Bernardi’s is a concept by Gabriel and Marcello Bernardi, who were both born and raised in Melbourne. It will operate from a restored Victorian building on the corner of Seymour Place and Seymour Street.
The ground floor will feature a casual Italian menu alongside classic Italian cocktails, fine wines, Proseccos and beers. It will include a dining bar area, with table seating for 80 guests and outdoor dining during warmer months.
With space for 40, the lower ground floor will have a more relaxed living room style interior, with comfy armchairs and low lighting designed to create an atmosphere for evening cocktails and sharing plates.
According to the brothers, Bernardi’s will serve seasonal, authentic and unfussy modern Italian food using local British ingredients where possible but with authentic olive oils, vinegars, cheese and dry cured meats sourced from the appropriate regions of Italy.
Chicheti kitchen
The ground floor is to showcase a working chicheti kitchen and oven for porchetta roasts, pizzete and piadini. Chicheti are small snacks or side dishes, typically served in traditional ‘bàcari’ bars in Venice.
The brothers added that they will bring an antipodean approach to Italian cooking, claiming that Bernardi’s is inspired by the Melbourne food revolution of the 90s and 00s – where second-generation immigrant chefs began producing authentic, simple Italian food in the city’s restaurants.
Bernardi’s will be open for lunch and dinner from July. It will also offer breakfast starting in the autumn.
The Bernardi brothers have been part of the London hospitality scene for more than 10 years, and were known for playing a role in the establishment of the Cubitt House group.