The next step for Frankie Fettuccine

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — When chef Frank Mazzonetto embarked on creating the concept for the Frankie Fettuccine Food Truck, he included an end goal in his five-year business plan: a brick and mortar restaurant. 

“The original plan for the truck was a restaurant, but restaurants are quite pricy and involved to open up,” Mazzonetto said. 

“We were not quite ready for that stage, so we came up with a food truck concept.”

To help operate the truck, Mazzonetto partnered with fellow chef and friend Anthony Maniccia. 

“We met in elementary school and we’ve been very good friends for 25 years now,” Mazzonetto said. 

“When we were starting the food truck idea, I needed to bring someone on board that was on the same page that I could trust.” 

Since Frankie Fettuccine hit the road, dishes like braised veal gnocchi poutine and their namesake fettuccine have earned numerous awards, as well as appearances on Eat Street and a wining round of Food Truck Wars. 

“There’s a bit of a trophy case going that we’re proud of,” Mazzonetto said.

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Now four and a half years since the Frankie Fettuccine truck hit the road, Mazzonetto and Maniccia are weeks away from opening Ombretta Cucina + Vino in the Port Credit neighbourhood of Mississauga. 

“We’re well in the parameters of our five-year plan,” Mazzonetto said. 

Ombretta will serve a variety of Italian sharable items, including house-made pasta and fillings. 

“We’re going high end with the menu,” Mazzonetto said. 

“It’s shorter on the main course side and classically Italian with modern technique and presentation.” 

The move to a full kitchen will allow Mazzonetto and Maniccia to better showcase their culinary skill set.

“Our truck is big and beautiful and extremely well equipped, but once we have the restaurant it will really allow us to express creatively how we feel about Italian food,” Mazzonetto said. 

Located at 121 Lakeshore Rd. West, Ombretta is steps from Port Credit’s marina and lighthouse. 

“The foot traffic is going to be pretty heavy,” Mazzonetto said, adding he believes their food truck customers will migrate to the restaurant. “We’re fortunate enough that we’ve built a really loyal following. I think this brand extension will be a great fit for our existing fans.”

The Frankie Fettuccine truck will also remain in service, and help advertise the new restaurant. 

“It’s also a second revenue stream,” Mazzonetto noted. 

Set in a casual atmosphere, Ombretta will seat about 51 guests in a 1,700-square-foot space. The decor is a hybrid of contemporary industrial with rustic wood, including 12-foot open ceilings, a stone bar top and a bar back made from vintage wine crates. 

“We’re trying to do something Mississauga hasn’t seen before,” Mazzonetto said. “We think we’ve come up with that concept.”