Delmonte Brings Salumi, Pasta And Wine To The King & Godfree Precinct

Carlton's King & Godfree precinct, home to Johnny's Green Room, Garfield Pizzeria and Pidapipo, has officially welcomed Italian restaurant and wine room Delmonte to its iconic Carlton corner.

Translating to 'from the mountains', Delmonte is an homage to founder Jamie Valmorbida's grandfather Carlo, who was born in Italy's mountainous Veneto region. The menu celebrates simplicity, seasonality and traditional Italian dining, and honours the site's original deli and wine shop roots with salumi, wine and pasta. 

"We've built the sort of place we'd want to go ourselves," Valmorbida says. "Delmonte is Carlton's new local. Somewhere you can come in for one drink and end up staying for dinner." 

Head Chef Diana Desensi (previously of Saint George, Julie and Pt. Leo Estate) is leading the kitchen alongside Executive Chef Mark Glenn (Pialligo Estate).

In a kitchen centred around a wood grill and oven, they're whipping up classic Italian wine bar snacks (think house-made focaccia with whipped cod roe and oysters with house mignonette), pasta made for sharing, and larger plates like pork cotoletta stuffed with ham and fontina and grilled king brown mushrooms with yeast glaze, eggplant and pine nuts.  

For simple snacking and starters, a dedicated salumi and condiments selection (a nod to the site's history) offers mortadella, Wagyu bresola, house-marinated olives, and baked ricotta with gorgonzola dolce and honey. 

To finish, dessert looks like tiramisu, crepes with ricotta, mandarin and grappa, freshly churned gelati and cakes from neighbours Pidapipo. 

"This menu is everything I love about Italian cooking," Desensi says. "Italian food at its best is generous, unpretentious and produce-driven, and that's exactly what we're doing here."

Curated by sommelier and wine maker George McCullough of GUM Wine, the wine list leans Italian, spanning both established and emerging producers, with a particular focus on the Piedmont region. Select drops from the King & Godfree cellar also complement the core selection. 

Delmonte is now open daily from 5pm at 293 Lygon Street, Carlton.

Imagery: Delmonte | Supplied