HISTORY

On 15th September 2011, Osteria  Balla,  the new Manfredi restaurant at The Star opened its doors, signalling the long-awaited return of chef Stefano Manfredi and restaurateur Julie Manfredi Hughes to the Sydney dining scene.

“The restaurant really brought a little piece of Milan to The Star. “Balla was a true adventure of Italian food, wine and design,” said Stefano Manfredi.

“With  Osteria Balla, said Julie Manfredi Hughes, we set out to achieve a contemporary restaurant – to find a newness that fit with the times, a dining room which offered both conviviality and sophistication, but that was also fresh and fun.”

Named after the futurist poet and painter Giacomo Balla,  endorsed with The Manfredi signature , Balla’s design was realised through a collaboration with Luigi Rosselli Architects and Frost* Design. Giacomo Balla was a founding member of the Italian Futurist art movement, of which Milan was a major centre in the early 20th century. Manfredi commissioned Dante Marioni studio-blown glass lights from Seattle, and  worked with local artisans like  Lino Alvarez from his La Paloma studio in Hill End to create specific terra-cottaplates. Brian Hirst provided the hand blown, glass wine decanters and Manfredi’s own ceramics company, Ceramica Di Manfredi, added pieces to its range specifically designed to Balla’s specifications.

Over the years, Osteria Balla Manfredi won many awards including one chef’s hat at the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide in 2014, 2015 and 2016, and two glasses at the Gourmet Traveller Australian Restaurant Guide in 2015. Osteria Balla Manfredi was also recognised for having one of Australia’s greatest wine collections receiving a three goblet rating from the Gourmet Traveller Wine List of the Year in 2015 and 2016.