New Italian restaurant opening soon

Si Baby Italian restaurant is taking shape at Newport Marketplace and is expected to open in the coming weeks.

Excitement is building as construction ramps up and the vision for new dining destination comes to life.

Moreton Daily met General Manager Francesco Motta onsite yesterday for a sneak peek at the restaurant and to find out what diners can expect when it opens in early December.

Si Baby, or Yes Baby, overlooks the canal and will have a dynamic vibe in a relaxed, yet stylish setting where diners can feel as though they’re part of the action while chefs create Italian cuisine of the highest standard and bartenders shake mouth-watering cocktails.

“We’re going straight for a nice, authentic Italian and our focus point is going to be our pizza. There is a lot of magic that is going to happen in our Marana Forni wood-fired oven,” he says.

“I think Newport, besides obviously being such as amazing waterfront site, there isn’t much around.

“I think there is space for us to bring something new to the area and really raise the bar.”

What diners can expect

So, is it casual dining, high-end or somewhere in between?

“I would say somewhere in between. We’re going for an amazing look and the view is amazing as well, but we still want to have a casual approach. We want this place to become a place where the locals can come anytime, any day,” Francesco explains.

“That’s our main philosophy.”

Jobs on offer

Francesco is busy recruiting staff: “We’re looking for all positions and all backgrounds and experience. We’re looking for pizza chefs, sous chefs, waiters, bartenders, baristas for our growing team.

“We have a really good, strong core team but we need more people to join us because we want to really offer the best we possibly can.”

Si Baby will be open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner service, so there is flexibility for staff.

For more information or to apply, email your resume to [email protected]

Excitement builds

Si Baby is starting to take shape and Francesco says it is now a sprint to the finish line.

“I’m super excited. I think the branding is spot on. The name is really appealing as well, Si Baby (Yes Baby). It’s catchy,” he says.

“What I like about this project is that we’re taking no shortcuts when it comes to the food quality. We’re going all-in to deliver the best possible food, the best possible drinks.

“That’s really exciting because in the restaurant industry sometimes when you go into commercial businesses, you look at your margins, you look at profits, you look at a lot of different things to make your product. Here, we’re not taking shortcuts. We’re going straight for the best.”

For Francesco, who has worked in hospitality for 14 years in places such as Italy, London, Dubai and Sydney, this is the most exciting aspect.

“That’s the best possible work environment you can possibly have because it’s about your passion. You become proud of what you’re doing,” he says.

Moreton Daily will take you on a tour of the restaurant before it opens … stay tuned.

For more information about Si Baby, check it out on Facebook or Instagram