400 Gradi to Open Cicchetti Bar Next Door in Brunswick

Award-winning 400 Gradi chef Johnny Di Francesco is bringing another little slice of Venice to Brunswick this year, by opening up a ciccetti bar next door to his World Pizza Championship-topper Lygon Street establishment.

Housing up to 50 patrons, 400 Gradi Cicchetti will have a slightly different atmosphere to the buzzing pizzeria next door but will maintain an air of authenticity and tradition. While no details have been released in regards to the menu, we’re assured there will be a well-considered and extensive drinks list to wash it all down.

Cicchetti, for those who are yet to get amongst it, are small Italian snacks or side dishes and are traditionally a Venetian style of food. They’re often served at small bars called bàcari and are consumed after breakfast, for lunch or as afternoon snacks. A few common cicchetti include marinated olives, small dishes of meat or fish and mini arancini (meat-filled rice balls). Think of it like Italian tapas, if that helps.

Earlier this year Johnny Di Francesco took out the number one spot at the World Pizza Championship (Campionato Mondiale della Pizza) in Parma, Italy. His Neapolitan-style pizza is undeniably amongst the best that Melbourne has to offer, so it’s pretty safe to say this next door endeavour will have tables full from the get-go.

Find 400 Gradi Cicchetti at 99 Lygon Street, Brunswick East (right next door to 400 Gradi).