Images from Fallon & Co.
If there’s one thing that feeds your soul and makes your palate sing, it’s no-fuss, authentic Italian food and, tucked away in Adelaide’s west, this new kid on the block is serving just that.
Nonna’s Deli on Richmond Road is the latest venture from Francesco Pittelli, the owner behind popular shipping container cafe F93. But where F93 made its name on bold flavour and great coffee, Nonna’s dives deep into his Calabrian heritage, honouring tradition through an offering made with love and inspired by memories.
“Both sides of my family are Calabrian, and food was always at the centre of everything,” explains Francesco.
“Whether we were preserving tomatoes for sugo or roasting capsicum for the week ahead, the process was slow, full of care, and always about feeding others.”
At Nonna’s Deli, that philosophy is folded into every part of the menu. It’s simple, flavourful fare that lets the ingredients do the talking, with just eight panini, four pizza slices, and burrata served three ways.
“Panini were an easy choice. That combo of fresh bread, quality cheese, and salty cured meats, it’s the foundation of so many meals I grew up with. We’ve built eight flavour-packed options around ingredients we genuinely love,” says Francesco.
To entice the palate even more, “There’s one inspired by a Caprese with tomato, balsamic, burrata with a twist of parmesan chips and chilli oil. It’s been flying out the door since day one,” he adds.
The pizza, too, pays homage to the grab-and-go slices that line the streets of Italy. There’s Sopressa with olives, mushrooms and chilli oil, and Capicollo with caramelised onion and burrata, to name a couple.
The burrata bowl is where things get a little more indulgent, something Francesco recalls as a childhood treat.
“Burrata has this creamy, rich texture that always felt like a special occasion in my Nonna’s kitchen. Pair it with rocket, tomato, prosciutto and sticky balsamic, and it’s a classic that never misses.”
An appreciation and replication of Italian food runs deep in the Adelaide hospitality scene, but what makes Nonna’s Deli a standout is its modern spin on the classics. Nonna set the blueprint, but Francesco is giving it some fresh eyes and creativity.
“We’re not afraid to play a little. The foundation is always authentic; the sauces, the way we marinate things, and the slow-roasted vegetables, [then] bringing in things like truffle mayo or crunchy parmesan chips,” he explains.
“[it’s] the way our grandparents would’ve done it, just with a bit of a modern edge.”
As for the public’s response so far, this might just sum it up.
“There was an older gentleman who came in during our first week and said “This place reminds me of the deli my parents ran when I was a kid,” says Francesco. “That’s everything to me.”
In plans for the future, there’s talks of seasonal panini drops, burrata collabs, and maybe even a homemade pasta bar. But for now, the focus is clear – listen to the community, grow in a way that feels authentic, and honour the legacy of the women who started it all.
“My Nonna didn’t need bucket loads of ingredients or complicated recipes. She worked with what she had, made it stretch, and somehow made it taste incredible every single time,” Francesco says.
“It’s about doing it properly, doing it with love, and never forgetting where it all started.”
Open from 6am Monday to Friday, Nonna’s Deli is a great excuse to stretch out your lunch break a little longer. People are encouraged to stay a while and enjoy the casual setting that feels familiar and cosy, and the closest thing to nonna’s kitchen, minus the yelling for not eating enough.
Just don’t tell your Calabrian nonna you’re cheating on her cooking, I certainly won’t be telling mine.
WHAT: Nonna’s Deli
WHERE: 239 Richmond Road, Richmond
WHEN: Monday to Friday, 6am – 2pm
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