The Shisha Spot Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Sydney

Commensurate with Liverpool becoming Sydney’s third CBD, along with the rapid population growth and impending jobs boom from Western Sydney Airport and the Aerotropolis, Liverpool is on the cusp of seeing an expansion in restaurants and bars. Facilitated by Liverpool City Council rezoning 25 hectares in the city centre with a vibrant, 18-hour economy in mind, some early adopters are already moving in.

The Spot Bar and Grill is a fourth venue for local Liverpool resident, Max Luciano, who began The Spot Group back in 2012 with The Spot Chocolate Bar. Five years later, The Shisha Spot joined his expanding portfolio, and this year Luciano opened Ground Floor Cafe/Restaurant and The Spot Bar & Grill. The two newcomers sit side by side at the base of a medium density residential block, separated from Macquarie Street by a plaza. This gives The Spot Bar and Grill an indoor-outdoor feel, with outside tables plus a row of little cushioned nooks where you can relax and enjoy shisha.

Inside there’s a clean and monumental fit-out dominated by rolling curved beige leather booths set around marble tables. By putting them on wheels, the space is easily transformed to fit a dance floor. With excellent sound and a DJ booth in one corner, I am sure at night time it will be put to good use. Soft light floods into the room from a large, rectangular skylight. Patterned screens and soft gold accents provide the only decoration, bar from a tempting row of Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial Champagne bottles. I say tempting because NSW Liquor & Gaming are still dragging their heels on the liquor license – four months and counting – creating unnecessary red tape that’s particularly cruel to small businesses who might not have the deep pockets to wait for four months to sell booze after signing a lease.

If the lockout laws were genuinely designed around decentralising bars from our entertainment district, it makes sense to encourage and facilitate the establishment and success of venues like this one in our city’s third CBD. So it comes to be that I’m drinking a fairly bland Lemon & Mint ($9) frozen mocktail with my lunch when really I’d prefer wine.

With the advertising promising a Middle Eastern inspired modern contemporary menu, I’m a bit surprised to see bruschetta, arancini and salmon sashimi. Missing the obvious share-plates that would suit the bigger groups the large tables suggest, the menu is arranged into a short list of entrees and mains. Tapioca Calamari ($19.90) has an eye-catching golden puddle of saffron aioli, but is overcooked. The squid is tender through pineapple marination, but spending too long in the deep fryer has destroyed the flavour of the exterior lemon pepper and tapioca spice mix, meaning we have to drown it in the earthy, saffron aioli.

Skipping over non-thematic pappardelle and lamb shank gnocchi, I head to the Lamb Pizza ($25), which seems to better follow the menu brief with spiced lamb mince, labneh, harissa and mint. The base lacks the lightness of touch I’d hope for from Lebanese-inspired pizza, and is dominated by tomato without much evidence of the promised harissa twist. I can’t say I like it, but it is early days, and Liverpool needs the Sunday sessions that will emerge once NSW Liquor and Gaming does their bit. I’m hoping The Spot Bar & Grill will slide into the hole left by venues like Byblos and Banta Room from Oxford Street’s heyday, and deliver Liverpool residents a reason to take a cheap Uber to eat, drink and party in...

The SS Restaurant Lounge hosted my graduation party. The entire function room at the back was booked out and designed beautifully. All the tables had mezza and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) to start off the night. The mains were mixed plates with each mixed plate having a good amount of meat to satisfy everyone. After mains, the team cut up various fruits as we had cake for dessert. The team were at our beck and call the entire night. The service was of a top notch quality despite handling a large number of people for a private function and also looking after the regular customers at the front - the service was very fast. All my friends and family continue to tell me how great everything was, particularly the abundance of well-cooked food. The team also surprised me with a specially designed shisha to congratulate me on my achievements. The shisha flavour was Al Fakher and tasted genuine. I could not be more happy with how amazing the night turned out. Thank you again to The SS team for making it a night to remember!! I'll be sure to provide a glowing recommendation to...

The staff were nice but the restaurant was so frustrating, the annoying electronic menus that didn't work on anyone's phone even table next to us they couldn't get them to work, find it absolutely frustrating having this scan menus, I will completely refuse to attend any restaurant that can't give you a Normal traditional menu, im so against this scan menus for many reasons, im going out to give my eyes a break from my fone not continue to sit on it.. not everyone has data and I'm not an old person... completely was annoying especially they couldn't load... the fresh juice was so overpriced $12 and small glass and not even that nice was full of skin bits.. the owners seem tight not generous.. shisha was terrible to it went so smokey we asked for refund on the shisha we couldn't smoke it... they didn't offer any refund.. 44$ for clay head for if u want orange it's $10 more for 55$ whose the brains honestly... 10$ extra for half an orange... food was ok not bad.. but annoying expirence and cold blue lighting made us all look ugly in the photos......