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Nostro Baretto is a rather unique little place squeezed seductively into the laneway at top end of the GPO. It offers Italian food that is a cut above the usual droll pizza/pasta places that most people associate “Italian cuisine” with in this town (grrr..). And whilst you may be able to get a plate of pasta here, there are usually only one or two options (markedly inventive versions too) available on the ever-changing blackboard menu.

The waiters are absolutely “the business”. They beguile with adorable Italian accents and dark looks as they recite the menu to you - the whole menu - it will take a few minutes :-). But they are so very professional, whisking away dishes when done, topping up wine and water, and providing interesting banter when required. I confessed that my proper Italian was not up to scratch as I spoke with a Calabrese dialect care of my Nonna. The waiter understood - he had learnt Italian from his Pugliese Nonna, and it wasn’t until he went to Rome recently where he “brushed” up on his proper Italian skills.

To start we shared an antipasto platter filled with the most wonderful selection of delectable treats; sweet vinegared red onions, marinated field mushrooms, sauteed and spiced eggplant, a sweet potato/parmesan/parsley combination, pepperonata, carciofe (artichoke hearts), smashed green olives and slices of smoked trout. And of course, lovely crusty white bread, pasta dura style, to help it all go down.

I ordered a slow cooked lamb stew with green olives and herbs, which sat atop a slab of firm grilled polenta. The lamb was incredibly tender (as you can tell in the image above), and the jus-like gravy had me wanting to give the plate a long big lick.

EG went the pork fillet stuffed with gorgonzola and served with wilted spinach and jerusalem artichoke. Once again, this was a flavour sensation - almost to the point of overload.

For dessert I succumbed to the waiters suggestion of the Sicilian style baked ricotta cheesecake. Well, I really didn’t succumb - I damn near ravished the waiter when he suggested it (nb. I do have a thing for ricotta ;-)).

EG went the tiramisu - a firm square of coffee dipped savoiardi, artery clogging mascarpone and a sprinkling of bitter dark chocolate.

Our young waiter for the evening also recommended the most fantastic Veneto Valpolicella - a perfect match for our courses.

Just on a side note, this is actually a belated blog entry, as EG and I dined here on Valentine’s Day (that’s right, after the picnic). And I don’t know whether St.V had anything to do with it, but I just found Nostro Baretto to be delightfully romantic. It felt like we had momentarily stepped out of Melbourne and into an intimate alleyway in Rome. The ambience, the architecure, the intimate space and the buzz - it was wonderfully European.

Written by mellie on March 13th, 2007 | Tags: restaurants | Category: Uncategorized |  Print This Post |  Email This Post | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL