Acme's Mitch Orr and Icebergs' Maurice Terzini Are Opening an Italian Restaurant in Bondi
Ciccia Bella will open in the site currently home to Da Orazio.
You could hear Sydney collectively sigh when Rushcutters Bay's beloved restaurant Acme announced its closure. But fans of chef and owner Mitch Orr's cooking haven't had to wait too long to find out where and when they'll be able to get their next hit of his inauthentic Italian fare.
Orr has been welcomed into the fold of Maurice Terzini's ever-growing empire, which currently includes Surry Hills' The Dolphin Hotel, Bondi Beach Public Bar, Icebergs and Da Orazio Pizza + Porchetta. While details are slim at the moment, Orr will be jumping in the kitchen of the latter, Da Orazio, which will be relaunching as Ciccia Bella in the coming months.
At the moment it's mainly a pizza spot, and its name is a nod to former chef Orazio d'Elia, who has since gone on to open Matteo Double Bay and Downtown. And while the woodfired oven will remain, Orr will also be bringing in some classic pasta dishes.
Pizza and pasta from The Dolphin's Italo Disco.
This isn't the first time Orr has teamed up with Terzini and landed in one of his kitchens, either. You may've seen him in on the pans during one (or two) of The Dolphin's super-popular Delfino Aperitivo sessions, or perhaps for a Pizza Party back in 2016, or last month's Italo Dining & Disco Club.
If you were at any of these pop-ups, you may have some idea of what to expect on the menu at Ciccia. Pig's head carbonara pizza (a riff on Acme's signature pig's head macaroni dish), Jatz a la Icebergs (with sea urchin and foie gras), eggplant parmigiana rolls and clam pizza could also possibly make an appearance, as may some of the Acme pasta favourites. Although, it is suggested that this menu will be more classic than Orr's usual offering.
As well as the menu and the name, the interiors will also be getting a makeover, with the team working closely with an architect to refresh the space. But before the relaunch, it'll be business as normal at Da Orazio, with the Hall Street restaurant open for pizza seven days a week.
We'll let you know when any more details or dates are announced for Ciccia Bella.
Cicca Bella is slated to launch 75–79 Hall Street, Bondi in the upcoming months. Da Orazio Pizza + Porchetta will continue to run as normal until then.
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