The creative duo behind Prahran’s fantastical French brasserie Entrecote are gearing up to open a Sri Lankan restaurant nearby that specialises in the country’s street food.
Hopper Joint will combine Jason Jones’s flair for creating all-encompassing hospitality spaces with partner Brahman Perera’s upbringing and interior design talents.
“It will be all about Brem’s [Brahman’s] growing up in Doncaster and Australia, with great Sri Lankan heritage,” says Jones.
As the name suggests, the focus is on hoppers, fermented rice pancakes that accompany sambols, curries and more.
Short eats – the Sri Lankan term for small pastries and fried snacks – will kick off proceedings.
The centrepiece of the 60-seat dining room will be a hand-washing station in preparation for the hand-held food that follows.
String, plain or egg hoppers, served in unlimited quantities, will be made in the middle of the restaurant with people ringing bells at their table for refills.
“It will be pure theatre,” says Jones.
Joe Jones (no relation), who founded Romeo Lane bar, will write a cocktail list with a skew towards gin- and arak-based drinks.
Jason Jones says he and Perera, who moved Entrecote from South Yarra to Prahran’s Greville Street in 2021, are thrilled to have found a site after six years.
They are about to embark on a buying trip to Sri Lanka for the new restaurant’s fit-out, which Jones says will layer colonial touchpoints with contemporary references, such as the tropical modernism of Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa.
Hopper Joint is scheduled to open in spring 2023.
