A beloved Mornington Peninsula restaurant has reopened after a major renovation, revealing a significantly larger space, a dedicated wine bar and a fresh focus on local produce.
Mr Vincenzo’s, located on The Esplanade in Mornington overlooking Port Phillip Bay, has tripled in size following the redevelopment. The restaurant now seats 100 guests indoors—up from 45—and introduces a private dining room, with an outdoor terrace also set to open ahead of summer.
A new chapter after a devastating setback
The reopening marks another milestone for owners Paul Goddard and Lisa Prince, alongside head chef Michael Kharsas, who have rebuilt their hospitality vision after tragedy struck in 2023.
The trio had launched Colt Dining just weeks before a fire destroyed the venue. After an outpouring of support from the local community, they opened the first iteration of Mr Vincenzo’s only eight months later. Now, two years on, they’ve completed the expansion they had originally envisioned for the site.
“This renovation is the realisation of our original dream for the site, where we can be more things to more people,” says Goddard. “Guests can now enjoy Mr Vincenzo’s in a range of ways, whether that’s a mid-week drink, dinner or a special function.”
A bigger space inspired by the coast
The redesigned restaurant embraces a nostalgic 1970s coastal atmosphere, pairing wine-bottle-green flooring with cork finishes, waffle-yellow walls and vintage-inspired details that reflect its bayside location.
A new full-sized kitchen has replaced the venue’s original compact setup, giving Kharsas greater scope to deliver refined dishes inspired by the Peninsula’s produce.
“Mr Vincenzo’s philosophy has always been and will remain simple: casual excellence,” says Goddard. “Mornington is a jewel of Victoria and Australia, with its globally-recognised wine region, and we want the town’s food offering to match that.”
A menu that changes with the region
Instead of sticking to a fixed menu, Mr Vincenzo’s regularly changes its offerings (sometimes weekly, sometimes daily), depending on what’s available from local growers and producers.
Kharsas and his team make the restaurant’s focaccia, pasta and sauces fresh in-house each day, sourcing ingredients from nearby suppliers, including Mornington resident Mary Lucas, whose acre of seasonal produce helps shape the menu.
“The goal has always been to create something people can come back to,” says Kharsas. “We’re committed to doing the simple things well, because combined, they all add up to a memorable dining experience for our guests.”
Named after Prince’s grandfather and inspired by her Italian heritage, the menu leans towards Mediterranean flavours, with dishes including creamy polenta with local mushrooms, wild nettle and mortadella tortelloni, pumpkin gnocchi with gorgonzola and O’Connors beef scotch fillet served with local mushrooms and truffle sauce.
The new front bar also expands the venue’s drinks offering, featuring house-made cocktail ingredients alongside a wine list showcasing bottles from the Mornington Peninsula, Italy and France.
Mr Vincenzo’s is located at 784 The Esplanade, Mornington and is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 5:30pm–10pm, Saturday from 5:30pm–11pm and Sunday from 12pm–3pm. They’re closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
