Roccella
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Pizzaiolo Francesco Crifo has teamed up with Bernie Cuteri and Joe and Bruno Ceraso to deliver Roccella - a modern, all-day Italian eatery in East Melbourne.
The stunning eatery merges both dining and retail, with imported and home-made take-home pantry and liquor staples, deli and freshly baked breads and pastries, grab & go breakfast and lunch all on offer.
The restaurant was born from the trio’s passion of getting together with family and friends to make home-made Italian food and wine, a huge part of their culture and community.
Roccella is an embodiment of that passion, a place that offers simple, real and simply delicious contemporary Italian cuisine.
We loved tasting our way through the restaurant's menu. To start the Burrata was lovely. This cheese sensation demonstrated that unforgettable dishes can sometimes be very simple. In this instance, a ball of unadulterated burrata simply paired with prosciutto and lightly seasoned with black rock salt and EVOO. When the outer solid mozzarella shell was cut, we loved how the creamy interior of soft, stringy curd and fresh cream revealed itself. The sumptuously rich yet sensibly balanced flavours were sensational.
To follow the gnocchi alla sorrentina was captivating. Using tried and true rustic Italian cooking, the house made gnocchi was pillow soft and al dente and served with decadent roasted cherry tomato sugo, and graciously topped with fresh bufala cheese and then baked in the restaurant's wood fire oven before being laced in basil-infused EVOO. Simply beautiful.
For something heartier, the cotoletta is to die for – beautifully crispy crumbed layer encases tender veal.
A visit to Roccella would of course be incomplete without one of their stunning pizzas. The appeal of Roccella’s pizzas lie in its beautiful crusts and the use of quality produce. As tomato and cheese are staple ingredients in almost every pizza on the menu, it is crucial that they get it right. And fortunately, they do.
The Carne pizza was picture perfect and topped with delectable layers of sugo, fior di latte, shaved ham, hot salami, pork fennel sausage and Calabrese nduja. Simply sensational!
Dessert time continued to please at Roccella. Whatever you do, do not go past the cannoli siciliani which features fresh whipped ricotta, pistachios and dark chocolate - absolutely delicious!
Roccella understands the warmth of true Italian hospitality - A casual restaurant, which doesn’t take its approach to serving guests casually at all.
Location: 158 Clarendon St, East Melbourne,
Phone: (03) 9416 1700
