Just Open: Abbondante, Windsor

Abbondante is a bit like couch surfing for the hospitality industry. The new, Italian evenings-only restaurant occupies the space that is Plenty cafe by day.

Restaurateur Hershy Ash has joined forces with chef Dino Esposito, who cooked at South Yarra's Da Noi, to open the 30-seater at their mate Jason Chan's cafe when it's not in use. They're serving southern Italian food. "That's what we know," says Ash, referring to Esposito's Neapolitan heritage.

The menu comprises of eight regularly changing dishes, perhaps scallops with leek and breadcrumbs, or slow-cooked lamb with polenta, and a selection of antipasti. Ash manages the wine list and is driven to provide a reasonable price point, adding just $10 to the average bottleshop price and charging a corkage of $15 a bottle for BYO.

Abbondante is open from 6pm Thursday to Saturday and Monday, and from 4pm on Sundays. For bookings, email, abbondantewindsor@gmail.com

Where: 78 Chapel Street, Windsor, Melbourne. Facebook: Ristorante Abbondante