NOW EXPERIENCING:Bianchetto
Drinks Directory|Bar|Killer cocktails|Melbourne – Inner East

Bianchetto

26-28 Cotham Road, Kew, VIC, 3101
Phone
(03) 9853 6929
Website
misterbianco.com.au
Instagram
@bianchettobar

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 10 Jun 2024

By
Tomas Telegramma

A spread of dishes and drinks at Bianchetto, Melbourne

The Americanos are mixed tableside from a dedicated cocktail trolley and the snacks are Sicilian-inspired at the sexy sibling cocktail bar for Kew’s Italian institution Mister Bianco.

Old Italian films are projected onto the wall at Bianchetto in Melbourne
Why you goVeteran Italian restaurateur Joe Vargetto is back in the bar game. After shifting his locally loved Kew diner Mister Bianco to a bigger, better site on Cotham Road in late 2023, he has further grown his footprint in the east with the opening of sibling cocktail bar, Bianchetto, right next door. The question of where to drink pre- or post-dinner at Mister Bianco is now much easier to answer, but Bianchetto is also a venue well worth visiting in its own right. A gold curtain marks the spot, but what lies inside is far less glitzy. Lighting is as moody and intimate as it can be, with the soaring-ceilinged space only illuminated by tiny table lamps and old-school Italian films projected onto the exposed-brick walls. Sure, the tablecloths are crisp and white, but there’s nothing stuffy about this new neighbourhood haunt where part of the fun is forgetting what time it is. And a top selection of drinks, including zhuzhed-up classic Italian cocktails, complement a snack menu that leans Sicilian. Salute!
Why you stayWhile new, this is one of the best drinking destinations in the area. Kew isn’t flush with late-night joints of this style, so Bianchetto is helping fill a void in the eastern ’burb. As the bar comes into its own, it’s bound to strike a chord with locals who will likely be thrilled to have an excellent new spot to drink – next to an excellent spot to eat.
The Italian-inspired bar Bianchetto is next to Mr Bianco in Melbourne
Cocktails lean Itailan at Bianchetto in Kew
What drink to orderThere’s an undeniably Italian flair to the carefully curated cocktail list here: Marsala (a fortified wine from Sicily) is the star of the Bloody Mary-esque Sicilian Sour, and grappa and amaretto partner with port for the potent A1. And if you’re a sucker for tableside cocktail theatrics, see the “Make it fancy” section below.
What to pair it withAdmittedly – and understandably – the menu at Bianchetto borrows from that of Mister Bianco, under the same roof. But here, it’s all about laid-back Sicilian-inspired snacking, with most dishes served on stainless-steel tableware and designed to be eaten with your hands. There are olives two ways: the Sicilian green variety marinated in vermouth and orange, and ascolana, which means they’re stuffed with ’nduja (a spicy spreadable sausage) before being crumbed and deep-fried. Other bites include oysters with melon granita, house-baked focaccia with beetroot romesco sauce and parmesan olive oil, and golden cubes of potato rosti topped with Italy’s smoky squacquerone cheese and caviar.
Delicious snacks pair well with the drinks at Bianchetto in Melbourne's Kew
Don’t leave withoutA sweet finish. But be warned: the dessert menu is almost as alcoholic as the cocktail list, which – unsurprisingly – it pairs with perfectly. For something fun and fruity, order a Bianchetto-branded box of jellies coated in sugar. For something more decadent, there are cigars – not for smoking, but made of chocolate and infused with whisky. And for something truly Italian, find a take on the traditional Sicilian layer cake cassata that features Neapolitan-coloured gelato (brown, pink, white) spiked with Italy’s bittersweet amaro liqueur.
Vibrant cocktails served at Bianchetto, Melbourne
Make it fancyIf a vibrant red Americano is your cocktail of choice, Bianchetto is speaking your language. It’s the bar’s signature drink, and there’s a shiny cocktail trolley dedicated to it. When you order an Americano, the trolley is wheeled over to you and your cocktail is made tableside, quite theatrically, by your bartender. The recipe bucks tradition slightly – it features the Sicilian amaro Averna, blended with Contratto vermouth and soda – but diehards will certainly not be disappointed.
Who to bringBring a special someone – for a special occasion – because this place has “date night” written all over it. You could easily lose a few hours once you two have cosied into a corner spot, the sips and snacks coming in a steady stream, and the dim lighting setting the mood.
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In partnership with Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
image credits: Arianna Harry Photography; Kristoffer Paulsen
Authour image
Tomas TelegrammaTomas is a food, drinks and culture writer, and former Broadsheet Melbourne editor.
Tags
Drinks DirectoryKiller cocktailsFancy occasionMelbourne – Inner EastMelbourneDate nightBar
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