I last spoke to Matteo Tine in 2018 at his now closed restaurant, Mr Ottorino, and when I looked back over that chat, I’d mentioned that Matteo started talking as soon as I walked in, that his enthusiasm was contagious and that talking to him felt like a really fun ride. Nothing has changed. I stepped through the door of Orlo, Matteo ran up the stairs to greet me and just started talking. It was wonderful. He gave me a tour of nearly open Orlo which is a beautiful venue with multiple zones and vibes in the heritage-listed Dyason Cordial Factory in Collingwood. The main dining room has a beautiful, curved marble bar, incredible blue stone walls and a spiral staircase and then you walk out to the alfresco courtyard out the back which has a retractable ceiling, beautiful antique Turkish doors and planter boxes with olive trees and other Mediterranean flora. Downstairs is a bar called the Cordial Club and there is a private dining area on the mezzanine. Matteo says he is going for an eclectic Mediterranean menu and a wine list where every wine is a banger. I am definitely there for that. This was such a fun chat and I can’t wait to eat at Orlo when it opens in three weeks.