RAFI North Sydney Launch Party

Applejack’s newest restaurant & bar RAFI launches in the heart of North Sydney!

After months of anticipation, we celebrated the launch of our newest venue on the North Shore.

On the night of Wednesday 28th September 2022 we celebrated the much-anticipated launch event of RAFI, North Sydney. Located in the center of North Sydney, RAFI is set to take the hospitality scene on the North Shore up to another level.

RAFI welcomed over 250 guests including media, celebrities, key players in the hospitality industry, and close family and friends. Notable guests included Michael Rodrigues (NTIA), Sally Spratt (The Lust list), and Lauren Tomasi (Channel 9 News). Guests were treated to an array of drinks and canapés as a taster of what RAFI has to offer.

Guests started the night with RAFI’s signature ‘Shrub Your Way’ Cocktail (Blood orange, lemon myrtle, up-cycled wine & choice of spirit), developed by Group Bars Manager Lachy Sturrock and RAFI Bar Manager Cameron Freno. Throughout the evening there was a choice of Four Pillars Gin & Tonics, Freshwater Brewery Pilsner, Young Henry’s, Stone & Wood Pale Ale, and Estrella, alongside carefully selected wines; NV Delamere Cuvée Brut, 2022 Nick O’Leary Riesling, 2020 L’Arnaude Rosé, and 2017 Rockbare RB1 Shiraz.

Applejack Head of Culinary, Patrick Friesen, worked with RAFI Executive Head Chef, Matias Cilloniz, to create a taster menu for the night showcasing the venue’s dishes and canapés, which center around fresh, colourful dishes. These included delicious crispy potato with seaweed & Ikura, Corn croquettes, fried tofu, greens & cheese pie, crumbed fish burgers, and spiced lamb ribs with mint. Plus our friends at East33 Oysters set up an interactive oyster station, where guests could learn to shuck their own oysters, enjoy delicious fresh oysters, plus speak directly to a farmer. Dessert then followed, with the choice of house-made ice cream; salted caramel gelato or strawberry sorbet in signature RAFI cups.

Applejack Co-directors Ben Carrol and Hamish Watts welcomed guests with a speech and shared the RAFI story, before DJ Alice Quiddington took over with vibey tunes all night long. It was a fantastic night, thanks to everyone who joined us for opening night.

RAFI will be the place to be this Spring, It’s the ideal venue for corporate lunches, dinner with friends and family, and sipping cocktails whilst watching the world go by.

Now open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday, come by and join us for a spritz in the sunshine, a bite to eat or just to say hello!