Category: Italian

Food: $45-$65 tasting munu’s

Classico Moderno: the name says it all. Classic Italian dishes with a modern twist. We arrived at this pop up restaurant which is located on a corner block in the back streets of Darlinghurst. The restaurant has 2 rooms for dining with a number of tables. Dimly lit with cool hanging globes.

We were greeted by the very suave Italian waiter who showed us to our table. He was from Naples near Pompeii so knew exactly what Italian food should be like. The waiter also provided details on the cuisine and the region of Italy that inspired the food on the menu being Emelia Romagna. It is apparently resposible for producing some of Italy’s best cured meats and cheese. 

The service was great early on and the waiter had time to explain the menu in full detail. The restaurant then got quite busy and being newly opened it is still finding its feet, the waiters did manage to keep a decent standard despite the pressure.The chef Brian Gerlini has worked in Michellin restaurants in Italy as well as A Tavola, so you know he will work his magic producing delicious cuisine. 

There are a number of very reasonably priced tasting menus to choose from catering to different food preferences. 3 courses for $45 and 6 courses for $65. The matching wines are also reasonably priced too.

We chose the 6 courses with matching wines. The Antipasti(starter) was a very tasty; a savoury mortadela canoli and a piadina(flat bread) with delicous proscuitto, rocket and stracchino cheese. We also enjoyed the squid 2 ways. Cooked in a tomato base and squid ink seved in a pea puree a dish with great flavour combinations.

For Primi we sampled the delicous bolognaise served with fresh tagliatelle. A house made passatelli in porchini mushroom sauce topped with thinly sliced raw mushroom. A nice seafood risotto was also served the rice al dente in a tomato reduction with fresh seafood.

For secundo the melt in your mouth slow cooked beef cheeks with lambrusco, so good. 

A strawberry sorbet was used for a palate cleanser. To end the meal a light, fluffy cloud like dessert of sponge cake with vanilla chocolate custard, drenched in alchemers liquer. A great way to finish the meal, not too heavy.

A great value Italian restaurant serving quality food.We dined here as guests of ompty.

http://www.classicomodernorestaurant.com.au/