Take it to the east side to discover some tantalising treats marching down The Parade
The Parade has been a well-trodden hub of food for several decades. Myriad offerings make it the perfect melting pot from which foodies can sample. There’s fine dining at arkhé. Steadfast family favourites at Caffe Buongiorno. Takeaway matcha from Argo. Elevated brunch at 30 Acres. You name it, this gateway to the eastern suburbs has it. Here are some new spots that have recently joined The Parade’s celebrated ranks of trendy cafés, buzzing restaurants and stylish bars.
Eccomi
On the corner of Norwood Place, customers can step up to Eccomi’s wood-panelled counter at any time of the day. The laid-back Italian bar and bottega is the latest brainchild from Roberto Cardone; the Cibo co-founder and hospitality veteran has three decades of experience under his belt.
This new offering draws inspiration from Cardone’s southern Italian heritage and is designed to evolve throughout the day, as any good Neapolitan bar would. Customers can start their morning with pastries like sfogliatelle and cannoli alongside exceptional coffee (would you expect anything less from the Italians?). The blend itself is unique to Eccomi, a medium roast with a rich hazelnut and caramel finish.
As the day climbs towards lunch, there are plenty of tavola calda options that lend themselves nicely to a long sit-in or a grab-and-go feed. Fresh focaccia is baked onsite, along with pizza by the slice. Whet your appetite on arancini, or satiate it on a slice of spinach pie, plate of eggplant parmigiana, home-style meatballs or lasagna with ham and egg—another proud nod to Cardone’s southern roots. All of it is proudly on show in the 7.5-metre glass cabinet, a veritable display chest featuring jewels of the edible kind.
At Eccomi, there’s no such thing as an afternoon slump, with the licensed venue offering a range of drinks into the evening, like wines by the glass and aperitivi. Six types of spritz are on the lineup, like Aperol, Limoncello and the self-styled Eccomi. Come along for a mid-week tipple or weekend drinks with mates.
In true Mediterranean style, the venue offers a range of alfresco and indoor seating. Settle inside at a booth, or outdoors at a bright blue table, facing the bustling Parade or the leafy arcade. The colour of the branding is another Neapolitan hark-back, sharing its shade with the Napoli soccer team.
You can find Eccomi at the entrance to Norwood Place, on the former Cibo site: a full-circle moment that satisfies both hearts and appetites.
161 The Parade, Norwood
Somma
For twin brothers Savvas and Sotiri Vassiliou, SOMMA is the natural result of a life spent surrounded by food and family.
The restaurant and bar are elegantly and thoughtfully outfitted, a labour of love that took the twins over a year to design. Personal touches, like pottery from their grandparents’ Cypriot village, are dotted throughout. There is meaning and consideration behind all of it.
Despite its stylishness, the venue stands on the opposite gulf to pretentious hosting. The experience of dining there is more akin to being welcomed into a Greek village and thoroughly taken care of: in other words, being fed and watered extremely well.
SOMMA is spacious but maintains the feel of intimate dining. It’s a space—and menu—best shared. Platters, dips, seafood and charcoal-fired cooking are in heavy rotation. Comfortingly, many dishes are adapted straight from the family archives, but with a contemporary take from experienced chefs.
As with any good Greek sweet treat, their dessert menu features dosings of honey, filo and custard you could go head-first into. Galaktoboureko, baklava and kataifi punctuate the night with just the right amount of indulgence.
Their expansive bar grounds the venue and provides a convenient landing place for your entire weekend. The bar stays open late on Saturdays and Sundays, if you fancy skipping dinner and going straight for an evening cocktail.
Much like the owners, the menu and drinks list are twin heroes to SOMMA. The latter is thoroughly considered, with local producers in prime position, as well as those from further afield, like Greece and France. The cocktails also carry Grecian flavours to your palate, lifted straight from some well-fated Mediterranean breeze.
Get ready to spend an early evening or a late night at SOMMA. It’s like pulling up a chair at your adoptive papou and yiayia’s.
125A The Parade, Norwood
San Churro
San Churro have recently opened up their fourth South Australian store, bringing delicious Spanish desserts and organic, fair-trade coffee to The Parade. Unsurprisingly, they’re best known for their eponymous, golden churros, made fresh in store each day from a traditional recipe, then fried to crispy perfection and rolled in cinnamon sugar. They’re perfect for pairing with a variety of dipping sauces and toppings, from classic milk chocolate to dulce de leche, strawberries to pretzels. The fan-favourite treat is also suitable for vegans.
They don’t just do churros, either—though their filled churros and churro pops on a stick are a firm favourite. Warm your palms on a mug of their flavoured hot chocolates: think hazelnut, cookie butter and spicy Azteca. Let your head be turned by their other sweet treats, like brownies, lava cakes and gelato. Grab a grazing box or snack pack to go for a super-sweet night in. If you’re in need of a last-minute gift, choose from a box of couverture chocolates or selection of macarons.
The popular dessert destination is ideal for afternoon pick-me-ups or delicious dates with friends, but if you’re in need of something more savoury or substantial, they also offer gourmet toasties or tapas, like mozzarella sticks and jalapeño cheesy bites. They’re open from 9am to 10pm every day, so everything from coffee catch-ups through to late-night cravings are easily satisfied.
G-02/120 The Parade, Norwood
South Australian Style Magazine 