Ciao!

Owner-operators Lena & Fabio share a passion for beautiful food.

Fabio hails from Rome, Italy, where love of food is simply a way of life. He opened his first restaurant in Rome at 25, then went on to work in kitchens in New York, Quito & Seychelles Island. Since his move to New Zealand in 2015 he’s worked at many prestigious restaurants across Auckland and Waiheke Island. Lena, a devout foodie from Auckland was raised in a family restaurant. The pair met in 2017, and opening a business together one day was inevitable.

Cornelia is a culmination of their shared love of bringing people together with amazing food and beverages. They’re passionate about creating delicious experiences every day. Cornelia is a true celebration of Fabio’s incredible experience, skill and love of food. A relaxed spot for moments of pure enjoyment and unpretentious fun. 

Fabio and Lena work closely with local producers and source the finest Italian ingredients you can find in NZ. They are extremely proud to showcase carefully chosen wines from Italy alongside simple, quality Italian inspired dishes in a relaxed and intimate environment.