Alex Gavioli’s motto is “drink your good wines”. For the restaurateur, hospitality doesn’t need ego, pomp or rehearsed scripts to be artful – it just needs to be real. His focus is on delivering true enjoyment through delicious food, staff with personality, an elegant environment and an accessible pricepoint. That’s the mindset at Don’s, the venue Gavioli opened in 2022 that quickly became a Prahran favourite thanks to its approachable wine list, easy dishes and its dinner party feel.

Now, Gavioli and his wife Sarah Freudendal are getting ready their first restaurant, Cordelia. It will be located in a corner building on the same Rathdowne Street block as Hot-Listed Bar Bellamy and its sibling venue, Melitta Next Door.

Cordelia’s menu will be anchored in sustainable seafood, and Gavioli and chef Josh Norris (currently at Don’s) are working closely with Good Fish, an independent group that works with the Australian Marine Conservation Society and venues including Attica and Hot-Listed Brae, to help restaurants source sustainable seafood. The menu will be flexible to showcase the catch of the day or a lesser-known species – whatever the most eco-friendly choice is. Other proteins will also be consciously sourced, with pork purchased from Brooklands Free Range Farms at Carlton Farmers Market.

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While there will be no set menu per se, the offering – which will also include pastas and raw dishes – will be curated to intuitively encourage certain pairings of entrees and mains. Gavioli says the wine and cocktail list, like at Don’s, will be sophisticated yet unpretentious.

The space, fitted out by Freudendal, an interior designer, and builder Julian Ross of Bush Built, will have a Scandinavian-inspired sleekness. The aim is to create a relaxing, slightly minimalist space, where clean finishes are balanced by luscious timber seating, and industrial stainless steel is offset by warm lighting, large windows and touches of celadon. With the outdoor area, up to 80 patrons can be seated at once.

A spiral staircase leads to the cellar – which seats just under 10 people – where diners can begin or end their meal with an intimate cocktail. Cordelia will open for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday and will be walk-ins only, except for tables of six or more.

Cordelia will open at 180 Rathdowne Street, Carlton in early May.

@cordelia.carlton