Joe Mammone, the restaurateur behind Sarti and Il Bacaro, has expanded his South Yarra eatery, Bar Carolina, to include a stunning rooftop jazz bar, where swinging sets meet champagne and stuzzichini. Head chef Matthew Tine has put together an impressive line-up of European-inspired eats, many of them one-handed so you can still click along. Here are five to order – the rest you’ll have to improvise.
A riff on Korean fried chicken, Tetto di Carolina’s Italian version is made from 24-hour buttermilk brined chicken, tossed in dried chilli, cayenne pepper, fennel seeds and panko crumbs. It’s served on a milk bun with fennel slaw and housemade pickles.
Not to be confused with a chocolate canoli, this savoury version is made from a brandy snap tuille pumped with a rich tawny port and duck liver parfait. It’s served with a blood orange and Prosecco spritz relish and pistachio crumbs.
Tasmanian mussels are pickled in a scapece sauce then served on a butterbean and sweet vermouth puree with wild rice for texture. It’s served under a cloche, with a heady swirl of pine smoke.
Quails are marinated in sweet paprika, thyme, sage and garlic, then roasted on the skewer. They’re served with a puree of Jerusalem artichokes braised with honey and milk, alongside sweet roasted grapes.
Made from potato dough, these Southern Italian doughnuts are doused in a blood orange and orange blossom syrup and sprinkled in cinnamon sugar and crushed pistachios.
Bar manager Alex Dyzart has put together a sophisticated drinks list where the cocktails steal the show. Highlights include the Wall Street, made from cherry-cooked bourbon, spiced burnt honey and sandalwood, and the Copacabana fizz, which sees aged rum, fig leaf, and clarified almond topped with Prosecco. Champagne will also be a feature, alongside European and Australian wines.
Chris Connell, who also designed Bar Carolina downstairs, has created a European-style piano bar, decked out in deep garnet tones with terrazzo features and generous leather banquettes. The focal piece will be a six-metre bar, made from caramel porcelain tiling and sculptured steel metalwork.
Tetto di Carolina will open July 31 at level 1/48 Toorak Road, South Yarra. Opening hours are Wed 4pm – 11pm, Thu 4pm – 1am, Fri and Sat 12pm – 1am and Sunday 2pm – 11pm. For more details or to book, head to tettodicarolina.com.au.
