The waterfront strip attracts celebrities from around the globe.SuppliedWith a stable that includes Sails on Lavender Bay,Ormeggio at The Spit,Ripples,The Nielsen and Ventuno,Sydney Restaurant Group’s foray into Woolloomooloo is one of the last pieces of its harbour puzzle.
Rubis points to the longevity of the wharf’s restaurant stalwarts:steak and seafood venue Kingsleys;the Fink Group-owned Otto Ristorante;and restaurateur Steve Anastasiou’s Asian-inspired eatery,China Doll.
Rubis bought Manta Ray in 2006,around the time that wildlife educator Steve Irwin died after being pierced by a short-tail stingray barb. Out of respect,he dropped the Ray from the restaurant’s moniker.
Grilled King George whiting with a panzanella salad.Jim RiceIt has been a good innings from Rubis,even if he admits he hasn’t always been on his game at spotting visiting celebrities,a regular fixture on the wharf and in his restaurant. Rubis recalls bumping into Jon Bon Jovi in the Manta toilets.
“One day there was all this talk about Elton John being in town,there were a heap of people on the wharf and I said to one of the staff that he must be at Otto. ‘No,I’m here,’ Elton said,looking up from one of the tables.”
The director of the new venue owner Sydney Restaurant Group,Daniel Drakopoulos,says the group will keep the name when they take over next month.
“There’ll still be seafood,any change will be incremental ... we’ll introduce some cool new snacks,and we’ll make it a bit more fun,” Drakopoulos says. A 2025 renovation is also part of the plans.
Rubis is happy to leave Manta in the hands of good operators. “There are a zillion new restaurants opening,and it’s getting harder as a single operator. It’s easier if you have[a few venues].”