Brisbane's Best Italian Restaurants

Our enduring love affair with Italian cuisine is no secret. Following the post-war boom of Italian immigrants to Australia, a culinary world that embraced fresh pasta, gave olive oil real meaning and exploited the humble tomato in delightfully surprising ways, wooed us without shame.

We could not, and did not want to resist the simplicity and deliciousness of Italian dishes; it had us at bolognese and pizza… and, oh yes, good coffee.

Today, Italian cuisine is wonderfully ubiquitous and the choices unending. The key is in its simplicity and emphasis on using fresh seasonal produce and basic cooking techniques to enhance natural flavours, aromas and textures.

As a cooking style that developed predominately in home kitchens, rather than restaurants, it has many regional variations, often only using as little as four ingredients, and a spontaneity and relaxed quality not found in many other cuisines.

From olives and antipasto to the crusty bread that provides the perfect way to mop up the last of a pasta, minestrone or rustic ragu dish, Italian cuisine brings joy to the table with every meal.

It has also done wonderful things for our vocabulary, as terms and names such as vongole, pannacotta, risotto, balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano Reggiano trip lightly off our tongues. Not to mention the many names denoting types, shapes and sizes of pasta, such as penne, fusilli and lasagne.

Finally, it’s also pretty healthy, incorporating grains, vegetables, fresh herbs, fish, fruit and cheese.

We can’t fight this love… it’s too good to be true.

Sarah Murray, Citysearch