Bondi locals are about to welcome back beloved pizza and porchetta restaurant Da Orazio tomorrow.

Restaurateur Orazio D’Elia is swinging open the doors to the Italian eatery at the original The Hub Hall Street digs, as well as a new sidebar next door, Orazietto.

Orazio and Bondi restaurateur Maurice Terzini launched the restaurant back in 2013, with Orazio later parting ways with his namesake diner to embark on new projects, ushering in the birth of Terzini’s CicciaBella restaurants. But a burning desire for a homecoming saw Orazio snap up the site last year. 

“In Italian we say, ‘il primo amore non si scorda mai’ which means the first love you never forget,” says Orazio. 

“Da Orazio was my first born, my first love, so to be able to bring the venue back to life means so much to me and my team. I can’t wait for all our Da Orazio friends to return, and welcome new friends.”

The menu will feature favourites from Orazio’s original tenure, but reimagined for Bondi in 2022: think lighter, slow-fermented pizza dough and a buzzy snack list including fried pizza, mortadella cacio e pepe and an Italian take on saganaki. Fear not, for the rotisserie porchetta with focaccia and fregola fruit di mare are also returning. Phew.

“Adapting the biga [pre-ferment] technique to the pizza dough, produces a lighter and more digestible dough,” says Orazio. “The temperature of the water is also fundamental, to ensure the tenacity of the dough even if it has a very high hydro.”

Wines will be dominated by Italian and French by-the-glass, carafe or bottle options. The much-loved MT8 cocktail (vodka, Campari, ruby red grapefruit) has been reincarnated, along with a new Margaritas three ways.

Orazio enlisted Surry Hills’ Loopcreative to strip back the 90-seat restaurant to bare bones and breathe Mediterranean summer vibes into the space via custom-made furniture featuring Italian tiles, and handmade terracotta lighting. 

The 40-pax Orazietto next door is a walk-ins-only extension of Da Orazio, aimed at providing a pre-dining drink space, with the option of ordering off the main menu. 

Da Orazio is open seven nights, from 5pm to late. Lunch on weekends from midday. Visit www.daorazio.com.au for more.