Image: Artist impression of Ciao Bella cafe.
Adelaide’s east is set to welcome a brand new cafe with the opening of Ciao Bella Panini and Cucina in Kensington Park, expected for mid-June. The charming new spot promises to showcase traditional Italian-style paninis, and bring a warm, inviting atmosphere to the neighbourhood.
Ciao Bella will offer Italian dishes and classic breakfast options, but the true star of the show will be their epic paninis. Made from scratch in traditional Italian-style, these paninis will be prepared right in front of diners, providing a truly authentic experience.
“There is a place in Italy where they are well-known for it all over the world,” Owner Pasquale Catazariti says.
“There’s just a huge line up of people, and tourists, lining up for hours to get these rolls where they slice the meat and make it in front of you, on the spot, while you wait.”
Ciao Bella’s dedication to freshness means nothing will be pre-made, or refrigerated. Instead, meats like prosciutto and ham will be sliced fresh, and paninis will be made right before your eyes.
“We want to be different like that, we want to actually make them while people watch us. They are cooked with a lot of love,” Pasquale says.
Owner Pasquale and his wife originally owned another cafe, The Garden Cafe, before they decided to open Ciao Bella, but they sold it when Pasquale’s wife fell pregnant. The couple had a baby girl, so when debating on a name for the cafe, they chose ‘Ciao Bella’ as tribute to their daughter.
Previously, Pasquale and his wife successfully ran The Garden Cafe, a well-loved venue that survived the challenges of COVID-19 thanks to its loyal customer base and its popular food. They are aiming to bring the same dedication and passion to Ciao Bella, but with a more focused and refined menu.
Drawing on their experience from The Garden Cafe, where even the bread crumbs for schnitzels were made from scratch, Pasquale and his team are confident in Ciao Bella’s potential.
“People used to say ours [The Garden Cafe’s] was the best steak sandwich they had ever had in their life,” Pasquale says.
While The Garden Cafe offered a wide variety of dishes, including both Vietnamese and Italian cuisine, Ciao Bella will focus on doing simple, well.
A standout feature of the cafe will be its coffee, prepared by a barista who has been in game for 30 years, and featuring an incredible brand. After much convincing, they secured a partnership with Will & Co, a well-known coffee brand originally from Bondi, known for its quality and great taste.
“There was a bit of convincing because they have a specific cliente they are looking for,” Pasquale says.
“We are the only one in the eastern suburbs that have it, at the moment.”
While it is taking a little longer than expected for Ciao Bella to open, the community is assured that good things take time. The cafe promises a simple, clean, and neutral vibe where the focus is on the food. As mid-June approaches, keep your eyes peeled for the grand opening of this neighbourhood gem… Ciao Bella!
What: Ciao Bella cafe
Where: Shop 2, 400 Magill Road, Kensington Park
When: Opening mid-June
For more information (coming soon), click here.
More News
