Delight in every bite: The story behind Hedonist’s irresistible beachside restaurant

Hedonist | Collaroy, NSW

Hedonist was founded to create memorable dining experiences that celebrate food, wine, and hospitality in a stunning beachfront location. Situated across from Collaroy Beach in Sydney, Hedonist delivers modern Australian cuisine which emphasises simplicity, local ingredients, and the hedonistic ethos of pleasure.

We spoke with part-owner Reed Hoffman and Head Chef Emanuele Pelonero to learn about their journey and how SilverChef helped them bring Hedonist to life.

The hospitality dream

For Reed and Emanuele, Hedonist was more than just a restaurant – it was an expression of their love for food, travel, and life's adventures. Inspired by their experiences, they envisioned a space that offered guests the same joy they felt when dining out with loved ones. They set out to combine exceptional food, wine, and atmosphere in a venue that would capture the spirit of indulgence.

However, the path to bringing this dream to life wasn’t easy. When Reed and Emanuele took over the premises, they quickly realised how challenging opening a restaurant could be. From day one, they faced significant hurdles, especially with the financial demands of setting up a commercial kitchen.

“80% of restaurants fail in their first year, and that’s often because of the high upfront costs, especially for kitchen equipment. With SilverChef, we were able to spread out payments instead of spending $40,000 upfront on a kitchen.”

SilverChef’s hospitality equipment funding

SilverChef’s flexibility wasn’t just about easing the burden of initial costs – it also provided Reed and Emanuele with the ability to adapt as their needs changed. Early on, they faced a challenge with their fridge. After realising they needed more space, Rent-Try-Buy's flexibility allowed them to swap out the fridge with a larger one.

“If we had bought our fridge outright, we would’ve been stuck buying a second one when we realised we needed a bigger one. But with SilverChef, we could just switch it out. It saved us the cost and the hassle.”

Beyond just equipment flexibility, SilverChef also helped Hedonist prepare for their grand opening. By pre-inspecting and ensuring all the equipment was ready to go, they were able to hit the ground running, avoiding last-minute issues that could have derailed the big day.

Emanuele adds, “SilverChef helped us be prepared for everything on opening night. It was a huge success, and we owe part of that to having the right equipment from day one.”

What’s next?

Since its opening, Hedonist has quickly become a go-to destination on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, celebrated for its combination of modern Australian cuisine and a picturesque beachfront location. As Reed and Emanuele look to the future, they have big plans for growth, with SilverChef continuing to be a key part of their journey.

If you have a hospitality dream, let's talk about how SilverChef funding can help make it reality! Read more here or get in touch with one of our Hospitality Finance Experts today.