Overview
Australia's first dedicated gnoccheria has just opened its first store outside of Queensland. Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers' chain of potato-loving eateries has popped up in Newtown following the success of the gnoccheria's six Queensland outposts. Unlike other Italian restaurants, you won't find doughy pasta thin or thick here. It's all about one thing and one thing only: gnocchi.
Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers started as a food stall in Brisbane. In 2017, co-founders Ben Cleary-Corradini and Theo Roduner opened the first brick-and-mortar store in Brisbane's Paddington, and built a following across the state over the next four years.
Now, the dedicated gnocchi spot has found a new home in the form of a 60-seat venue by Mapo and Nara's Thai on north King Street. While the restaurant's dining room is yet to open due to lockdown, it's already begun offering its full range of saucy dishes for pickup and takeaway if you're in need of some carby comfort.
Cleary-Corradini and Roduner both have an innate fondness for rich Italian dishes. Roduner's Swiss-Italian father Alfredo Roduner is an accomplished Italian chef and owner of Brisbane mainstay Grappino, while Cleary-Corradini talks of fond memories of watching his nonna handroll gnocchi as a child.
Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers, Paddington
What sets Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers apart from other pasta joints is its impressive array of gnocchi in varieties such as pumpkin and ricotta, and sauces including slow-cooked bolognese, wild mushroom and truffle, spicy tomato and black olive, and creamy lobster and barramundi. Everything is made from organic ingredients and they all come with ciabatta and parmesan.
Of course, if you want something other than the Brothers' dish of choice, there are starters and desserts. Grab marinated olives, salt and pepper calamari or thick cut potato chips with truffle salt to start — or turn to the dessert menu for ricotta cannoli, house-made tiramisu and vanilla bean panna cotta.
Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers Newtown is open for takeaway and delivery 4–10pm Wednesday and Thursday, and midday–10pm Friday–Sunday at 119 King Street, Newtown. It will open for dine in from Friday, July 9.