Popular Italian restaurant CLOSES to open bigger venue

Bad news first. After 11 years, Cecchi’s Bar and Restaurant has closed its doors at 965 Beaufort Street, Bedford.

Now, the good news. The popular Italian family restaurant run by Mark and Kylee-Anne Cecchi is jumping across the road to a much larger venue at 1000 Beaufort Street.

Due to officially open on July 1 but already serving classic Italian dishes, the new location on the corner of Beaufort and Nelson streets — previously modern Australian restaurant, Chef & Co. — has more space inside and out, and will be open six days a week, Monday to Saturday from 4pm.

“We now have a bar at the centre of the restaurant, a huge kitchen and brand new wood-fired pizza oven from Italy,” Mark recently told The West Australian.

“Plenty more room will allow us to expand the menu and the offering.

“We also have a fantastic alfresco area thanks to the support from the City of Bayswater, which assisted with funding.”

The Cecchis took over the old De Bruno’s site when they were just 20 years old after cutting their teeth at the family business, Savini Caffe Pizzeria, on Walcott Street.

While the restaurant has prime location in the new site, there are plans to turn the original building into a function and wedding space.

Cecchi’s is best known for unfussy Italian fare, ranging from pizzas and pasta to a charcuterie board and steak tagliata.

“We can’t wait to welcome you into our new space,” Mark and Kylee-Anne Cecchi wrote on their official Facebook page accompanied by photos of staff and their four young children.

Plenty more room will allow us to expand the menu and the offering.

“A special thank you to all our amazing patrons for your incredible support.

“We truly could not be making the move without you.

“It’s hard to believe we opened this space when we were 20 years old,” they added. “Now look at us.”

In addition to opening the new-look Cecchi’s at 1000 Beaufort Street, the couple now have four young children.

“I grew up in our family restaurant and there’s always been kids around,” said Mark, adding that they have “very supportive” families and live near the venues.

“It’s always been fast-paced growing up in a hospitality family, so it’s only natural to have our little ones around.”