The buzz: Having relocated from Lau Pa Sat to happening Duxton Road, this Sicilian-style restaurant still serves up the same comfort food but this time, with a little more finesse.
The vibe: Home-style casual fine dining. It’s got a more upscale vibe than the previous space minus the stuffiness or fragile furniture. The area is divided into two sections and the decor is restrained (if not a little worn) with cream walls, leather chairs and white tablecloths. It gets pretty buzzing on weekends, as well.
The food: Lots of classic favorites from pastas to pizzas. Dishes include homey basics like schiacciata (pizza crust bread) with truffles and mascarpone ($24); grilled cod fillet with peperonata ($39); Norcina pizza ($28) topped with mozzarella, porcini mushrooms, truffle paste and homemade pork sausage; and Burrata pizza ($32) with fresh burrata cheese, parma ham and rocket salad. Although the pastas like rock lobster with bisque sauce, asparagus and basil ($48) sound promising, it’s definitely not a standout in the menu.
The drinks: An extensive collection of Italian labels from familiar bottlings of Chianti (from $12.50/glass) to premium labels of Amarone (from $28/glass). There’s a great value-for-money by-the-glass list (from $12.50), as well as bottle selection (from $65) and if you can’t decide, the staff are great at recommending pairings.
Why you’ll come back: As far as Italian food on Duxton goes, this is a sure bet with a mix of comforting food like pizzas and more high-end offerings. Although it’s not the most refined place, it’s cozy and satisfying.
