Chiara.

By Claire Sullivan

This opulent Italian eatery is reviving the classics with restraint and refinement.

Chiara
705a Collins Street
Docklands
www.chiara.net.au

Having wowed legions of patrons during its anticipated opening month, Chiara, Melbourne’s newest Italian eatery is a must visit on your next trip across the Tasman. The brainchild of Gavin Baker (of The Fat Duck fame) and Pete Evans (known for his role as judge on My Kitchen Rules), the restaurant was established with the objective of permanence. Boasting a warm, softly lit interior crafted in wood, copper and accented with marble, Chiara’s traditional Italian fare is given a novel perspective by Chef George Fowler (formerly of London’s Pollen Street Special) who revives the classic with restraint and refinement. Pasta is handmade in-house daily, and includes everything from fettuccine, conchiglie, rigatoni and casarecce, while dishes like the kingfish carpaccio provide a fresh, contemporary alternative. The menu coincides beautifully with the inviting surrounds that herald Chiara’s laudable regional flavours, from Piedmont to Sardinia.