Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Review: Cipri Italian

10 Elizabeth Street
Paddington

Telefono:  9331 3333

Tues: Dinner 18:00 - 22:00

Wed - Fri: Lunch 12:00 - 15:00
Dinner 18:00 - 22:00
Sat:  Dinner 18:00 - 22:00
Sun: Lunch  12:00 - 15:00
Dinner 18:00 - 21:00

The evening doesn't start well. We have arrived for our dinner & they don't have our reservation, oh dear. Luckily Cipri Italian seems to be more of a family/large group type of restaurant, so there are still a few tables for two available.

We like the feel of the restaurant straight away(especially when you consider how unattractive it appears from outside). Dark, moody lighting, well spaced tables, friendly waitstaff; it ticks a lot of boxes.
We kick things off with a carafe of Pinot Grigio & judging by the crust, what must be Iggy's sourdough (if it isn't, it is just as good) & olive oil....bellissimo.


Buggles' entree of figs wrapped in prosciutto san daniele and served with a gorgonzola sauce is divine. The prosciutto has wonderful flavour, the figs are fresh & plump and the gorgonzola sauce gives the dish just the right amout of salt....fantastico.


My beef carpaccio with quail eggs, celery, testun di barolo cheese and walnut pesto is wonderful. The beef just melts in the mouth, the quail eggs are still runny, while the cheese & walnut pesto give the dish great depth of flavour & texture....magnifico.




We now move on to La Fiorentina per due a 1kg T/bone with polenta chips, rocket, parmesan & porcini mushrooms, this is designed to be shared by two. The steak is cooked on the rarer side of medium/rare (which is fine by us), is very tender & juicy & has that smoky flavour only achieved in a woodfired oven; the polenta chips are rich, creamy and buttery and the rocket and earthy mushrooms help to cut through the richness. A large dish but no match for Buggles and Squeak!....stupendo.


For dessert Buggles opts for Millefoglie allo zabaione e fragole, layers of pastry with zabaglione, fresh strawberries & raspberry coulis. The pastry layers are incredibly thin, beautifully browned and ultra crisp. There could have been a touch more zabaglione in between the layers of pastry for Buggles' taste but she does concede she could be a bit greedy.  The raspberry has a real zing to it and the dusting of icing sugar on top adds a note of sweetness. It comes served with a shot glass of what appears to be zabaglione and raspberry coulis - paralleling the flavours of the dessert we imagine....delizioso.


I am feeling like something lighter for dessert so go with the Peach carpaccio marinated in calvados liquor, with pistachios and a red wine & blueberry granite. The sliced peach is a little on the hardish side & doesn't seem to have been marinating in the calvados for long. The pistachios add wonderful crunch and the granita is divine....cosi cosi.

Service is efficient, friendly with just the right amount of Italian flourish.

We very much enjoyed this meal at Cipri Italian and hope to return.... perhaps with the family in tow.

Squeak
Cipri Italian on Urbanspoon 

2 comments:

Tina@foodboozeshoes said...

The fig entree lookd as divine as it sounds!

Gianna@TheEmptyFridge said...

T-bone for two..ohh I winder if the would judge if I had it to myself! The polenta chips would have been a great addition also! I love me some tasty Italian fare,and every dish down to the dessert looks superb!