Discover the Cessnock based wine and cocktail bar
Over recent years, the country town of Cessnock has received a little bit of a refresh and with the brand-new wine and cocktail bar Samasama opening we’re excited to see where the future of Cessnock is headed!
Brought to you by the team behind Cessnock's favourite foodie business, Burgerfiend, owners Marlene and Matthew have been working behind the scenes to bring Samasama to life for the last two years before officially opening their doors on the 22nd of September 2022.
“Matt has a way of looking at what’s missing in a location. Cessnock didn’t have a gourmet burger place, so we opened Burgerfiend. Then, Cessnock didn’t have a wine bar even though we’re the gateway to the Hunter, so we thought, let’s do this! The main reason behind Samasama is to contribute to the town. It's honestly the biggest reason why we are doing Samasama. We want to showcase that Cessnock is a great place to invest in,” Marlene said.
The new building has been meticulously renovated and brings a whole new elevated experience to the people of Cessnock. Walk through the inviting front doors into a cosy front bar space before moving through to the restaurant area in the back with huge ceilings making space to feature their almighty and unmissable mural by Sydney-based artist, Reubszz.
“People can interpret this mural however they want… if you want to get deep into it, it’s because Cessnock needs a bit of love, a bit of heart, courage, and bravery. It’s also on the backdrop of the Hunter Valley. The idea is that when you’re in here, it doesn’t feel like you’re in Cessnock anymore.”
The sleek yet simple design features muted blue tones and a moody neutral palette throughout, matching the vibe of an 18+ only venue. This alongside a mostly dedicated Hunter Valley wine list, and scrumptious share plates makes for a wine and cocktail bar that Cessnock has been screaming for.
“Our cocktail list has been created by Evan. He creates his own concoctions and they’re amazing. There is definitely a bit of a Filipino feel to the cocktail list.”
Moving onto the food menu, the team in the kitchen has kept it sweet and simple with a focus on traditional Neapolitan pizza flavours, all cooked within their stunning disco ball pizza oven.
The share-style menu doesn’t feature entrees and mains, but instead, a flavoursome selection of eats including the Braised Beef Cheek Croquette with sauteed wild mushroom, and mustard aioli; miso butter, roasted Jerusalem artichoke, and spiced onion puree; tuna crudo, citrus, crisp prosciutto, and horseradish aioli; and more!
“We encourage sharing! That is what our menu is… pick something, pop it in the middle, and share.”
The pizzas are kept nice and simple with a focus on top-quality produce. Choose from the Pork Belly pizza with sugo, pickled jalapeno, and mozzarella; the Potato pizza with mushroom, pizzarella, and herb oil; or the Sugo pizza with pizzarella, basil, and olive oil.
The name, Samasama comes from a Filipino word, which means togetherness, with Marlene hoping to bring together Cessnock and the Hunter Valley.
Having only been open a few weeks, the venue has received nothing but rave reviews, with visitors sharing they’ve been waiting for something just like this to open in Cessnock for years.
Whether you’re a Cessnock local who have been waiting for something like this to open for years, are visiting the Hunter Valley and are keen to explore Cessnock, or are just a keen foodie in the Hunter region always looking to sample the newest offering, book your table at Samasama and see for yourself what all the fuss is about!
