Two Italian restaurant fires spark investigation

Flames quickly ripped through the building, scattering debris throughout the restaurant and leaving the shopfront charred.

Just minutes later, another fire started at Negroni 888 on Mount Alexander Road in Essendon.

Italian restaurant Negroni 888 in Essendon was severely damaged in the blaze. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Smoke billowed over the area but firefighters contained the fire to a small section of the venue and stopped it from spreading to a nearby car wash.

No one was inside either restaurant at the time and both were severely damaged by the flames.

Officers have not revealed if they are believed to be linked. 

Both restaurants have been taped off and deemed a crime scene as detectives work to establish the cause of the fires.