Daphne

Review by MICHAEL HARDEN.

- Review by MICHAEL HARDEN.

IT DOESN'T COME AS A SURPRISE THAT Hannah Green's latest project has such an impressive sense of calm confidence. Green is, after all, a lauded hospo veteran who, with her first standalone project, Etta, added skilled restaurateur to her front of house and sommelier renown.

Still, with Daphne, just a few doors from Etta in the former Bar Romantica space, Green has opened strong, starting with a renovation by If Architecture that cleverly divides the sizeable space with booth seating, deep red curtains and a lengthy counter that fronts both bar and kitchen. It has a bustling, “casual neighbourhood local” vibe, echoed by a menu that puts an elevated but user-friendly spin on perennial crowd-pleasers from roast chicken to house wine.