Mister Bianco's Joe Vargetto to open Pigro Italian restaurant in Ivanhoe East

Having established a firm base in Melbourne's eastern suburbs with Mister Bianco in Kew, owner-chef Joe Vargetto is expanding into Ivanhoe East.

He plans to refurbish the former Condotti on Lower Heidelberg Road, which will become Pigro, an Italian word for someone who doesn't want to budge at the end of a good meal.

The 140-seat restaurant will be family-friendly – a place to have coffee in the morning, a snack in the afternoon or a steak in the evening, says Vargetto.

He plans to build the menu around the existing wood-fired pizza oven, salumi and his signature stuzzichini (snacks), including grilled chicken and lamb skewers, arancini and panini.

Vargetto will host specialty nights where the team from That's Amore Cheese will make mozzarella to order and staff will shuck oysters on request.

Pigro is expected to open at 239 Lower Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe East, in late November.