re deli death match.
Might be a new show though: today’s Good Living (not online yet) has a piece on Pelagio. I knew it was run by one of the guys from A Tav, but didn’t know there was someone from Messina (fantastic gelateria just down the street) involved too.
ml
28 Oct 08 at 8:59 am
I remember only 6 months ago lamenting that Darlinghurst was getting close to being self sufficient in terms produce with the exception of a deli (at least a Deli with a bit of cred)
The old Pelagio ticked all the boxes, Paesanella cheeses, AC butchery meats but their stock was all about 12 days old
When ‘Fred and Joe’s’ moved in it looked as though we might have some more options but that was an overpriced, poorly situated disaster.
After that closed I thought we might not see another deli in the area.
Now Pelagio is run by people who seem to take notice of expiry dates – Aaron’s right though, some of the stock looks like it’s for display purposes only.
7 star grocery store has improved their fresh food. Also Infinity bakery, Camperdown cellars and Gelateria Messina are all open til late. The only thing we’re missing is a fishmonger somehwere between the fire station and the Green Park Hotel.
Self sufficient? Pretty close.
Cheap? not really, but that was never really going to happen, was it?
I must also note that it’s encouraging to see the Messina and A Tavola guys working together to create a little Italian-themed corner of Darlo.
Blake
28 Oct 08 at 10:27 am
Personaly, if there was a battle to bring back it needs to be breakfasts and burgers.
I still lament over the lack of Morgans Eggs Benedict. Penny’s Lane does a fine version, but nothing compares.
And Global burgers… *sigh* so sad. I miss those guys so much.
@Blake – I totally agree with the fishmonger, where’s my gourmet fish and chips!?
There was that place underneath Top of the Town, but it was doomed from the start.
Aaron
28 Oct 08 at 4:39 pm
Global Burgers is a whole new post… I never went inside, but that corner has to be haunted. It should be a perfect location for bars/restaurants/cafe/etc. On the corner of Darlinghurst Road and William Street, view across the city… but for some reason just falls flat. Any ideas why?
ml
9 Nov 08 at 1:54 pm