A new fine dining restaurant is set to open at the Riverine Club by the end of the year.
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Richard Moffatt, co-director of Meccanico Espresso & Wine, said after his initial business has been open for 12 months, they decided to open a restaurant.
"Meccanico focuses on that tapas style, but our customer base has been yearning for a fine-dining restaurant," he said.
"We have been able to form a partnership with the Riverine Club."
The new restaurant is set to open by December and will be called Pastorale, a throwback to the club's origins.
It was founded and supported by landowners in the area, and the name is a nod to its history. Fit-out and construction started last week.
Mr Moffatt acknowledged it would be difficult to find many hospitality businesses around the region who would be expanding. Still, his excellent team and a loyal clientele have seen them grow into the next step.
The team have big plans with the goal of becoming Wagga's first hatted restaurant.
"That's not going to be a 12-month project, that is something we are going to be looking at within 18 to 24 months," Mr Moffatt said.
"To become a hatted restaurant, you are judged on every element of your business from the service you receive to the quality of the food.
"The process also looks at how well you work with your architect team to develop a fine dining space."
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The restaurant is then scored on those three elements to determine whether or not it will be awarded a hat.
Head chef Sarn Rudd said the menu would focus on elevating classic and simple dishes with a strong emphasis on using local produce.
"We have a charcoal oven, and we will be doing dishes such as bistecca, which is a florentine-style steak," she said.
Richard Pottie, president of the Riverine Club, said it was an exciting new chapter for the venue.
"This is fantastic," he said.
"This is one of Wagga's most historic buildings, and the members have been asking us for a while to do something in this space.
"The level that Richard and his team are going to bring in terms of service and quality fits in beautifully with the way the club operates."
Mr Pottie said Pastorale by Meccanico would be located in the L-shaped area leading off from the room currently known as the Ladies Lounge.
"Initially the restaurant will be open six evenings per week for dinner," he said.
"Lunchtime opening is planned but not in 2020. As part of the agreement, there will be a special bar menu for members to order from and enjoy within the club's rooms.
"The Pastorale team will cater for all Riverine Club functions including weddings and wakes."