A new Italian-themed restaurant, called The Italian Job, has opened on Level 2 at the Bay Street complex, St Julian’s. It gets its name from the well-known 2003 American heist film, starring Charlize Theron, Mark Wahlberg and Jason Statham, itself a remake of the 1969 British movie of the same name.

Located in Bay Street’s front left-hand corner, The Italian Job extends over 600 square metres and can accommodate 300 patrons in various seating combinations. It incorporates an enoteca, salumeria, gelateria, cafeteria, bar and restaurant.

The entrance area, including outdoor seating, hosts the enoteca, devoted to wine-loving connoisseurs; the salumeria, offering selected cold cuts off the bone and food platters, and the gelateria for Italian ice cream and confectionery with a choice of cake specialities.

The terrace overlooking Bay Street’s central piazza also has seating for the cafeteria which is open on Sunday afternoons with chill-out music.

The refurbished space has a large, L-shaped terrace that overlooks the front of Bay Street with views all the way down to St George’s Bay.

Chef Peter Aquilina has a team of eight chefs and 12 serving staff. An à la carte menu is composed of classical Italian dishes including antipasti, pasta and pizzas cooked in an authentic wood oven, but also various types of burgers, salads and daily specialities.

“We wanted to stick to the movie theme, which takes place both in the City of Doges, in Italy, and then in Los Angeles, by creating a menu that sounds like ‘Little Italy’, 50 per cent Italian and 50 per cent American,” Mr Aquilina said.

The interior décor reflects the movie theme and the ‘Little Italy’ spirit, with a real Mini Coupé installation in the centre and three old Vespas.

The Italian Job is open from 11am to midnight from Monday to Sunday. Throughout the World Cup, up to six matches can be watched simultaneously on the restaurant’s 16 screens.

For more information call 2138 0600 or visit the Bay Street Facebook page at www.facebook.com/baystreetmalta.