I met a lovely gentleman at a function who shared my love for red wine. And since he enjoyed his red wine, I quizzed him on whether he has the same liking for food. In my encounters, people who enjoyed red wine as much as I do also really like their food too. So, with conversations about the wines we both liked to enjoy, he recommended his neighbourhood eatery that I must try.
And try I did. On a number of occasions. This is truly your neighborhood hole in the wall. It is Italian, tick, we love our Italian food. When I say hole in the wall, I mean it, it is not flash and shiny, it is small. To avoid disappointment for dinner, you must book and when you book, you will discover that because they are small, they have two seatings, one at 6:00pm and the other at 7:30pm. They are quite strict about needing the table back by 7:30pm as they are in high demand for seating being such a small space. However, if you dine at 7:30pm, you can stay as long as you like. An early seating is perfect for us as we like to venture there after work for a couple or so plates and eat and run.
Upon arrival, the host (I am sure he is the owner too) is very authentically Italian (like welcoming you to his house), greets you warmly and seats you advising you of the specials outside the menu and the specials board. He has an air of proudness, yet transparency. If you get a chance to have a conversation with him, he will passionately tell you how authentically Puglian his food his. And how everyone in his kitchen and his staff are straight out of Puglia…..maybe wider Italy, some don’t even speak English yet, he will tell you. He also took the chance in telling us that, quote “when we speak fluent English, this is when you don’t come here because the food will be bad.” Well, enough said, now to the food.
On the first occasion, there were the two of us. We shared the herb and pistachio crusted prawn and squid skewers on a bed of salad and each the veal braciole pappardelle in tomato sugo and chilli mussels. Next time we bought our friends. On this occasion, we shared their incredible half metre bruschetta with three types of toppings: tomato, basil, olive oil, prosciutto, rocket, Grand Pandano and onions & olive; then each of us thoroughly enjoyed the mushroom & truffle raviolacci, oven baked red emperor and vegetables, porchetta and I had to have the chilli mussels again.
So, we return again, to lunch this time, because those previous times have not been enough, I needed to try other items from the menu. On this occasion, the half metre bruschetta was a must have to introduce to the new diners we’ve bought along. Yes, a winner with them too….seriously it is a must try. All of us enjoyed our dishes of braciole, linguine with fresh zucchini pesto & prawn, Grandma’s Casarecce pasta slow cooked with meatballs in a rich tomato & basil sauce and linguine with seafood. We all walked away thoroughly filled to the brim and gushing of the taste sensations we’ve all experienced.
We did notice that they have a healthy lunchtime following too. It seems that not only does dinner bring along the locals who seem to be their regular patrons seeking a good feed at their local hole in the wall (perhaps well kept secret, perhaps not anymore), but lunch time serves them well. Other lunch diners seemed to enjoy the homeliness of warm service and good food plus the bonus of BYO beer and wine. Don’t worry, if you don’t bring anything, they have a great offering of Australian and Italian wines at very reasonable prices by the glass or bottle.
Don’t ask for parmesan when they haven’t served it to you, they will get immensely offended. They will tell you that you need to apologise to your plate of food that you will ruin with the addition of parmesan no matter how much you love parmesan with your meal.
On our next occasion, with some more new diners, we were treated with the same welcome of old friends to their home. Our friends, thoroughly enjoyed the homeliness and the authentic attitude to their good. This time, braciole was enjoyed, so were Grandma’s Casarecce pasta cooked with meat balls in a rich tomato & basil sauce. I tried the delectable gnocchi, finished in the parmesan well, served with mushrooms and fresh spinach. The risotto with pumpkin cream, prawns and cream was also a winner. Our friends vowed that this will be their new favourite local as they live near the city. We, of course vowed to return again very soon.
This place makes you feel like you are well fed and loved. Much like the biggest embrace you and your tummy will ever enjoy.
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