New Sydney restaurant Spezia has transformed The Lands by Capella into an Italian piazza that’s set to be a summer hit with food and wine lovers.
Located alongside Capella Sydney at Circular Quay, Spezia occupies two greenery-filled courtyards connected by carriageways that once enabled horse-drawn carriages to turn around inside the heritage-listed former Department of Lands building.
Spezia, which is Italian for spice, is the first Sydney restaurant for hospitality, workspace and wellness group Florence Guild, which opened the acclaimed Freyja in Melbourne in 2022.
The kitchen is led by the group’s executive chef Jae Bang, who was previously a three Michelin-star chef at Norway’s Re-naa restaurant.
Bang and head chef Aaron Caccia – who also worked at Re-naa as well as the award-winning noma in Denmark – have crafted a spectacular menu inspired by the forgotten flavours of the Silk Road that once weaved its way through the cities of Venice and Rome.
Among the favourite dishes on our visit were the oysters with tamarind and parsley oil; the crudo with green Szechuan pepper, lemon and finger lime; and saffron risotto with Genovese ragù, parmigiano and burnt spring onion.
A special mention also to the melt-in-the-mouth rib-eye, accompanied by a side of mash spiced with nutmeg, white pepper and clove.
“First and foremost we’re an Italian restaurant and we want our guests to leave feeling like they’ve just had that type of experience,” Bang explained.
“We’ve also added hints of spice to every single dish, which adds a layer of complexity and difference that you won’t find anywhere else.”
The drinks menu features more than 500 bottles from Italian, Australian and other vineyards around the world. There are 36 wines available by the glass as well as a small selection of cocktails.
Drinks Digest enjoyed the refreshing Approdo with limoncello, Prosecco, lemongrass, ginger, basil, gentian and lemon before sipping a luscious 2020 Jasci & Marchesani Montepuliciano red.
Spezia is open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, with plans also afoot for the venue to open for breakfast.