If there’s one great thing to have come out of these dark days, it’s the ingenuity of local businesses as they adapt to the ever-changing coronavirus restrictions. We’ve seen cafes selling produce hampers, small bars delivering pre-batched cocktails and loads more eateries feeding those struggling to feed themselves.

Now, Newtown’s ramen bar and communal motorbike workshop Rising Sun Workshop has taken a novel approach to keep staff employed. And – right on brand – it involves motorbikes.

It’s taken its casual workforce – many of whom have motorbike licences – and enlisted them as delivery drivers for the new take-away menu. In doing so, it’s circumventing the huge commissions taken by established delivery services, keeping its staff in rent money and giving the whole business a sense of purpose.

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“Thankfully, having a large proportion of your crew licensed for two wheels comes with the territory when your restaurant supports its own not-for-profit-garage,” says Rising Sun director Nick Smith. “It made sense on many levels to start our own delivery service.”

On the takeaway menu? Rising Sun’s four varieties of ramen (including its breakfast ramen with butter-infused broth, bacon and egg), which come ready to eat or DIY (with frozen broth and fresh noodles to cook when you want). There’s also vegetable curry don; kurobuta pork belly ragu “spaghetti ramenese”; karaage chicken; and Korean fried cauliflower. You can also order coffee, locally made beer, sake and low-intervention wine, as well as pantry items such as plant-based milks, eggs, sugar, rice, flour, avocados and toilet paper.

At the moment deliveries are limited to the local area, but once Rising Sun’s squad finds its feet (um, wheels), it might expand its radius.

Place orders through Bopple or on (02) 9550 3891.