La Pesa Trattoria
Image: Warmth and charm emanate from the husband and wife running this Northern Italian gem with walls laden with wine, and decorated by beautiful black and white shots of 1960s Milan.
Warmth and charm emanate from the husband and wife running this Northern Italian gem with walls laden with wine, and decorated by beautiful black and white shots of 1960s Milan. They were a wedding gift from a photographer patron of the Milanese sister restaurant, La Pesa. Chef Marco De Vecchi is a son of Milan himself, and has cooked at both venues. His rustic offerings are a joy to behold! Settle in with a board of Milanese Antipasto ($19) accompanied by golden pillows of gnocco fritto (hand-made bread) while you explore Michael Dackiw’s list of thematically appropriate central and Northern Italian wines. It’s tough to choose between beautifully handled house-made pasta like Gli Gnocchi di Patate con Funghi e Taleggio ($23/$28) textbook gnocchi and silky mushrooms gently caressed by taleggio cream; and Milanese specialties like Osso Buco Gremolata ($35). Especially because the falling apart veal is served on a bed of glorious saffon-tinted Milanese risotto that defines al dente, and is speckled with rich bone marrow! To complicate things further there’s also a simple and satisfying Milanese Veal Cutlet ($35) with perfectly cooked rosemary potatoes; and Pappardelle with Duck Ragu ($23/$28) and dried figs. If they shaved a little off their prices the next time they’re shaving their wafer-thin coppa, I’d call it perfetto!
La Pesa Trattoria
172 – 174 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst
Ph: (02) 9331 4358 www.lapesa.com.au
Italian $$$$
