After Mitch Orr closed ACME, there was a lot of chatter about the next project the chef would take on, but it didn’t take long for him to announce he had joined Maurice Terzini’s Icebergs group to spearhead CicciaBella.
Described as an Italian Osteria, the venue has taken the place of Da Orazio in Bondi, which Terzini says marked “the first time in my career we are closing a very successful gig to start another”.
While Orr’s baloney sandwich and revolving Jatz snack plates have been retired, CicciaBella offers an antipasti menu held down by a wood-fired garlic pizza fritta designed to team with bone marrow and gremolata, blistered cherry tomatoes or smoky eggplant.
The rest of the menu follows seasonal pasta dishes such as strozzapreti with zucchini flowers and pangrattato, seafood-leaning mains and a tight pizzetta collection which takes cues from Terzini’s childhood.
Icebergs wine director and sommelier James Hird has designed the wine list which focuses on organic, biodynamic and sustainable varieties, but most importantly, “these are wines to eat with,” says Hird.
CicciaBella is open for dinner Monday to Friday and for lunch and inner Saturday and Sunday.