Sydney Italian restaurant chain Criniti's set to open in Carlton

Carlton’s Italian heritage will get a boost with the arrival of iconic Sydney Italian chain Criniti’s in November.  

Taking over Brunetti’s former site at 198-204 Faraday Street, Property Observer understands that Criniti’s has signed a ten-year lease with a ten-year option to renew.  

When contacted, Colliers International leasing agents Mike Crittenden and Ben Tremellen declined to comment about the details of the lease.  

Criniti’s told former Herald Sun food editor Wendy Hargreaves on Twitter on 21 April that they are moving into the old Brunetti Melbourne site.

At Criniti’s helm is managing director Frank Criniti, whose dream is “to establish a traditional Italian eatery affording people the opportunity to experience authentic Southern Italian food in a restaurant environment”.

They have opened four branches in Sydney, namely in Parramatta, Castle Hill, Darling Harbour, and Woolloomooloo, since their inception in 2003. A fifth restaurant, in Manly, is set to open later this year.  

The restaurant in Faraday Street will be their first Melbourne venture.  

Brunetti’s returned to its former location on 380 Lygon Street in March this year, where it first opened in 1979.  It moved around the corner into two Victorian buildings, 198-204 Faraday Street, in 1985. 

After the Angelé family acquired the café in 1991, they expanded the premises by leasing another building next door, at 194-196 Faraday Street to accommodate a restaurant as well.   Over the years, Brunetti’s has opened several branches around Melbourne, including one at City Square on Swanston Street in the CBD, and another in Camberwell. They have also expanded internationally to Singapore and Dubai.