Cremorne’s latest opening is serving up focaccia sandwiches, baked eggs all’amatriciana and coffee granita to level-up your lunch game.
Amatrice (pronounced Am-uh-tree-chay!) is a multi-level Italian dining destination situated within the new Cubitt Place development at 16 Stephenson St, Cremorne. Split between two separate venues – Caffé Amatrice, a casual yet refined cafe on the ground floor which opened this week; and Amatrice Rooftop Restaurant, an elegant restaurant on the tenth floor offering unparalleled views of Melbourne and the city skyline, which will open later this spring.
From hospitality heavyweights Dave Parker (San Telmo Group and Sebastian), Kelly Brawn, and Alex Brawn (Sebastian), Amatrice, named after the Italian mountain village just north of Rome, is a love letter to Italian tradition, delivered by a passionate team with an easy-going ethos. The first to open of the two venues, Caffé Amatrice is a casual, all-day dining and takeaway spot open Monday to Friday, serving modern-Italian cuisine and conviviality to Cremorne locals and Melburnians at-large.
“The Italians know how to make a good cafe and that’s what Caffé Amatrice will be, an all-day dining hub that serves the local community authentic, Italian cuisine, but we’re not fussy or pretentious about it,” says co-owner Alex Brawn.
Award-winning interior designer Brahman Perera (Hopper Joint, Entrecôte, Henne) has led the design across both venues, with the cafe interior inspired by a Milanese train station and a feeling of understated elegance. A warm colour palette of terracotta floor tiles, mustard yellow subway tiles and imported green marble tables channels both a modern and retro feel. A cathedral ceiling enhances the open space, with hand-blown glass pendant lights from New Zealand-based Snelling Studio and dramatic draping of yellow gold Kvadrat fabric. Sculptures, vessels from Objects of Virtue, and handmade lamps by Melbourne maker Charlie White offer further warmth and texture to the space. Dominic Hofstede from design studio Mucho Melbourne created the venue branding, presenting a bold red typography across Amatrice’s signage and visual assets.
“We’ve over-delivered on a really sleek interior, so even though it’s a cafe at its heart, you feel like you could be in a restaurant in Milan; it’s the perfect backdrop for Cremorne creatives to network, have an important business lunch, special occasion, or private event,” says co-owner Alex Brawn.
Leading the kitchen is Head Chef Dean Little (Half Acre, Cumulus Inc.) who has created a casual yet elevated Italian food offering of fresh focaccia sandwiches, pastas, salads, and brunch dishes to go with coffee and a curated beverage selection.
Kicking things off on the brunch menu, dishes include baked eggs all’amatriciana with toasted focaccia; stracciatella with marinated cucumber, smoked salmon, boiled eggs and toasted rye; and a ‘breaky bun’ with grilled mortadella, scrambled egg and spiced relish.
For the ultimate Italian sandwich, Caffé Amatrice’s house-made focaccias are a menu highlight, all made fresh to order with fillings such as eggplant parmigiana; porchetta with apple, fennel and cabbage slaw; and a classic prosciutto with buffalo mozzarella, basil and tomato. Borrowing from the menu of the highly anticipated rooftop restaurant, a couple of pasta dishes such as spaghetti all’amatriciana and cacio e pepe will provide a comforting meal and a taste of what’s to come at Amatrice Rooftop Restaurant. Customers can also choose from a variety of fresh salads such as tomato cucumber panzanella; Caesar salad; and a farfalle pasta salad.
“Something we’re very proud of is our Amatriciana sauce which features with our baked eggs, it’s familiar but different and not a typical application of the sauce. It originates from the city of Amatrice in the Lazio region of Italy, a small village with rich food traditions – we even named ourselves after it,” says owner Dave Parker.
Coffee is hyper local from Cremorne roastery Niccolo Coffee, and perfectly paired with pastries by the team at Baked for Sofia, or an indulgent Basque cheesecake courtesy of Sebastian in Williamstown. Coffee lovers will rejoice in the Italian desserts on offer from a classic affogato to a Crema al Caffé, and a Granita di Caffé consisting of coffee granita, mascarpone and whipped cream with the option of a brioche add on.
Catering for up to 60 between indoor and outdoor seating, Caffé Amatrice’s open interior can be accessed from Stephenson Street, or via the lobby entrance through a striking custom sliding stainless steel door that nods to the slightly industrial theme.
Caffé Amatrice is also available to book for private events for 20-100 pax.
“We’re excited to be bringing an offering to Cremorne that’s wanted and needed. Come in for a takeaway coffee and sandwich, settle-in for a long business lunch, or treat yourself to a coffee granita in the sun; Caffé Amatrice is a very flexible, usable venue that we intend to hold a firm place in the heart of the local community,” says co-owner Dave Parker.
Amatrice Rooftop Restaurant will open later this spring.
Find Caffé Amatrice at 16 Stephenson St, Cremorne.
