Connie’s is on the up and up. Literally.

Next week, Michael and Zara Madrusan are opening an old-school trattoria and rooftop terrace – with room for 100 people – above their rowdy Russell Street bar
Heartbreaker. It’s an extension of their hole-in-the-wall pizzeria, Connie’s, which will remain as is downstairs.

“We had always planned for Connie’s to evolve beyond Heartbreaker’s four walls into its own restaurant, but the right location had never presented itself,” Zara said in a statement. “Michael and I have had our eyes on the space for some time and when it came available, we jumped at the opportunity and immediately started working on the new concept.”

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The couple – who also own the Everleigh and Bar Margaux – will inject some ’80s nostalgia into the renamed Connie’s Italian Diner & Rooftop Terrazza, tapping even further into Michael’s childhood. (The pizzeria was dedicated to – and named after – his beloved nonnina.)

“I have so many great memories of my younger years spent at my family’s Italian restaurants. I wanted the new Connie’s to showcase the best traits of old-school family-run pizzerias,” says Michael. That means chequered tablecloths and plenty of red vinyl.

You’ll also get the al fresco treatment here, with a rooftop terrace overlooking Lonsdale Street; the 30-person space will host “sausage’n’peppers” barbeques on weekends.

Food-wise, as well as the diner’s cheesy “grandma pies”, expect lobster linguine, eggplant parmigiana and tiramisu sundaes.

And the booze list will pull from what the Madrusans already do so well; there’ll be sparkling Everleigh Bottling Co cocktails, wines from Bar Margaux and more.

Connie’s Italian Diner & Rooftop Terrazza is opening upstairs at 234B Russell Street, Melbourne, on Thursday April 21.

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