By Jacqui Bialocki
There’s a new arrival on the Mornington Peninsula, and it’s bringing a taste of southern Italy, a love of the coast, warm hospitality and a big appetite for good times.
After more than six years building a loyal following in Melbourne, Roccella has opened Roccella Lido at the Frankston Yacht Club and will also be bringing its distinctive Italian hospitality to Dromana soon.
For the Roccella team, this isn’t simply a new location. The Peninsula has been woven into their story for generations, from childhood summers at the beach to years supplying local traders. Now they are coming home.
“We look forward to welcoming you to Roccella and sharing our love of Italian food with you,” says Bruno Ceraso, one of the owners. “Come hungry and leave smiling. Buon appetito!”
At Roccella Lido, the inspiration is unmistakably coastal. Drawing on the beach clubs and seaside towns of southern Italy, it is a place designed for long lunches, shared plates, good wine and the kind of afternoons that somehow turn into evenings.
Francesco Crifo, one of the owners of the Roccella group, grew up on the Sicilian coast in Catania and says the concept is deeply personal. “When I think about growing up, a lot of my memories are around the water, summer days at the beach, eating with family and friends, staying out until late and just enjoying being together.”
That sense of relaxed Italian summer living is reflected throughout Lido. It’s relaxed rather than formal, with a setting made for everything from a lazy afternoon by the water to a family celebration, long lunch, wedding, corporate event or night out overlooking the bay. The offering covers cafe, restaurant, deli and an event space like no other.
“We’d love for both venues to be the reason to stop by and spend time in the area,” says Bruno. “Good hospitality brings people together, creates memories along the way and becomes part of the fabric of the surrounding community.”
And that may be Roccella’s most exciting promise of all. It hasn’t simply arrived on the Peninsula to open restaurants; Roccella has come home.
Bookings are now available at www.roccellaitalian.com.au/lido-frankston
