In moving his beloved Popolo to the city in 2018, Flavio Carnevale has announced that he’ll be returning to his Roman hospitality roots with new restaurant Marta, a traditional cucina Romana that taps into the spirited streets of Rome to create a true neighbourhood osteria.
It will be a move away from the formality of Popolo, opening mid-September with a colour palette inspired by the Italian capital and its dynamic cultural scene. The new space will feature an open-style kitchen and a new bar with high-topped tables and a dedicated spritz drinks list. Melbourne’s DesignOffice have been brought on board to focus on a seamless connection between the indoor and outdoor areas, helped with new feature lighting and various seating styles.
Amphora Wines will be a strong focus for the new restaurant, with each poured from custom handmade terracotta decanters, designed to present the wines in their original element.
Planned for the food menu are traditional dishes including baked baked anchovies with sautéed curly endive, bucatini mussels tomato e pecorino, tonnarelli (thick spaghetti) cacio e pepe, abbacchio alla scottadito (lamb cutlets) and filetti di baccalà (cod fillet). The menu will run alongside a special “Roman week” with daily house specials.
“We are creating a space that has something for everyone – a communal table for big families, intimate tables for couples, a bar area for drop-ins, and a courtyard for those who want to enjoy the sun”, said Flavio. “The diversity is part of Roman culture where it’s common to find a politician beside a student in a neighbourhood osteria”.
Marta
Address: 50 McLachlan Ave, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2010
Hours: Tues-Sat 5:30pm-late; Sunday 9am-late (from mid-September)
Images supplied and credited to Alan Benson.
———-
