Meaning grandmother in Latin, Avia is the name of a 60-seat European diner, now open in Darlinghurst. It’s the first venture for hospo mates Stefano Marano and Jack Reid, who met when they worked at Sydney’s Greek diner The Apollo a decade ago. More recently, Marano was on the pans as the executive chef of Le Foote, Time Out’s Restaurant of the Year 2023, while Reid was managing the floors of Melbourne's Supernormal, and Brisbane’s Greca and Yoko. Avia is inspired by Marano’s memories of cooking with his nonna back in Naples, with the duo hoping to evoke the warmth, flavours and generosity found in homes all over Europe.
View this post on Instagram
While the menu mostly showcases the taste of Italy, the guys are also drawing inspiration from Spain and France. You could begin with house-made focaccia with sugo; raw beef with potato chips, parmesan and garum; and octopus with avocado and aioli.
Then there’s pasta, including sedanini trippa alla parmigiana, and bottoni with salted cod, potato and mustard fruit. Mains include things like snapper tail with roast tomato piccante and grapefruit; and house-made sausage with cavolo nero pesto. You could end with a caramel semifreddo with banana and macadamia; or a zesty lemon sorbet drizzled in thyme oil.
Coming with a group, or can’t decide what to order? Go for the chef’s daily set menu, which changes depending on what’s in season or fresh from the markets, for $75 per person.