Neil Perry set to finally open family run restaurant, Margaret
Neil Perry’s Margaret restaurant is finally ready to open its doors with October 20 set as the official date.
Perry has his family working alongside him, with his 27-year-old daughter Josephine running the floor, 17-year-old Macy polishing cutlery and his wife Sam working behind the scenes.
His youngest daughter Indy, 15, is also keen to start working there as soon as she is old enough.
"Not to be morbid," says Perry, "but I kind of see myself living out my last days here."
The restaurant named after his mother, was originally supposed to open in late June but Sydney’s Covid outbreak put his plans on hold.
In addition to Margaret, Perry is starting his own wine import business, Crushed, with Richard Healy, the restaurant’s sommelier.
Margaret hasn’t opened its doors yet but is already booked up until Christmas, however Perry says there will always be tables set aside for walk-ins, with outdoor seats available on a first-come first-served basis.
"I don't want to be the sort of place that's booked out all the time and you don't ever feel you can use it to drop by for a drink and snack," Perry says.
"That's a really important part of the neighbourhood ethos: having a good chunk of seats available any time."
Irit Jackson, 14th October 2021
