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South Yarra has a new crush, and she goes by the name of Julietta. From the team behind Mamasita, the new 35-seat trattoria leans into Italy's effortlessly charming energy – with wine by the glass, pasta made on site and a delicious-looking line-up of Negronis. Owner Joss Jenner-Leuthart describes it as the sort of spot you’d happily stumble upon while wandering Milan’s backstreets – and you can consider our interest piqued.
Step inside (just off the lively intersection of Toorak Road and Chambers Street) and you’re met with a nostalgic nod to 1960s and ’70s Italian dining rooms: rustic hand-finished walls, a burnished lime-wash ceiling, vintage brass lighting and plush burgundy banquettes. Shelves are stacked with Italian wines, amaro and house-pickled bits and pieces – a quiet flex that says this kitchen takes its craft seriously, even if the vibe stays relaxed.
Speaking of the kitchen, executive chef Jimmy Garside (whose CV includes Mamasita, Pinco Italo and The Apollo) has built a menu that keeps things tight and thoughtful, with pasta firmly in the spotlight. Everything is made fresh, in-house, daily. You’ll find classics like cacio e pepe (here zhuzhed up with green peppercorns and pecorino fazzoletti), alongside richer plays like a baked vodka number with nduja and stracciatella. There’s a comforting short rib ragu, a housemade sausage tagliatelle and a bright, buttery prawn ravioli.
Before you dive into carbs, there’s also a tidy selection of antipasti: burrata with pine nuts and golden raisin agrodolce, Sicilian crudo, and a roster of veggie-forward plates like whipped ricotta with caponata and potato fritti with saffron aioli. Desserts keep things classic – coffee semifreddo with amaretto caramel, lemon and polenta cake, and a slick chocolate-olive oil-salt combo.
The drinks list follows suit: concise, considered and delightfully Italian. There are 16 wines by the glass, a strong Italian lean across an 80-bottle list, and house pours of pinot grigio and sangiovese grown locally but styled with an Italian accent. Cocktails, curated by award-winning bartender Eduardo Conde, channel retro European glamour – with a dedicated Negroni menu that ranges from a sherry-laced Andalusian twist to a tequila-spiked Guilty Rosita.
Whether you’re looking to drop in for a quick solo pasta and a glass of red or settle into the semi-private dining nook out back, we reckon Julietta is on track to become a new South Yarra go-to.
Julietta officially opens on Thursday, April 30. You can learn more and book over here.
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