Enticing new eating experience

HOUSE-BAKED WITH LOVE… Shepparton’s new Monichino Café & Wine Bar restaurant owner, Carlie Monichino. Photo: Katelyn Morse.
HOUSE-BAKED WITH LOVE… Shepparton’s new Monichino Café & Wine Bar restaurant owner, Carlie Monichino. Photo: Katelyn Morse.
HOUSE-BAKED WITH LOVE… Shepparton’s new Monichino Café & Wine Bar restaurant owner, Carlie Monichino. Photo: Katelyn Morse.
HOUSE-BAKED WITH LOVE… Shepparton’s new Monichino Café & Wine Bar restaurant owner, Carlie Monichino. Photo: Katelyn Morse.

THERE’S an exciting ambience; I can feel it bouncing off the exposed brick walls. Everything has a warm, shiny feel and the gorgeous wooden tables glow. The aroma of coffee and bread fills the air and the staff are beaming with wide-eyed enthusiasm.

Welcome to the new Monichino Café & Wine Bar; an inspiring spot for food, wine and coffee in Shepparton.

Local chefs, Carlie Monichino and Ryan Gibson are bringing their uniquely European approach to food to Shepparton. It’s a point of difference that Monichino Café & Wine Bar prides itself on and they have created a relaxed, food-and-drink-all-day attitude.

Specialising in share boards and small plates, Carlie and Ryan want to emphasise that eating should be a memorable and shared experience, something life-affirming to enjoy with company. The menu also has bigger meals for those unwilling to share and their chicken burger is already hugely popular, and to be honest, it sounds amazing.

Carlie explains that the new restaurant is wholly indebted to her family, particularly her Nonno, renowned local winemaker, Carlo Monichino. Carlo started Monichino Wines at his property in Katunga back in 1962 and the business remains proudly family-owned to this day. Old photos of Carlo Monichino adorn the walls of the new restaurant and helps give the space its warm, homely feel.

Further, Carlie’s father, Phillip Monichino deserves a mention for his relentless assistance in renovating the building. His handy carpentry brings so much flavour and jazz to the café.

Food and drink flows through the blood of the Monichino family like a fine red wine and this new venture carries on a long-lasting legacy left by local vigneron. This passionate energy has been passed down for generations and you can see the excitement in Carlie and Ryan’s eyes when they speak of their dream.

“All of our food is house-baked with love and we just want to take food back to basics,” Carlie said.

“We believe simplest and freshest is best and we treat our produce with respect.

“Everything on the menu, besides alcohol, is available for takeaway. Otherwise, you can just laze the day away with one of our share boards.”

The new Monichino Café & Wine Bar is open for breakfast and lunch Monday to Saturday and for dinner Thursday to Saturday. For more information, visit the restaurant at 247 Wyndham Street or give the team a call on 5858 4834.