Amarcord

In the mood for a BYO Italian restaurant, so we mosey along Bronte road in the hope we stumble upon one. We must have wished hard enough. Amarcord is relatively new here and it’s full (a good sign)… aside from a lone table for two with our names on it. Kick off the Italian proceedings with the yellow fin tuna tartare with thyme and basil, or slow cooked cuttlefish with peas. Share a pasta between two and they’ll deliver it fresh from the stovetop in a ‘communal’ fry pan. This menu has plenty on offer, but it’s hard to go past the pasta… fresh, handmade, with an evocative modern twist, like flat beetroot pasta with duck ragu or cocoa raviolo filled with ricotta and veal with walnuts. Team it with a rocket and parmesan salad… and just try to go past the field mushrooms en gratin. If pasta’s not for you, try the handmade wagyu meatballs or fritto misto of lightly fried prawns, calamari and zucchini. Finish up with the limoncello flavoured pannacotta, or a homemade limoncello or sambuca nightcap. Waiter, chef and music are all Italian, so this place feels authentic as it gets. This ain’t some basic el cheapo Italiano joint. This place is the real deal. Take away is available, but why would you when you can dine in and escape to Italy for the evening?