While fish, chips, barbeques and burgers may be the go-to foods for Aussies…Italian is right up there.
If you are looking for an Australian restaurant, you’ll probably get hard-pressed to find one that doesn’t serve at least one Italian dish on the menu.
Here are five of our favourite venues to get an Italian fix:
Staying true to tradition and offering a refined culinary experience, Sydneysiders head to Figo Restaurant & Bar on Bayswater Road in Rushcutters Bay for relaxed dining. This boutique restaurant, cocktail and wine bar oozes rustic charm with exposed concrete, dark wooden table settings, plush velvet booths and walls adorned with wine racks; settle in for a romantic rendezvous, or catch up with family and friends.
Eye fillet carpaccio sets the scene for a memorable meal to come, served with fresh asparagus, toasted almonds, seeded mustard, smoked salt, pecorino and crostini; before mains of housemade pappardelle, slow-cooked osso bucco ragu and pecorino.
Scusa Mi Italiano on Springvale Road in Glen Waverley is big on the inside, filled with plenty of Italian Bravata and designed to be enjoyed by all who dine there. With retro styles and flavours from the North to the South, this restaurant delivers a little slice of Italy in stylish surrounds of banquette and booth seating, vibrant aqua stools and mosaic-tiled floors.
Don’t go past mains like squid ink spaghettini with fresh crab meat, cherry tomatoes, garlic, parsley, lemon zest and extra virgin olive oil; or pick up a slice of Don Luigi pizza – white base, pork and fennel sausage, broccolini, chilli, Parmigiano, smoked scarmoza and fior di latte.
Discerning Sunshine Coast foodies seeking a modern Italian restaurant in the heart of Maroochydore, head to Bottarga on Mundoo Boulevard. This stylish new dining destination exudes warmth and charm with a stacked stone bar, wooden table settings and sparkling glassware setting the scene for memorable meals.
Twirl your fork around housemade Gemelli pasta, clams, black mussels, Mooloolaba prawns, fresh fish, anis Pomodoro and pangrattato, or salivate over braised beef cheek, pearl barley and confit garlic risotto, Dutch carrots and pesto.
Against a backdrop of a glorious Yarra Glen vineyard sits Zonzo Estate, a multi-award-winning venue offering a truly unique Italian dining experience. Since opening in 2007, this contemporary cucina has attracted an impressive amount of attention and with a simple sweep of its refined, rustically inspired set-up, it’s not hard to see why.
Mains such as handmade gnocchi, burnt butter, sage and Parmesan always impress, along with slow-cooked lamb in wine and mushrooms, accompanied by potatoes and enjoyed with a glass of Zonzo Estate Shiraz.
Experience the true flavours of Italy at Juliano’s pizzeria on Redcliffe Parade in Redcliffe. This Brisbane restaurant nestles in The Walk Arcade and welcomes diners with red and white checked tablecloths and softly glowing pendent globes to set the scene for lingering over gourmet pasta and pizza plates.
As tantalising aromas waft from the kitchen, enjoy a slice of Rustica tomato-based pizza, topped with mozzarella, spicy salami, beer sausage, whole olives and fresh basil; or a main of spinach and ricotta cannelloni, cream, Napoli and mozzarella.
For more Italian restaurants near you, click here.
