Goodbye, Cam’s Kiosk. Hello, Bar Familiar. Former Cam’s Kiosk front-of-house staffers Alessia Augello and Stephanie Lane are taking over one of Abbotsford Convent’s most beloved sites.
And Bar Familiar promises plenty of familiarity indeed. The menu, put together by chef Alisha Grant – who previously spent time on the pans in the Convent kitchen – will look to the same Euro sensibilities that Cam’s did.
Grant promises an almost entirely new menu, but not without a few of the greatest hits from across the restaurant’s 16-year run making a return. Whether that’s the spaghetti Napoli topped with a generous blob of buffalo mozzarella, or the focaccia that Melbourne’s inner north spoke of so fondly, remains under wraps for now.
“It means so much to be able to build Bar Familiar together as former colleagues and good friends,” says Lane. “We’re excited to carry forward the warmth and hospitality the space is known for, while bringing our own ideas and vision for the future.”
Along with a new menu comes a light refit. Ultimately, the team wants to make it their own while still retaining some of the magic that made Cam’s Kiosk so special. “We feel so energised to create something special for the community and are uniquely placed to understand exactly what that should be,” says Augello.
The opening comes after restaurateur Cam Miller suddenly closed both of his Abbotsford Convent venues, Cam’s Kiosk and Julie, just last month. Augello and Lane, meanwhile, are making moves to open before the end of August.
Bar Familiar, Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford. Follow along for more via @bar.familiar.melbourne.