Bills of Sydney rides wave of international success to Waikiki, Hawaii
The celebrity chef Bill Granger - who retains two restaurants in Sydney, along with four in Japan, and in London's Notting Hill and Clerkenwell - has opened Bills Sydney in Hawaii. And his next outlet opening will be Seoul in June.
It is a rustic-chic beach house in Waikiki that opened last month.
The trademark creamy scrambled eggs that put him on the culinary map are available at 280 Beachwalk Avenue.
It's between the Hilton and Westin in low-level contemporary building (pictured above) that also houses the Hard Rock Cafe in the two-story 30,519 square foot retail building.
Located at Waikiki’s west side, Honu Group’s retail development is close to the Fort DeRussy Reservation.
2006 stats showed a daily US$202 expenditure by Oceania visitors which Bills will be seeking some of the spend especially from those who know of his fare.
"I only open where I’m inspired; something about the place and lifestyle needs to speak to me," he recently said.
"Honolulu is my favourite type of beach town - urban.
"I had no idea how vibrant the food scene was; I’ve been inspired by the tropical produce and fusion of Vietnamese, Japanese and indigenous cuisines (with a bit of Brooklyn thrown in).
"The menu includes nods to these local dishes, plus all the bills classics and pizzas piled with fresh healthy toppings," he says.
He is not the only Australian in the complex as CBRE's Andrew Starn secured tenants including Le Blanc Art with the Australian-born artist Shane Bowden. The other tenants include Akakura, a high-end shoe store, 24 Karat, a Japanese surf shop and the Rome-based women’s clothing and accessories boutique Brandy Melville.
Title Tattle recalls Bill Granger got his training at the iconic La Passion du Fruit on Paddington's Oxford Street after hailing from Melbourne.
Granger opened the original bills in the Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst in 1993, when he was 22.
His Queens Court, Woollahra restaurant recently closed, replaced by the vibrant Luxe.