Italy Meets New York at Bertoni Ristorante & Bar

Articles Eat & Drink Editor's Picks Featured Sydney
22 June, 2015 9:28 am
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With restaurants popping up then disappearing more times than Rebel Wilson on a space hopper it’s great to see one team get the combo of coffee, food and people right.

Anyone familiar with the Italian scene will know the Bertoni brothers, Bert and Tony. Their cafes have expanded across Sydney faster than you can say ‘macchiato’ including Balmain, Balmoral, Darling Harbour and Kent Street. Makeshift milk crates for outdoor seating, crowds hovering over packed communal tables, regulars sharing banter with their favourite cheeky baristas wearing their ‘I only drink BERTONI’ t-shirts is a daily affair.

So perhaps it’s no surprise that their followers demanded a bit more CBD love…and now we have it with a just opened New York style restaurant and bar in Farrer Place. Acclaimed chef Danny Russo consulted on a menu showcasing dishes from Naples and the south with chef’s Naomi Lowry and Roberto ensuring everything is ‘fatta in casa’ (made in house).

Start with calamari fritti or a stunning plate of heirloom vegetables, a rainbow medley of crisp yellow carrots, roasted beets, balsamic and ricotta shavings. The showstopper is a dish of naughtiness which is beyond nice, pillows of gnocchi with wild mushrooms and taleggio and truffle is not one you will want to share. For secondi, the succulent roasted porchetta is balanced with cabbage a marsala agrodolce and knockout crackling. Follow that with a hot chocolate budino with crushed amoretti.

So whether you opt for cocktails or go the full blown experience with a softly bodied Cianti this our own piece of Italy in the city.

Bertoni
Corner Phillip and Bent Streets, Sydney, NSW
Wednesday – Friday, from 6pm; Café – Monday – Friday, 6.30am-5pm
(02) 9241 2127
www.bertoni.com.au/farrer-place

About the author

Karen Lawson

Karen’s corporate job back in the UK had included entertaining clients in some of the best restaurants. This ultimately sparked a curiosity 'Just how do they do that?' (she confesses she was brought up on meat and vegetables, so this was all very exciting). Currently a Mr & Mrs Smith 'Tastemaker', she’s flashpacked around the world, learning about wine, experiencing different cultures and cuisines and had a two- year love affair with it all. Originally from England, she finally settled in Australia and continues to be besotted by food, wine and travel preferring to focus on the luxury end of town (thread count does matter).