It’s the news of your pasta-loving dreams: the hospo group behind Pellegrino 2000, Bistrot 916 and Clam Bar is set to open a new Italian restaurant in the CBD this May.

Neptune’s Grotto will occupy the subterranean space beneath Clam Bar on the corner of Young and Bridge Street in the Sydney CBD. The new restaurant lands amongst Sydney’s most exciting new food precincts, Sydney Place and Quay Quarter, just a stone’s throw from Circular Quay.

The restaurant will be a “love letter to the quiet luxury of northern Italian cooking and hospitality”, serving up regional specialities with a focus on filled and stuffed pastas and slow-cooked sauces. Diners can expect classics like tortellini alla panna, a pasta dish from Emilia-Romagna, made from tortellini with prosciutto and peas in a parmesan cream sauce. If you’ve tried the prawn ravioli at Pellegrino 2000, you’ll know this is something to get excited about.

Chef Dan Pepperell and Mikey Clift will be adding playful twists to northern Italian classics, while group’s sommelier and wine expert Andy Tyson will be in charge of the wine and beverage list.

Neptune’s Grotto will open on the corner of Young and Bridge Street, Sydney (entry via Loftus Lane) in May 2024. Stay tuned for more details.

Related recipes: Host the perfect aperitivo hour with recipes from Pellegrino 2000