Sydney's new Italian eatery aims to transport diners to New York

Sydney has yet another new Italian restaurant - but this one has a point of difference.

Vito's opened last week on Bridge Street, aiming to bring the grandeur of mid-century New York Italian dining to Australia's biggest city. 

Sunday Co. opened Vito's, saying the new restaurant and bar has been inspired by the great dining rooms of mid-century New York. It is located inside the heritage-listed Burns Philp Building at 11 Bridge Street.

Vito’s aims to capture" the nostalgia and grandeur of the Italian-American dining scene". 

The PR blurb says it is "made for long lunches, celebrations or a drink at the bar". 

“Vito’s has been years in the making, and every detail has been meticulously considered,” says Brett Sergeant, managing director, Sunday Co. 

“We set out to create a restaurant that feels like it’s always been here, and the Bridge Street site was a major part of that. 

"After 18 months of planning, designing and building, opening the doors is an incredibly exciting moment for us. Vito’s is the most ambitious thing we have done as a group. We want people to walk through those doors and know they are here to have fun and a memorable experience."

The kitchen is led by executive chef Michael Fox (formerly chef de cuisine at Carbone, Hong Kong). 

The menu centres on handmade pastas, a significant wood-fired grill section and classic desserts by Lauren Eldridge.

"Italian-American food is about generosity and comfort, but there's real precision behind the classics," says Fox. "We've spent months working with the best producers to source exceptional seafood and meat. Every dish on the menu is about respecting the food people know and love, while presenting them with care and refinement."

Menu highlights include: beef carpaccio with truffle and hazelnut; conchiglie with crab and green garlic butter; the Vito’s signature 10-layer lasagne; scampi and scallop crudo with orange and capers; a 1kg Prime Angus Porterhouse with Marsala sauce; and Kinross lamb loin chops with salmoriglio. 

The beverage program has been curated by group head sommelier Antoine Heurtier. The choice features a 400-label wine list showcasing both local and international producers, and there is a "classic" cocktail list. 

Vito’s joins Sunday Co.'s growing portfolio of Sydney CBD venues alongside Whalebridge and Morrison’s Oyster Bar and Grill, with the group set to open its next venue on the former Ursula’s site in Paddington in April 2027.

See Vito’s Sydney

Images: Steven Woodburn