Neil Perry has just announced that his new Double Bay restaurant will be named after his late mother, Margaret.

While it was Neil’s dad – a butcher by trade and keen fisherman – that taught him to cook, it was his mum that taught him “to care and be kind,” Perry said.

“She was a very hospitable, generous, and caring woman. She influenced the care philosophy that I have run all my restaurants with, so I wanted to honour her with this.”

Margaret will serve a modern Australian menu, that will be influenced by the kinds of food that Neil ate when growing up.

“Growing up we had garden beds, fruit trees and chickens, this is where I first learned the importance of fresh, quality produce.”

The kitchen will revolve around a wood fire oven and rotisserie, with some of Australia’s best produce cooked over the flames.

“It won’t be a bar and grill like Rockpool, but there will be beautiful steaks and rotisserie chicken, porchetta over the fire, fresh seafood, lots of vegetables and salads, as well as a burger and some great sandwiches and snacks,” he said.

Perry said it will be more of a neighbourhood restaurant than a white-clothed fine diner, offering an option for locals that would rather stay in the area than venture to the city.

“It will be the kind of place where people can drop in at any time of day for a cup of coffee or a glass or wine, a few oysters, or some roast chicken and a simple salad.”

While a head chef has not just been announced (we’re tipping Neil Perry’s former right-hand man, Phil Wood, who has just departed his post at Laura), Perry said he plans to be “cooking in the kitchen a lot” himself.

The restaurant will slot into the new state-of-the-art Pallas House development on Bay Street in Double Bay. “I think it’s the best site in the Eastern Suburbs and when I saw it, I couldn’t let it go,” Perry said. The new restaurant will seat around 170 patrons – 120 inside and 50 outside – with slick interiors by Caon Studio and ACME&Co.

Margaret is slated to open at Pallas House, 30-36 Bay Street, Double Bay in June 2021.

Related food news: Neil Perry to restart charity meals in the Sydney CBD