De Nicolos Italian restaurant to open at Marco Polo hotel, Mackay

Offering classic Northern Italian dishes rich in flavour but surprisingly simple, they’re also bringing a touch of North Queensland to the table with a bundy-rum twist tiramisu. See what’s on the menu.

A classy North Italian inspired experience is coming to the Mackay dining scene as the founders set down roots in a Nebo Rd hotel.

De Nicolos, hosted in Marco Polo hotel, is run by chef Mark Collings and Katie Grigg who moved here four years ago.

Some of the restaurants tables have a great view of the pool. Photo: Fergus Gregg

“As soon as we came in we loved the venue,” Mr Collings said.

“We loved the old world sort of feel.

“Two months later we’re less than 24 hours away from welcoming our first guests.”

Named after his mother's maiden name, De Nicolos was inspired by his Italian heritage and the small town 100km north of Venice his family lived in before New Zealand, and Australia.

“There’s a strong connection to food in our families,” Mr Collings said.

A picture of Mark's Italian grandparents Oscar and Rita sits at the front counter of the restaurant. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Since moving to Mackay Mr Collings has worked as the executive chef at the Rydges, but he and Katie leapt at the opportunity to run their own restaurant once they learned that the Marco Polo Hotel space was available for lease.

“Let’s crack out on our own and see what’s going on,” he said.

The menu will focus on a heartier style of cooking favoured in Northern Italy as opposed to the more tomato based dishes of the south.

The pappardelle ragu is a great an example, favouring a rich meat sauce over a Neapolitan style.

“It’s simple, it’s clean, it’s everything that Italian food is supposed to be,” he said.

De Nicolo's cabrese is light and delicious and pairs particularly well with their homemade focaccia sourdough. Photo: Fergus Gregg

For Mark, his favourite dish on the menu is the three cheese ravioli, which he makes from hand, while Katie recommends the tiramisu.

“You can’t go wrong with tiramisu,” Ms Grigg said.

“We used to have it every year at Christmas.

De Nicolos’ tiramisu uses three shots of coffee, powdered malt milk and some Bundy rum to add a North Queensland twist on a classic Italian dish.

“Hopefully it’ll be something everybody knows and loves,” Mr Collings said.

Mark has decorated the restaurant centrepiece with his own cookbooks and paintings of his grandmothers village in Northern Italy. Photo: Fergus Gregg

They source ingredients from local farmers that Mark has a personal connection to: beef chuck from a friend, tomatoes from a local grower and their own 6-year-old sourdough starter to bake their signature sourdough focaccia.

“We want people to feel like this is a home away from home and just super comfortable,” Ms Grigg said.

“This restaurant is an extension of our dining room,” Mr Collings said.

“I just want to cook really simple, really good food and do it really well.

“This is our house.”

Mark and Katie are opening their doors to friends and family for a few nights in the lead up to the grand opening on July 17.

Originally published as De Nicolos Italian restaurant to open at Marco Polo hotel, Mackay