Cinque Terre by David Mackintosh, Joseph Vargetto opens at The Social Quarter Chadstone

An Italian Riviera inspired eatery will be the first of many new restaurants to open at Chadstone’s new luxe foodie hub— which will also feature a bar, brewery and gelateria.

Take a trip to Italy via Chadstone this summer.

Cinque Terre, the new restaurant by hospo player David Mackintosh and Sicilian chef Joey Vargetto will be the first to open in The Social Quarter; the shopping centre’s new luxe food and entertainment precinct.

Mackintosh said the 160-seater was inspired by the Italian Riviera coastline of the same name and would challenge the perception of shopping centre dining.

“I have this building respect of what Chadstone does in its pursuit of a high standard,” he said.

“These last couple of years have seen a dramatic shift in what it means to have a business in the CBD. It’s a changed environment, the culture is now different and what Chadstone is doing is providing more and more reasons to spend time here.”

Maurizio Esposito (ex-Stokehouse, Cecconi’s) has come on as head chef and will hone in on the regional delicacies such as pesto, Ligurian focaccia and ravioli.

Joey Vargetto and David Mackintosh will open their new Italian restaurant Cinque Terre at Chadstone’s luxe foodie hub The Social Quarter. Picture: David Caird

“There’ll be antipasto, snapper crudo, Maurice’s famous quail, a pasta and risotto section, pesto-based pastas with Genoese pesto made with fresh basil,” Mackintosh said.

“We’ll have pizzas, three or four red based and three or four white, cooked in our wooden gas fire oven.”

Unlike other restaurants on Chadstone’s premium dining level, Cinque Terre will have its own separate entrance via The Social Quarter.

Italian and local Italian inspired wines and spritzers will be on rotation, with an all-weather terrace boasting city skyline views.

UA Brewery, Cityfields and White and Wongs will also open in The Social Quarter next year.

Mackintosh is the founder of mega-successful Spanish restaurant chain Movida and owner of Melbourne venues Lee Ho Fook, Ides and pizzeria SPQR.

Vargetto is the executive chef and owner of Kew’s Mister Bianco, former CBD fave Massi and earlier this year abruptly closed his new venue Cucina Povera Vino Vero after a public fallout with business partner Maurice Terzini.

Cinque Terre, Social Quarter, Chadstone Shopping Centre, open daily from December 5.

Pawa opens at Arts Centre

Niyoka Bundle and head chef husband Vincent Manning will open Pawa Cafe and Bar at the Arts Centre. Picture: David Caird

Catering queen Niyoka Bundle is opening her first venue, an Indigenous-inspired eatery, at the Arts Centre next month.

Pawa Cafe and Bar will move into the old Bombini Buzz site next to Sake on Southgate Promenade, selling coffee, cake, snacks and drinks spiked with native ingredients.

The Gunditjmara and Yuin woman, and her chef husband Vincent Manning had engaged with the Arts Centre about opening a venue before Melbourne’s first lockdown.

While waiting in the wings, the duo continued to work on their Pawa Catering business and also launched booze brand Taka Gin last year.

After two long years, Bundle said she was excited to get the show on the road.

“It’s exciting and a venue Melbourne needs,” she said.

“It’ll be the type of place you can go in for a coffee and slice, or pre-drinks on a Friday or Saturday night before moving on to the next place.”

Pawa doesn’t have an on-site kitchen and will instead rely on meals and snacks prepared at the couple’s West Footscray commercial base.

“There’ll be cheese platters, with cheese infused with native ingredients, as well as charcuterie platters, kangaroo pies, sweets and muffins,” Bundle said.

Cool treats will also be on hand for the kids, with Bundle serving a special Timboon Ice Creamery ice cream made with native ingredients grown on the land of the Gunditjmara people in southwest Victoria.

Pawa Cafe and Bar will soft launch early December.