Pentolina

Tucked away along Little Collins, Pentolina is all about honest and simple Italian food; something that owners Matt and Julia are extremely passionate about and proud of.

We loved tasting our way through the restaurant's “Fat Chef’s Choice” degustation which features highlights from head chef Gabriele Olivieri’s new winter menu. The menu showcases the best of seasonal winter ingredients combined with a few of the chef’s favourite types of pasta, all made freshly in-house. And with small bites on arrival, entrées to prime your tastebuds for the pasta dishes and desserts to finish the night on a sweet note. It was truly a hearty meal to warm both the body and soul.

Highlights from the Fat Chef’s Choice degustation dinner we indulged in included luxurious beetroot gnocchi, which boasted pillow soft gnocchi adorned in a creamy gorgonzola dolce sauce and topped with pickled pears and macadamia nuts - Simply stunning.

Another standout dish was the squid ink tagliolini with luscious scampi, perfectly cooked cuttlefish and sweet peas. Just yum!

Apart from spoiling us with delicious pastas, the degustation menu also offered a beautiful selection of entrees. Think zucchini flowers stuffed with buffalo ricotta and served with fresh tomato gazpacho and vincotto; grilled octopus with artichoke and nduja sauce; and classics such as arancini and fritto misto.

Dessert time continued to please. The Cremino all’arancia was a wonderfully rich blood orange crème brûlée, topped with creamy coffee gelato and a crisp rum and chocolate tegola. The Semifreddo al limoncello was similarly delightful comprising of a stunning plate of limoncello and marscapone semifreddo basil curd, meringue and lime macerated strawberries.

On the drinks front there is a carefully-curated selection of local and Italian wines, beers and cocktails. The cocktail menu is something the restaurant takes particular pride in. Created by Pentolina’s Italian mixologist Raffaela Scalia, it also features a bespoke Negroni menu.

Pentolina understands the warmth of true Italian hospitality - A casual restaurant, which doesn’t take its approach to serving guests casually at all. If you want to truly experience the menu, there is really no better way than to eat your way through the Fat Chef’s Choice degustation.

Location: 2/377 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Phone: (03) 9606 0642

Link: www.pentolina.com.au