Restaurateur and celebrated chef, Orazio D’Elia, has announced the next phase of Da Orazio with a new look and feel across the venue’s interiors and menus. The Bondi restaurant has seen a large-scale renovation take place that includes an extension of the main restaurant into the neighbouring space, updated styling and the addition of a private dining room. The updates extend to the food and beverage program with an updated a la carte menu featuring a new. extensive selection of snacks and share plates as well as three new set menus. Much-loved classics, such as the focaccia with porchetta and spicy vodka rigatoni, will remain.
Orazio said “This is the next step in our journey since reopening Da Orazio in 2022, and is something I always envisioned since opening the first Da Orazio in 2014. We have used the past two years to look at what our guests come to Da Orazio for, and are so excited to have more space, a beautiful dining room and so much more to offer on our menus. Going into summer we look forward to hosting everything from long Christmas lunches to date nights, family dinners and private events.”
The updated a la carte menu will take guests on a food journey of Cucina Italiana with expanded entrees and mains sections. A new aperitivo section starts off the menu and will perfectly set the tone for any visit, whether that be a post-work drink and snack, a quick sunny weekend catch up over a cocktail and light meal or a fitting start to an Italian feast. The aperitivo list includes a Rosso Veneziano cocktail (Select red bitter, prosecco veneto, aranciata rossa) alongside snacks such as: maritozzi with wagyu pastrami and pickles; soft brioche roll served with Italian caviar and stracciatella; pane fritto topped with scarlet prawn crudo and lemon mayo; and millefoglie sausages and friarielli.
There are now three set menus on offer;
- Da Orazio Favourites ($85pp, available for regular function reservations), full of Orazio’s classic dishes with highlights including spicy vodka rigatoni, a selection of crowd-favourite pizzas, roasted porchetta and chocolate doughnuts
- Da Orazio Tavolata ($105pp, available for both regular function reservations and PDR bookings) with highlights including Fritto misto with chilli aioli, spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare, charcoal grilled 1kg Bistecca alla Fiorentina and tiramisu
- Da Orazio Dining Room ($145pp, exclusively for PDR reservations). This premium menu features shared starters (including woodfired pan focaccia, veal tartare tonnato and tempura zucchini flowers with smoked fior di latte and Cetara anchovies), individual serve linguine with WA scampi, shared mains (including roasted murray cod, grilled black onyx tomahawk steak and sides), and shared desserts (gelato trio and the signature pistacchio Maritozzo from sister venue Da Orazio Pasticceria)
The space, which has gone from 90 seats to 140, is reminiscent of basking in the glow of an endless Italian summer. With new terracotta flooring, banquette seating along the windows and custom-made tables featuring Italian tiles, the venue is primed for summer dining. The new private dining room is inspired by masserie in Puglia and the feeling that comes from being in a beautiful oasis, far from city chaos and near the water. Complete with terrazzo tiled floor, stylish lighting and blonde wood, the large table will seat groups of 14-20.
The extensive updates also include a refurbishment of the bar, which now stretches an extra three metres and brings the original and new sections of Da Orazio together. Orazio has imported an ice shaver from Japan, with the turquoise machine now sitting pride of place as the centrepiece of the new bar. A selection of frozen cocktails have now been added to the drinks list, including a margarita grattachecca (Italian shaved ice). For those heading in for a quick aperitivo, or some snacks and cocktails ahead of dinner, the Rosso Veneziano (select red bitter, prosecco veneto, aranciata rossa) has the potential to become the drink of Sydney’s summer. The seasoned bar team will serve a range of classic and new age cocktails as well as a list of approachable Italian wines.
To book the PDR or enquire about packages and minimum spend, contact reservations@daorazio.com.au
Da Orazio is open seven nights, from 5pm to late.
Lunch on Saturday and Sunday from midday.
Friday lunch December only
Image credit: Jason Loucas