It's a sunny Saturday and I'm meeting Sharen for some lunch and shopping on Chapel Street. Sharen is a school friend of my good friend ginger Rache and as luck would have it, we're both in Melbourne so Rachel introduced us. It's our second outing (second date so to speak) and really it's time for some commitment beyond Facebook messages so perhaps we'll get to exchange numbers!
Anyway before the shopping begins we decide we need to eat and given it's our second date it makes sense to go somewhere quite nice and romantic so we can get to know each other better! Sharen suggests Caffe é Cucina and it's a place we've both heard of but never been and that takes the pressure off. Nothing worse than suggesting a place and then it proves to be a disappointment!
Anyway before the shopping begins we decide we need to eat and given it's our second date it makes sense to go somewhere quite nice and romantic so we can get to know each other better! Sharen suggests Caffe é Cucina and it's a place we've both heard of but never been and that takes the pressure off. Nothing worse than suggesting a place and then it proves to be a disappointment!
Caffe é Cucina is quaint and very traditional Italian looking. We're greeted warmly by Italian wait staff with lots of "prego" and "signora". Oh I guess my signorina days are behind me now!
We're taken to a small little table at the front of the restaurant and our drinks orders taken promptly. We're informed of the daily specials and then left to consider our choices. This is tough as there are quite a few things that sound appealing.
The Polletto alla Cacciatora which is braised Barossa Valley free-range spatchcock with polenta and sugo alla cacciatora appeals as does one of the pasta specials with crabmeat and scampi.
We're taken to a small little table at the front of the restaurant and our drinks orders taken promptly. We're informed of the daily specials and then left to consider our choices. This is tough as there are quite a few things that sound appealing.
The Polletto alla Cacciatora which is braised Barossa Valley free-range spatchcock with polenta and sugo alla cacciatora appeals as does one of the pasta specials with crabmeat and scampi.
In the end I go for Linguine Di Mare Al Cartoccio - pipis, prawns, mussels & scallops, garlic, chilli & tomato, baked in parchment paper.
Sharen chooses Calamari Sant’Andrea dusted in flour and shallow-fried, with rocket and house dressing. Upon the waiter's recommendation we also have a salad of wild rocket, pear, shaved grana, extra virgin olive oil and white balsamic vinegar.
Food arrives quickly and it's delicious. My pasta has that al dente bite to it and the tomatoes are sweet but not over powering. The seafood is fresh. Admittedly there's not that much seafood and a few more mussels, pips and prawns wouldn't go amiss. I think there were two thin slices of scallop in there.
Sharen said positive things about the calamari and I really enjoyed the rocket salad. The leaves were flavoursome and the shaved cheese a great accompaniment.
Overall it was a positive experience. We discussed that it was a pricy option for lunch but it is more restaurant than café so higher prices are to be expected. The flavours, ambience and attention from the waitstaff was all good so we didn't feel that we were ripped off and we didn't begrudge paying the prices.
Sharen chooses Calamari Sant’Andrea dusted in flour and shallow-fried, with rocket and house dressing. Upon the waiter's recommendation we also have a salad of wild rocket, pear, shaved grana, extra virgin olive oil and white balsamic vinegar.
Food arrives quickly and it's delicious. My pasta has that al dente bite to it and the tomatoes are sweet but not over powering. The seafood is fresh. Admittedly there's not that much seafood and a few more mussels, pips and prawns wouldn't go amiss. I think there were two thin slices of scallop in there.
Sharen said positive things about the calamari and I really enjoyed the rocket salad. The leaves were flavoursome and the shaved cheese a great accompaniment.
Overall it was a positive experience. We discussed that it was a pricy option for lunch but it is more restaurant than café so higher prices are to be expected. The flavours, ambience and attention from the waitstaff was all good so we didn't feel that we were ripped off and we didn't begrudge paying the prices.
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