Inside new Italian restaurant Mensa, next to Gelato Messina, in Kent Town

Go inside the new Italian restaurant – next to Gelato Messina’s celebrated Kent Town store – which will finally open its doors today. See the pics.

A new Italian restaurant adjoining Gelato Messina’s celebrated Kent Town store will finally open its doors on Friday.

Three years in the making, Mensa is the much-anticipated new venue from Adelaide hospitality veterans Eugenio Maiale and Claudio Ferraro.

The acclaimed duo have teamed up with Zoran Pavlovic for the project, which sits on the same site as Messina, the popular ice-cream brand co-founded by their childhood friend Nick Palumbo.

But Mr Maiale said the connection between the businesses ends there, with Mensa – described as a contemporary Italian eatery – a “stand-alone” venture.

“I think both businesses are going to complement each other,” he said.

“This restaurant has been three years in the making. It’s taken this long but it’s good because we’re ready for it and the timing is absolutely perfect for us.”

Mensa will showcase a range of Italian snacks, entrees, and pasta dishes, along with main courses with a “charcoal element”. And you won’t have to go next door for dessert, with several sweet treats also on the menu.

Owners of Mensa, Claudio Ferraro, Zoran Pavlovic and Eugenio Maiale. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Inside new Kent Town restaurant Mensa. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Seating inside new Italian eatery Mensa. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“We won’t be focusing on any particular regions. We’ll be focusing on Italian (cuisine) in general and pulling out the greatest hits whenever we can,” said Mr Maiale.

This includes traditional favourites such as cacio e pepe and amatriciana pasta, and vitello tonnato and zuppa di pesce, just to name a few.

Mr Maiale worked at the old Rigoni’s on Leigh St and launched Auge and Citrus, before moving to Sydney where he’s opened some of the city’s favourite Italian restaurants including A Tavola.

Mensa will open its doors on Friday. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Out the front of new Kent Town restaurant Mensa. Picture: Brenton Edwards

One of the original founders of the hugely successful Cibo brand, Mr Ferraro said the trio were thrilled to finally launch Mensa this weekend.

“There’s a lot of passion, a lot of dedication, a lot of love that we’ve brought to this place,” he said.