Impressive foodie haven not far off
Culinary delights of Italy, Japan and Vietnam will feature in a new courtyard opening in central Wellington next year.
Press Hall, which will feature food from well-known Wellington restaurants such as Tommy Millions, Dragonfly, and Fratelli, opens for business in January.
The laneway and courtyard are part of a $10 million redevelopment of 85-year-old Community House, which began in late 2015.
The courtyard can be accessed through a laneway off Willis St, lined with climbing plants.
Early in 2016, property developer and engineer Maurice Clark’s construction firm, McKee Fehl, demolished a two-storey building at 78 Willis St, to make way for the laneway and courtyard. He also wanted to improve pedestrian access to the five-storey Intergen building, which first opened as the press hall for The Evening Post.
Carlo Petagna, co-owner of Fratelli restaurant on Blair St, will be opening Fratelli Pasta Bar in the courtyard, where customers can pick their own pasta and sauce.
‘‘We like the food concept and the other styles of food there, plus it’s new, and it’s something that Wellington needs.’’
Petagna had been looking for a space to launch his pasta bar concept, as he wanted to be able to offer a lunchtime option to supplement the restaurant, he said.
In addition to Fratelli Pasta Bar, the laneway and courtyard will also be home to off-shoots of both Dragonfly and the Greek Food Truck, a vegan and vegetarian eatery, and Tommy Millions’ third store.
McKee Fehl project manager William Broadmore said the company had the right mix of eateries.
‘‘It’s been a huge challenge to get everyone together and onto the same page … [but] it seems to be coming together quite well now,’’ he said.
Ten eateries were confirmed, with two under negotiation. In February, Clark described the food offerings as ‘‘not white tablecloth stuff, it’s ethnic’’.