Opening Pandora's Box

WE'LL avoid the temptation to call it the Orange revolution but it's certainly a welcome victory for the iconic Chapel Street cafe and its owner Steve Boyle, who last week won a three-year battle against Liquor Licensing Victoria over his plans for a 40-seat restaurant in a converted factory behind the cafe he started in 1992 for a measly $20,000.

At stake was permission to open Pandora's Box until 1am on Saturday and Sunday. As for why he didn't back down on the fight, which cost $70,000 in lawyers' fees and much more in interest on the building, Boyle says: "I fundamentally disagree with the principle that a restaurant needs to kick its customers out at 11pm."

Harry Lilai (ex-Cecconi's) is on board as executive chef — he's planning an Italian small-plates menu and has spent the past eight months sprucing up the menu at Orange — and Lok Thornton (former sommelier at the Royal Mail in Dunkeld) is consulting on the all-Victorian and old world wine list, which is skewed towards vintage drops.

All systems were go at Pandora's Box last week, with design firm Projects of Imagination (responsible for Coda's impressive fit-out) busy at work ahead of a planned opening in the next couple of months.

Source: The Age