Cooking classes, cheese wheels and community – Enzo’s Cucina opens in Carrara
There’s a quiet buzz surrounding the suburb of Carrara of late. The latest arrival to pique the interest of foodies is Enzo’s Cucina, which marks the brand’s fourth Gold Coast venue and the eighteenth across Australia. The new venue offers the polish of a well-honed restaurant empire, offering modern Australian Italian dishes rooted in Southern Italian heritage, inventive dining experiences all delivered with the passion and consistency that have made Enzo’s a recognisable name in hospitality.
Although Enzo’s Cucina in Carrara is the eighteenth restaurant, founder and chef Enzo Marturano treats it as if it were his first. You can find him here most days, on the pans in the kitchen as well as greeting guests. “Even though we have 18 restaurants, this one feels like home,” Enzo says.
That sense of connection filters into every detail. From the rustic colour palette that harks back to Enzo’s early days, to the acoustic tweaks that make it comfortable for conversation, every detail feels intentional. Inside and out, there’s room for 160 diners, with plenty of onsite parking, a rarity on the Gold Coast. The new Enzo’s Cucina is designed with locals in mind.
Enzo’s food philosophy blends his Southern Italian heritage with the flavours and style that resonate with Australian diners. The result is a menu where a creamy, bacon-rich carbonara I – one the regulars refuse to let him take off – sits comfortably alongside pizza, pasta and seasonal additions. One of the highlights, Enzo tells us, is the arancini bomba – a potato croquette filled with ragu and served with capsicum roti sauce, a playful nod to a MasterChef challenge from years past. The house-made sweet chilli sauce, infused with Calabrese chilli, basil and turmeric, gives the crispy pork belly and soft-shell crab a delightful depth of flavour. Speaking of, the kitchen is anchored by a master stock that’s been nurtured since opening day. “We’re one of the few restaurants still making our own stocks,” Enzo adds. “It’s the base of our sauces, and it gets better every time we make it.”
While the menu is certainly anchored in familiarity, Enzo’s is known for introducing experiences alongside the food. The Carrara location will follow suit, with plans for pizza-making and sourdough classes, theatrical three-cheese wheel pasta nights and a one-of-a-kind tableside pesto service using a custom marble mortar and pestle from Italy.
“It’s about giving people something more than just dinner,” says Enzo. “We want to create moments they remember.”
The drinks program carries a personal touch too. A scotch wall is in the works, set to hold around 100 bottles, and loyal regulars will have their own personalised glasses waiting behind the bar. “It’s another way to make people feel at home here,” Enzo says.
With eighteen restaurants to his name, you might expect Enzo to pause and reflect on his success. Instead, he sees each new opening as another opportunity to learn, evolve and connect with new communities.
“It’s an achievement, but I also don’t feel like I’ve achieved anything,” Enzo says with refreshing honesty. “I love teaching. I’m teaching myself all the time, you know. Always learning new methods, new ways, how to refine something.
“I think that’s what keeps the passion there. Trying to improve myself as a person and trying to improve myself as a chef.”
For Enzo, Carrara isn’t just another location on the map – it’s a home away from home, where good food, familiar faces and a genuine sense of warmth come together. For locals, it may soon feel like their own new home away from home too.
Head to The Directory for opening times.