Its sister venue, Eccoci, opened last October, and ever since, there have been whispers about the second half of this sibling dining duo by CIBO founder Roberto Cardone.
This week, it’s finally happened, with Eccomi opening its doors to an impressive first-day crowd in the leafy arcade it now calls home, facing the bustling streets of The Parade in Norwood.
“It’s a massive 7.5-metre cabinet full of food, and you can choose what you like from there,” Cardone tells us.
The interior captures the delightful essence of the kind of coffee shop you’d happen upon while staying in a city like Milan. It reminds this writer of sitting at cafes and watching sharply dressed passersby stop for a brisk macchiato, while others sip on wonderfully bitter aperitivos.
The interior is what beckons this comparison. Dark wood panelling adorns the bar’s front, diagonal blue and white squares tile the floor, and most reminiscent of all, bright bottles of wine, Campari, and Aperol neatly line the shelves.
Out the front, round, bright blue bistro tables frame the walkway, to match the venue’s striking vintage-style branding.
“We’re aiming to capture that local Italian neighbourhood bar feel,” he said.
“That sort of tradition where you just come any time of day and have something to eat or drink, whether it’s coffee, a glass of wine, or a full-on main dish or a snack.”
Open from early morning through to evening, Eccomi will operate with a strong grab-and-go with plenty of options freshly made in house.
The selection will span everything from pastries and sweets to substantial meals, including spinach pie, arancini, cannoli, tiramisu, pizza, lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, and meatballs with garlic focaccia.
There will also be a personal touch on the menu, with a dish inspired by Cardone’s family. “My dad’s special chicken and vegetable dish, which is called Frank’s chicken,” Cardone says.
As the day progresses, the focus at Eccomi will shift from coffee and pastries to drinks and casual dining, with a range of spritzes and wines by the glass available, including Ecco Vino Fiano, Rosé, and Shiraz, and Aperol, Campari, Limoncello, and Eccomi spritzes among others.
With seating inside and out, and hours stretching from early morning to late evening, it’s one of those venues you can roll up to any time of day, or if you’re feeling decadent, stay the whole day!
Cardone brings a wealth of experience to Eccomi, most prominently as a founding member of the Cibo empire. He first entered hospitality as a teenager at the iconic Rigoni’s Bistro, which eventually closed its doors in 2019.
Cardone says early feedback from opening has been positive, with the space already very much resonating with customers.
“It’s only the first few hours,” Cardone laughed, as if to say ‘it’s early days’, “but everyone’s loving it so far.”
Eccomi
Where: 161 The Parade, Norwood
When: 7:30am – late Mon – Saturday
8am – 5pm Sunday
For more info, click here.
