Needs to be tasted to be believed
It has been some time between reviews – and in part, that’s by design. The industry has shifted toward fleeting reels and bite-sized TikToks, but I remain steadfast in my approach. I’m a photographer first. For me, dining is a visual and sensory ritual – one that unfolds slowly, frame by frame. Great photography demands presence. It allows you to settle into a dish, to study its composition, its character. I still have much to learn behind the lens, but I know this much: the camera slows you down, and in that slowness, you see more.
But enough about me – let’s talk about Cecilia.
These days, I only write about places I truly love, and that should tell you everything you need to know. Cecilia is marvellous.
I was invited to this gem by the ever-cool crew at Tropicool Life – thank you. For this visit, I brought along the ever-delightful Mrs JWebby (aka KWebby), one of my favourite dining companions. We always eat well together – and quite a bit of it.
The Venue.
Cecilia is nestled at 65 Berry Street, occupying the ground floor of a sleek office high-rise. Yet stepping inside feels less corporate and more akin to entering the lobby of a refined five-star hotel. The space is beautifully composed – expansive, elegant, and surprisingly serene. A grand piano sits opposite the restaurant’s entrance, while the surrounding public area is dotted with greenery and quiet corners to sit, evoking a tranquil spot to pause during a busy workday.
The interior of Cecilia is unapologetically upmarket. This is the kind of setting that lends itself to long lunches for CEOs, power brokers, or anyone who appreciates an elevated dining experience. Rich tones of deep red are echoed through the leather-bound menus, upholstered seats, and patterned flooring. Warm wood panelling, marble detailing, and textured wallpaper complete a space that feels luxurious without being ostentatious – an aesthetic I can only describe as Spooning-approved comfort: inviting, indulgent, and perfectly curated.
The People
Service is another highlight. Every staff member we encountered was Italian – at least those we met – and they embodied that signature Italian hospitality: warm, welcoming, and impossibly generous. As luck would have it, the restaurant was trialling a new menu during our visit, and we were invited to sample a few of the upcoming dishes. My only request? “As long as we can try the lasagna, bring us anything you like,” I said with a grin. I’d been chasing that nostalgic craving for a while, and something about Cecilia told me their version would be steeped in tradition.
What we ordered…
Truthfully, the only dish we formally ordered was the one I had been craving for weeks – the Lasagna “The Classic”, a comforting, layered triumph of pork and beef bolognese, béchamel, mozzarella, and parmesan. The rest? It simply arrived at our table, generously offered by the team as part of their new menu tasting. A delightful surprise.
While I don’t have the exact menu names, I believe we were served:
* Mushroom Arancini, resting on a silky bed of truffle sauce
* Burrata Caprese, paired with heirloom tomatoes, nectarines, and pine nuts – a possible evolution of the dish for the new season
And for mains, in addition to the lasagna:
* A generous seafood pasta, brimming with richness and depth
* A Cacio e Pepe that, quite frankly, blew me away
The Food
Every dish was exceptional. If I had to make one small note, it would be that I personally prefer my Cacio e Pepe served on spaghetti – but that’s a matter of preference, not performance. What was presented was bold and perfectly executed, with the warmth of cracked pepper lifting every mouthful. The most impressive detail? Every single pasta is handmade in-house. While this should be standard in an Italian restaurant, it so often isn’t – and here, it shows.
The arancini was outstanding: crisp, delicate, and rich with umami, while the truffle sauce beneath added a gentle decadence. The burrata caprese was a textural dream, its flavours precisely balanced to elevate, not overpower, the cheese – sun-ripened, sweet, and nutty in all the right ways.
The Food continued.
And then there was the seafood pasta – a dish that stole both our hearts. It’s unapologetically hearty and would shine brightest on a cold winter’s day, but the composition was so masterfully done that we would have happily devoured it in any season. It was here I began to understand Cecilia’s culinary identity: traditional Italian foundations with nuanced, contemporary refinements. It leans toward tradition – and I am completely on board with that.
More Than Just Lunch
Cecilia offers both dine-in and takeaway options, and while a menu refresh is on the horizon, there’s already much to love. Their breakfast menu reads like a dream: a B&E roll, a savoury croissant filled with prosciutto, mozzarella, rocket, and tomato (just thinking of it makes me hungry), avo toast, salmon bruschetta, eggs, granola, and pancakes – an elevated yet approachable morning spread.
The takeaway lunch offering mirrors the dine-in menu with dishes like arancini, tuna tartare, burrata caprese, Melo’s meatballs (a must-try on my next visit), paccheri, pasta alla vodka, porcini risotto, cabbage salad, and a nourishing superfood salad. And of course – the divine lasagna.
Coffee is taken seriously here, with beautifully made café-style espresso offerings, and in a clever move, Cecilia sells house-made pasta sauces directly from a fridge that opens to the foyer of the building – perfect for office workers grabbing something special on their way home. Practical, stylish, and very smart.
In Conclusion
To my knowledge, Cecilia is one of just four Italian restaurants in North Sydney. I can’t speak to the others – nor do I feel compelled to make comparisons – because Cecilia stands confidently on its own. I adored everything about this venue: the food, the service, the setting, the soul.
Currently, Cecilia operates Monday to Friday, serving breakfast and lunch to the weekday crowd. But make no mistake – this space is built for dinner. As the evening light filters through the tall glass exterior, the mood would shift effortlessly into something more intimate, more romantic. And that grand piano, standing quietly in the corner? It’s practically begging to be played as guests linger over wine and tiramisu, sharing stories with loved ones.
That vision may have to wait, at least until more people discover the quiet magic of Cecilia. But believe me…they will.
SCORE BREAKDOWN: 3/3 food, 2/2 service, 1/1 drinks, 1/1 venue & ambience, 1/1 cost, 1/1 toilets & 1/1 bonus
*** Spooning Australia was invited to dine for this meal ***
All photographs are Copyrighted by Spooning Australia and Jason King – please feel free to share with full credit provided.
Cecilia Details
Website – https://cecilia-restaurant.webflow.io/
Phone – 0424 937 990
Address – 65 Berry Street, North Sydney, NSW
Bookings – Recommended but not essential
Pricing – Medium
Opening Hours
Monday – Friday: 7am to 3pm
Saturday – Sunday: Closed
Public Holidays Closed
Vegetarian Options – Limited
Takeaway – Yes
Local Delivery – Unsure
Gluten-Free Options – Limited
Kid Friendly – Yes
The post Cecilia | An Italian Love Letter to North Sydney appeared first on Spooning Australia.
