Sisters Shonel Alloway and Kylie Simpson, who opened neighbouring cafe Forreal Kitchen in February this year, are responsible for breathing new life into The Arc venue. The duo recently took over the bar and eatery, overhauling the space with an eclectic fit-out, a new menu, a sophisticated new cocktail, beer and wine offering, and a whole new identity. While the next-door sibling Forreal Kitchen is all about the daytime vibes, The Arc will capture the afternoon sippers, local diners and after-dark revellers.

The menu is unashamedly and intentionally heavy on the meat. The sisters come from a long line of abattoir owners and butchers, so they’re aiming to keep the carnivores happy with a hearty menu of bar snacks, share plates, hand-stretched woodfired pizzas, towering burgers and soul-warming mains. Tuck into the sticky beef wontons, the spicy-chorizo and brie bechamel bake or the miso-glazed chicken bites with yuzu dressing to start. Then, work your way up to the braised lamb shoulder with olive and date jam, the spiced braised pork belly with maple jus, or the eye-catching Cantonese-style beef short ribs with pickled red cabbage, citrus mayonnaise and fresh chilli in a lemongrass and palm-sugar sauce. If you haven’t eaten for a week, then go for the $30 burger – it’s loaded with double fried chicken, double beef, double bacon, double cheese, lettuce, ketchup and mustard. Prepare thyself for meat sweats.

Keen to check out The (new) Arc? Head to our Stumble Guide for all of the details.