Church St Enoteca

Located in Richmond, Church St Enoteca is a restaurant with a proud reputation forged over many years of operation. Consistently enjoying success, Church St Enoteca is widely regarded as one of the finest Italian restaurants in Melbourne and is an “institution” in every sense of the word.

A year on from our last visit, it was wonderful to be back in Church St Enoteca's warm and inviting dining room. Adorned with original vintage posters and wooden floorboards dating back to when it was a metal works factory, Church St Enoteca exudes an ambience of subdued elegance. 

Continuing to lead the charge of a dedicated kitchen team, Executive Chef Thiago Miranda has shifted the focus of the cuisine from rustic Italian to Modern European using the finest locally sourced produce.

We opted to leave our dining experience in the capable hands of Thiago by indulging in the tasting menu. This was a decision we did not regret. All dishes were elegant, wonderfully presented and packed full of flavour. While we loved our experience the last time around, Thiago has seriously upped the ante - the dishes were more finessed, more cohesive, more imaginative and (as usual) boasted wonderful flavours.

We loved the pan-fried scallops, smoked tempura cauliflower, vodouvan. Each item was cooked beautifully. The scallops were desirably fresh. The batter encasing the tempura cauliflower was ethereally light while the vodouvan added aroma and depth of flavour.

The goats curd tortelloni was exceptional. The filling of deliciously savoury goats curd encased in al dente pasta accompanied by a luxurious pea puree was a perfectly executed, expertly balanced and an intelligent dish.

The wagyu served with black garlic risotto, charred onions and cavolo nero was sensational. The wagyu was cooked to a wonderful, moreish perfection with the creamy black garlic risotto elevating the rich, buttery meat to wondrous levels. 

A wonderful duo of desserts concluded our evening. The goats yoghurt panna cotta, basil, strawberry sorbet was a lovely take on the traditional. The panna cotta was silky smooth - barely holding its shape, it was quivering on the plate. The cheekily named "Chocolate Bar" was a wonderful surprise, formed from luxurious, high quality, rich dark chocolate.

In Thiago Miranda, Church St Enoteca has found a head chef who is capable of maintaining the legacy forged over the past decade. Based on current form, it appears that Church St Enoteca's place in the upper echelon of Melbourne’s culinary institutions is secure for the foreseeable future. Certainly a restaurant worth visiting, and revisiting, for the quality of its food and warmth of its service. 
 
Location: 527 Church St  Richmond
Phone: 03 9428 7898
Link: http://www.churchstenoteca.com.au/
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean, European, Wine Bar