Charcoal carbonara is the new black!

A new Italian spaghetti and spritz bar, offering some seriously funky pasta, has opened in Surry Hills.

Mark + Vinny’s is a neighbourhood eatery serving up old-school pasta classics alongside modern and innovative variations such as beetroot spaghettini, blue spirulina tagliatelle and charcoal carbonara.

Culinary co-conspirators Mark Filippelli and Vince Pizzinga have come together with head chef Adrian Jankuloski - ex-Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, North Bondi Italian and The Dolphin - to create this pasta lover’s paradise with a twist!

Filippelli is a law graduate who fell in love with all things hospitality. Mark has owned and operated various venues in Melbourne, including multi-award winning and instafamous plant-based restaurant Matcha Mylkbar, where the world’s first trademarked completely vegan egg was invented, and which has the same protein and amino acid benefit as a traditional egg.

Pizzinga is better known for arranging notes on a score than pappardelle on a plate. In 2002 he co-penned the number one hit song “Innocent Eyes” with one of his best-mates and long-time collaborator Delta Goodrem. In 2003, Vince received two coveted APRA nominations for ‘Song of the Year’ and “Most played Australian Work”.

In 2005 he packed up his cello and moved to Los Angeles where he lived for twelve years composing and producing. While music is where Vince’s heart lies, the art of cooking has always inspired him, and a chance meeting with restaurateur Mark Filippelli in LA saw Vince’s career trajectory take an unexpected turn when the two became best friends, and with the joint creation of Mark + Vinny’s.

Head chef Jankuloski began his culinary rite of passage at just 19 under the masterful wing of Maurizio Terzini at Bondi’s culinary jewel, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar. It was there that Adrian was first introduced to the magic of Italian flavours and cooking traditions.

Following his induction at Icebergs, Adrian moved on to Maurizio’s other Eastern Suburbs mainstay, North Bondi Italian, then in June 2016 the young chef moved on to The Dolphin Hotel as senior sous chef under renowned Monty Koludrovic. After 11 years of learning from some of the best he now brings his talent, inspiration and love of the Italian kitchen to Mark + Vinny’s.

The new venue’s menu evokes the comfort of home cooking, encouraging family style sharing, but with the innovation Filippelli is known for at Matcha in Melbourne. Old-school classics use fresh pasta made both in-house or exclusively by award winning pasta maker Joe Cassaniti of Peppes Pasta, and childhood friend of Vince.

Traditional dishes include cacio e pepe spaghetti with pecorino romano, and modern variations include vegan carbonara made with vegan egg yolk and cured mushroom; and zucchini linguini with chickpea ragu, baby artochoke, avacado velute.

The drinks menu includes about 50 spritz options, with one named after Vince’s close friend Delta Goodrem, The Delta Spritz, and an extensive cocktail selection, wine and beer.

The interior of the restaurant was designed by Vince's sister Mari who is a talented architect. Mari worked in Central Europe for nearly a decade with architects Podrecca, Piechel, Weber, Enwaller. There she gained invaluable experience on high end projects for Stumpf, Bruckberger to name a few. On her return to Australia, she went into private practice designing iconic spaces in Sydney including Barzura waterfront restaurant at Coogee Beach and Dharma Shala yoga School at Bondi Beach.

Mark and Vince had a very specific vision, with their main objective to create a warm and inviting dining room. Mari used her wealth of experience, along with some cool interior touches by Matcha Mylkbar designer Elle Critchely, to create the perfect setting for eating spaghetti and sipping on spritz.

The romance of the old-world meets the blue spirulina of the new at this Surry Hills restaurant, making it a truly unique Sydney venue. Be one of the first to experience the nostalgic and warm Italian hospitality of Mark + Vinny’s, but with their fun and fresh twist!

More info here.