Assaggio Cafe
Editorial
If you can get past the sweets cabinet that flaunts itself inside the entrance, then a good, hearty meal awaits in the dining room. Its feature wall greets you with inscribed gastronomic sentiments such as “a meal without wine is like a day without sunshine”. We could not agree more, and the vino list here offers pickings of grappa, moscato and other Italian imports among domestic drops. Settle in and gaze through the menu. Generous windows wrap around the restaurant with the sky's sparkling performance throughout the night the highlight of the view. For those familiar with the venue's multi award-winning mother ristorante Assaggio in Hyde Park, you will find the similar rich décor of mocha, slate and funky hot orange in this new location. High chairs in the latter colour illustrate the eatery's family-friendliness.
This time round, executive chef Camillo Crugnale has put a spin on the menu. For entrée he has introduced a cicchetti platter. Five of Assaggio's most popular appetisers are presented in small porcelain bowls on a mini Lazy Susan - perfect for sharing between your family. Further delights on the menu include breaded scallops baked in their shells with parsley and limoncello zabaglione, and tagliatelle pasta with sautéed black tiger prawns and a roasted tomato and shellfish sauce. Meatier dishes feature pork fillet escalopes served with a gorgonzola and walnut mascarpone cream sauce, and slow-braised lamb with rosemary and garlic, presented with savoy cabbage and a Chianti butter bean sauce. Now, back to that sweets cabinet from Assiaggio's in-house pasticceria (cake shop). Picture puffed up cannoli with flavoursome cream oozing from their tubes, and a rainbow of glistening gelati hand-made by chef Robert Catanzariti. Have manager Peta serve you a scoop of the rum 'n' raison for the ride home. Bella!
Roz Taylor, October 2010
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