Respected restaurateur Joe Mammone, who co-owns CBD dining rooms Il Bacaro and Sarti, is launching his first venture outside the city today, Bar Carolina, a sophisticated and contemporary southside bar and restaurant in South Yarra.
Located at 44 Toorak Road, on the corner of Caroline Street, Bar Carolina is set to revive Italian bistro-style dining in the area, offering the high standard of true Italian hospitality that Melburnians have come to expect from Mammone.
Paolo Masciopinto, head chef at Sarti who has also cooked at Grossi Florentino and was head chef for Giorgio Locatelli in London, is in charge of designing the menu and is proud of the fish and meat dishes he is creating that will be served from the Josper charcoal oven.
Masciopinto produces robust and vibrant dishes that comfort and nurture and he intends to continue this at Bar Carolina. The menu features traditional Italian dishes with a modern twist; fresh pastas, fresh produce and a contemporary approach will punctuate the menu.
The menu is friendly to all, with a number of vegetarian options that are refreshingly out-of-the- square such as a beetroot-filled ravioli with goats cheese and poppy seeds and an entrée of maple roasted carrots, cashews, pine nuts and fresh cheese. Not to suggest seafood and meat lovers aren’t well catered for – there is much to be excited about in the form of tagliolini with Morton bay bugs, porcini and dried chili and braised baby goat with broad beans and shaved salted ricotta.
There will be steaks of varying sizes and a statement dessert in the form of a tiramisu, encased within a spherical orb of white chocolate. Diners will pick up the dessert and smash it down on their plates, before digging into the coffee, savoiardi and marscapone inside.
Drinks stay true to the theme, with more than 100 wines consisting of all Italian grape varietals, grown in both Italy and Australia. In addition to this, one page of heavy bodied Australian reds including ten of the country’s best will provide plenty to consider when gravitating towards the grill. Many of the Italian spirits such as Meletti (similar to Montenegro, but smoother) and Capo Capo are rarely seen in Australian restaurants, providing an authentic European flavour.
Mammone feels that Bar Carolina will quickly become a fashionable local favourite, “a neighbourhood hub where people can stop by for any reason, be it the aperitivo in the late afternoon sunshine, a twice weekly dinner, or a big celebratory event.”
“You can expect much more to come out of the top end of Toorak Road in the very near future, and I’m thrilled that Bar Carolina will be a key part of it,” adds Mammone.
Housed in the space that once served Carousel Icecream, Bar Carolina has received a stunning new fit-out by hospitality designer, Chris Connell, who also worked with Mammone for the refurbishment at Il Bacaro more than 20 years ago, recently earning them ‘Hall of Fame’ status at this year’s Eat Drink Design Awards. The interiors are a mix of neo-classic and contemporary, with a small courtyard at the rear for alfresco dining.
Bar Carolina will open from 5.30pm-10pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, and 11.30am-10pm on Wed-Saturday for lunch and dinner. The venue will be closed on Sundays.
