There’s good news for bayside residents who have a penchant for bona fide Italian food. Brighton has a brand-new local that’s showcasing what Italians do best – pizza e vino.
Cucina & Co is a 65-seat Italian restaurant summoned by industry stalwart Riccardo Bianchini and backed by his partners Peter Aloi of Cafe Duomo and Peter Kisvarda. After arriving from Sicily in 1996 with no English, Riccardo worked and trained in a number of leading Italian eateries, learning everything he could about the industry and the language. After much practice, Riccardo joined a booming South Yarra favourite, Caffe’e Cucina, where he was eventually made partner. In 2010, Riccardo was asked to join the DOC Group, where he was instrumental in the success and growth of DOC Mornington, and later became partner at DOC Albert Park.
With a focus on authentic food and cheeky, charming service dished out with classic Italian flair, diners can pick from a seasonal a la carte menu, which includes wood-fired pizzas, homemade gnocchi, and daily specials. With a strong focus on in-season fare, the menu will adapt throughout the year to include heartier soups and stews through winter, and fresh, light salads during the warmer months.
Crisp Mediterranean flavours and classic Italian produce are unearthed in the finely tuned menu. Choice is aplenty, with items including drunken braised baby octopus in wine and tomato broth; handmade pasta with veal ragu and white wine; seafood linguini; and eggplant parmigiana in homemade Siciliano sauce with mozzarella and fresh basil.
No Italian pizzeria is complete without a top-grade wood-fire pizza oven, with punters sure to be pleased by the selection of 18 different toppings for the 72-hour-rise dough. The menu includes all-time favourites such as margherita and marinara, plus creative options like the ‘zuccotta’, cream of pumpkin, buffalo mozzarella, sausage, basil and evoo; and the ‘diavola’, which sees San Marzano tomato married with mozzarella, spicy Soppressa and basil. The pizza oven is manned by expert ‘pizzaiolo’ Leonardo Alfieri, who, after arriving in Australia 18 months ago, has introduced his own unique style of cooking to Melbourne’s pizza scene.
Sommelier Sabino Matera has curated an extensive Italian-only wine list, which includes reds, whites and sparkling Proseccos, plus aperitivi featuring the in-high-demand Negroni and Aperol Spritz.
Cucina & Co was designed by fellow Italian, Dominic Ridolfi of Ridolfi Architecture, who sought out a minimalist aesthetic with an informal and chic look. Stone, steel and leather come together to create a space that’s inviting and modern and a move away from the tired old Italian eatery.
A seamless flow allows an ‘inside-out’ feel, with appeal to diners looking for a fancier night out, or folk flocking home after a day at the beach. Further appeal is the family friendly atmosphere, where people are encouraged to bring their kids along to enjoy an early dinner, or a post-school feed, with the restaurant opening at 3.00pm ready for the after-school run.
Other unique features include an abstract wall designed by local Brighton artist, Morris Golotta; a ‘mug shot board’ in the bathroom to attract the social media savvy; plus a daily specials board brought to you by wall projection.
Cucina & Co is open seven nights for dinner.
Monday – Thursday open from 3.00pm – 10:30pm. Friday, Saturday, Sunday open for lunch and dinner 12.00pm – 10:30pm. Saturday and Sunday, open for brunch 9.00am – 1.00pm.
325 New Street, Brighton
Phone: 03 95305324
