Mornington Peninsula gem Mr Vincenzo’s is unveiling a sun-soaked terrace and footpath dining area in time for the festive season, offering a new spot for alfresco dining, spritzes in the sunshine and long lunches overlooking Port Phillip Bay this summer.
The latest installment is the final piece of the puzzle for the restaurant and bar, which reopened in winter following a major renovation.
Located on The Esplanade overlooking Mornington Park, the new-look venue has tripled in size and features a new wine bar area – with its own new menu – as well as a private dining room for special events.
The new front terrace looks out towards a golden stretch of sand, offering a front-row seat to the region’s beautiful seascape and giving both locals and visitors the ultimate reason to linger on the coast this summer. With its olive-green bistro chairs, terracotta-toned tabletops and timber-lined bar, the outdoor space brings a relaxed Mediterranean feel to the waterfront setting, primed for leisurely lunches that roll into the afternoon and balmy evenings spent grazing with a cold glass in hand.
Mr Vincenzo’s ambitious renovation project was the brainchild of co-owners and husband and wife duo Paul Goddard and Lisa Prince, alongside fellow co-owner and head chef Michael Kharsas.
Following a devastating fire that destroyed their former venue Colt Dining in 2023, Goddard said the trio were able to start again thanks to the generous support of the peninsula community.
“This renovation is the realisation of our original dream for the site, where we can be more things to more people,” Goddard says.
“Guests can now enjoy Mr Vincenzo’s in a range of ways, whether that’s a mid-week drink, dinner or a special function.”
The menu is just as lively as it was, with Kharsas and his team using their creative flair to create new dishes each week, sometimes even daily, based on the produce that’s available from the region’s local producers. “The goal has always been to create something people can come back to,” Kharsas said.
“We’re committed to doing the simple things well, because combined, they all add up to a memorable dining experience for our guests.”
The focaccia, pastas and sauces are all made fresh, in-house each day, with ingredients sourced from local suppliers like nearby resident Mary Loucas, who has an acre of land filled with seasonal produce.
Named after Prince’s grandfather and inspired by her Italian heritage, Mr Vincenzo’s menu now has more of a Mediterranean feel, with dishes like prawn tortellini served with bisque, crustacean oil and chervil, crispy porchetta, blue fin tuna tartare with avocado, kohlrabi, citrus and chive, and vanilla panna cotta.
The attention to detail extends to the expansive bar that takes pride of place at the front of the venue too, featuring cocktail ingredients all made from scratch and a carefully curated wine list highlighting bottles from nearby wineries, Italy and France.
The wine bar’s new, ever-changing menu is perfect for spontaneous bites and a glass of something delicious, all of which can be enjoyed inside, on the terrace or from the atmospheric new footpath dining.
Now complete, Mr Vincenzo’s is the ultimate summer destination for sea-breeze lunches and golden-hour spritzes that stretch into the evening, all with the bay as your backdrop.
Visit website for more information or to make a reservation.