The Irvine: Florey gets a new local

Posted on 27 March, 2024

Back in 2015, we revealed plans for a new venue in Watson. Nearly 10 years on, The Knox has become a much-loved part of the inner north community. Now, the Knox family has expanded to Belconnen, welcoming a new sibling in Florey. Meet The Irvine.

“It’s a fresh new local watering hole,” says General Manager of The Knox Group, Maddy Kreyl.

“Really open, nice vibe, family-friendly. It’s just ticking all the boxes, really!”.

A welcome addition to The Florey shops, the Irvine looks set to become the new local – much like The Knox did in Watson nearly a decade ago.

“Our motto at the Knox Group is, ‘For the locals, by the locals’,” says Maddy.

“We’ve looked at opening a new venue for quite some time, and Florey’s got the same local feel that the Knox does. The community response has been awesome!”

Pumpkin, zucchini & halloumi fritters with Moroccan bean puree, salad greens and tomato salsa.

Serving up breakfast and lunch – with plans to open nights after Easter (once the all-important liquor licence box is ticked) – the menu boasts a line-up of classics with a twist.

A sweet potato hotcake with grilled bacon, fried egg, avo, dukkah, feta, fried kale and salsa verde is getting rave reviews for breakfast, as are the pumpkin, zucchini & halloumi fritters with Moroccan bean puree, salad greens and tomato salsa.

Personally? They had me at The Florey Sambo – a pan-fried sandwich with pork belly, béchamel, smoked sriracha and topped with a fried egg.

“They’re probably our signature breakfast dishes,” says Maddy. “And then, for lunch, the Chilli Salted Squid is amazing. It’s crusted in sea salt, crushed honeycomb, chilli and lime zest and served with lime aioli. It’s delicious!”

Chicken Parmagiana – schnitzel topped w smoked honey ham, house napoli sauce & grilled cheese.

Mains look equally enticing, with dishes ranging from a Braised Lamb Pasta – 12-hour braised lamb shoulder, topped with sourdough, garlic & parmesan pangratatto – to a Veg burger of Yuzu glazed tempura mushroom, dressed snow pea tendrils and lime kewpie mayo.

The corner space at Florey Shops – which Maddy describes as “boho, but also quite rustic and industrial at the same time,” is airy and welcoming – important for a suburban day-to-night venue.

“It’s our owner Daniel Conroy’s vision come to life,” says Maddy.  “It was really special to be able to decide exactly what goes what and how it happens. And we, obviously, have that knowledge from the Knox that we’ve been able to bring here. So it’s really streamlined.”

Keen to check out The Irvine this Easter long weekend? You’re in luck. It’s open every day from 7:30 am to 3 pm. The best part? Each morning there’ll be a delivery of fresh hot cross buns from The Knox. Better set your alarm.