First Look: Everything Falls Into Place as Jimmy Toone and Jo Leal Take Over Fall From Grace

“Those plants have got to go,” says Jo Leal, gesturing towards a row of plastic pot plants perched above a disused fireplace. “We’ve inherited so many things.”

Broadsheet is visiting the day before Leal and partner Jimmy Toone open their Aldinga wine bar. They’re the new owners of Fall From Grace, which was originally opened by Gill Gordon-Smith in 2009.

It’s been a family affair, with Leal and Toone’s parents and siblings getting on board with renovating the 1850s space. They’ve reincorporated the kitchen from Lucky Ducks, a now-closed vegan joint, into the space. There’s now a 25-seat dining room (complete with working fireplace), bar seating and courtyard.

But by far the most exciting new addition comes in the form of Toone and Leal themselves. Toone is a former head chef at The Salopian Inn and the couple have run pop-up dining experiences: Secret Pizza Club and Secret Pasta Club. They also recently wrapped up a residency at Loc.

“That was a good testing ground for us,” Toone tells Broadsheet. “Obviously we have less limitations here in terms of having a proper kitchen, but that sort of food is what I like cooking.”

Diners can expect snacky, share-style plates, including popular Loc items like the tuna tartare, oyster blade steak and Leal’s expertly folded pastas. Pizzas – which the pair have regularly served at Fall From Grace for the past four years as part of Secret Pizza Club – will remain, while future plans include chef collabs and “restaurant-y” dinners driven by Toone and Leal’s whims rather than dictated by a specific cuisine.

“It might be, ‘This weekend let’s have a Japanese night and get some sake as well’,” says Leal, who is working front-of-house at Fall From Grace. “We want the freedom to not have to do the same thing. If we keep it fun and interesting for us, I think it translates.”

There won’t be strict rules around kitchen service, either.

“We don’t want to have lunch times or dinner times, because we’re loosey-goosey people anyway,” Leal says. “We are wanting to focus on actual hospitality. When you come through the door, one of us will greet you; we’ll look after you whenever you want.

“You can come in and have a glass of wine, or you can come in and have the equivalent of a deg menu. It’s a European wine bar vibe.”

Drinks-wise, the plan is to reintroduce natural wines to the mix, which was a focus of original owner Gordon-Smith, who sold the business to Margot Muir in 2022.

“It’s not a natural wine bar. It’s an everything bar. But we do want to get some natural things in. We want everyone to be happy,” says Toone.

And, judging by reactions over opening weekend, everyone certainly is happy.

Fall From Grace
206 Port Road, Aldinga
No phone

Hours
Mon midday–6pm
Thu midday–9pm
Fri & Sat midday–late
Sun midday–-9pm

fallfromgrace.com.au
@fallfromgracealdinga