Maurice Terzini’s Italian diner Cicciabella is no longer, with the Parramatta venue closing its doors.

The high-profile, post-Covid opening in 2020 was all about bringing the Bondi vibe to Sydney’s second CBD with woodfired bread and aperitivo snacks, classic pasta dishes and cocktails by Matt Whiley (who has since opened Re bar).

The venue was part of the sleek $3.2 billion Parramatta Square development, which was billed as a new dining precinct for the area. Other tenants include Lilymu, from the Nour team, Betty’s Burgers and Rivareno Gelato.

“There’s not much to say really,” Terzini tells delicious.

“We were in negotiations with the landlord and couldn’t come to an agreement. We enjoyed being there, but moving forward post-Covid we couldn’t come to agreement on commercial terms.”

Terzini says he left on good terms, but restaurants are still being affected post-Covid. In the meantime, he’s putting his energies in his other venues.

Icebergs reopened late last year and Terzini says they’ve never been busier.
He is also opening a bar in Melbourne with bartender Joe Jones, with construction starting this week.

“Icebergs is 10 times busier than what I thought it would be, so I’m focussing on that at the moment,” he says.

“Also, I didn’t expect to get married and that changes everything. My wife’s in Melbourne (Heart of Bone jewellery designer Emma Addams) and we want more of a life. It changes things, I’m thinking about how much time will I spend in Sydney? Will I move to Melbourne?

“I’m learning to focus on the bigger picture at the moment. I want to focus on doing beautiful work with people I admire.

“No one wants a restaurant to close, but I’m focusing on my wins not my losses.”

No word yet on who is taking over the Parramatta site.

Related review: Chill at the bar or splash out on dinner at the newly revamped Icebergs Dining Room and Bar