Connie's Italian Diner & Rooftop Terrazza
Connie's Diner is a haven for deep pan pizza and Italian comfort food in the Melbourne CBD. We recently visited for a late night pizza and wine fix and we were not disappointed.
The Pepperoni deep pan pizza is one of the most popular pizzas at Connie's and it was rewarding in every way. A mouthful of pepperoni cheesy bliss.
Named after Michael’s beloved Nonna Connie, the New York-inspired slice joint, Connie’s Pizza originally launched as a hole-in-the-wall in 2017 within Made in the Shade’s iconic rock ‘n’ roll bar, Heartbreaker. Now with an ambitious space directly above Heartbreaker, Connie’s has expanded into a standalone modern 100-seat trattoria, showcasing traditional dishes inspired by Michael’s memories of growing up in his family’s Italian restaurants.
Head chef Matteo D’Elia, whose experience includes working at Michelin starred restaurants including Galvin at Windows (London) and Bibendum (London), has joined Connie’s and works closely with Michael to create a menu that highlights both of their Italian heritage through traditional dishes as well as Connie’s famous Grandma-style pizzas. The drinks program, as expected, is carefully considered, maintaining Made in the Shade’s dedication to producing quality drinks.
Michael says, “The Connie’s concept is grounded in a love of traditional home cooking and a feel-good, warm and welcoming atmosphere, an inspiration of mine from growing up in an Italian family where generosity and food is what brings everyone together. I love that we can give Connie’s its own space and brand finally, and showcase something super close to my heart. There’ll be delicious food and drinks, great music and a gorgeous rooftop overlooking this incredible city, from early afternoon till late at night.”
Zara adds, “Connie’s is a modern trattoria and we’ve created a space that caters to all, from family dining early evening through to late night good times on the dance floor. The menu showcases Matteo’s excellent take on classic Italian cuisine and as with all our venues, we’re providing world class cocktails to complement the food.”
The a la carte menu features dishes such as veal tonnato, lobster linguine, eggplant parmigiana; Sunday Sauce – a Sunday ragu, served family-style; Connie’s famous Grandma-style pizzas; a selection of salads; and a tiramisu-based sundae.
With views across the rooftops of the CBD, the sun-drenched rooftop terrazza includes bench seating, festoon lighting and lush, leafy surrounds. This space offers table service, drinks from the main bar and the full menu available to guests. Guests dining on the terrazza also enjoy Italian sausage and peppers from the alfresco BBQ menu every weekend. The terrazza is the perfect spot for an afternoon aperitif or dinner under the stars - walk-ins encouraged.
Connie’s venue manager and seasoned hospitality professional, Manny Platsis leads Connie’s alongside Matteo having held management roles at TYCA Bar Group, Kisume and most recently, Rice Paper Scissors Group.
Encapsulating the vibe and energy of the venue, Michael’s drinks program features classic and sparkling cocktails by the bottle and on-tap. Bar Margaux’s sommelier, Tom Smith, has also curated a considered list of Italian wines (by the glass and bottle).
“Our venues are renowned for the quality of their drinks and Connie’s is no different. We’ve created a drinks list that plays into the fun that is Connie’s while also having the credentials of a great bar”, notes Michael.
“Whether you’re looking for something more refined like a Negroni or something lively like a pitcher f Fruit Cup; whether it’s one at the bar with some antipasti, or a few rounds with dinner in a booth, you can be assured there’ll be a killer drinks list to suit all tastes.”
Connie’s interior draws inspiration from traditional New York Italian diners, with red vinyl booths, red and white chequered tablecloths, lazy susans (a tribute to Chinatown) and Tiffany leadlight pendants. Plus striking red and black diamond tiles across the 7 -seater bar. Other distinct features include framed nostalgic pop culture icons, a tropical fish tank and a projection of classic Italian black and white sitcoms on the dining room wall.