Farina 00
204 St Georges Road, Northcote
03 9078 6136
Contemporary, Italian, Pizza
$$
Food
- Pork and Fennel Sausage
- Bruschetta – Buffalo Mozzarella
- Prosciutto and Buffalo Pizza
- Vegetarian Pizza
- Beef Bolognese Tortellini served in Pizza Dough Bowl
- Sticky Date Pudding
- Tiramisu
The Good
It was a pleasant start to our meal with the Pork and Fennel Sausage. The supposedly entree-sized dish was generously served, with two huge pork and fennel sausages topping a bed of exceptionally creamy and silky smooth mash potatoes. The pork sausages were of course the highlight, with a coarse ground and aptly fatty mix that ensured an incredibly juicy and flavoursome experience that was well-matched with the fennel that was embedded within. All served iwth a bold red wine? jus, this was perhaps the perfect accompaniment to
Contrasting the heartier entree was the arguably lighter Bruschetta. This traditional Italian antipasto needs to introduction, and was executed flawlessly on this occasion. The beautifully light buffalo mozzarella was perfectly accompanied by fresh, juicy slices of tomatoes and leaves of basil that offered up a fragrant experience. Dressed lightly with an olive oil and dusted with salt and pepper, compounded by the crunch of the toasted bread, this was the perfect specimen of how bruschetta should be served.
We proceeded to the Tortellini Pasta, which on this occasion, was served on a special Pizza Dough Bowl. The tortellini was incredibly soft and delicate. Wrapped within the egg pasta was a flavourful beef bolognaise that had the perfect balance of sweet tomato, savoury beef and a hint of sour undertone. The abundance of rich bolognaise sauce coated every inch of the pasta, and made for a very appetising dish.
We also enjoyed the Roman-styled pizzas, namely the Prosciutto and Buffalo, as well as the Vegetarian. Both featuring a crunchy crust that tapered down to a thin, crispy base that held it’s structural integrity rather well, the base was made more spectacular by a lightly sweetened tomato sauce. The toppings were fresh and applied liberally, with the egpplant and capsicum roasted to a nice char thanks to the wood-fire oven. With each chomp down, the veggies offered up an incredibly juicy experience and was well-matched by the light buffalo cheese and the olive oil.
The desserts surely didn’t disappoint one bit either. Our favourite though was undoubtedly the Sticky Date Pudding. Exceptionally moist and incredibly soft, the pudding simply melted in your mouth. Served warm alongside a rich butterscotch sauce and the aptly cold vanilla ice cream, this indulgent dessert must be one of the best Sticky Date Puddings we’ve come across.
We also enjoyed the Tiramisu, though the layers of coffee-soaked biscuits within were a tad too soggy for our palate. However, the coarse chocolate crumbs on top and the silky smooth mascarpone mixture definitely made it enjoyable nonetheless.
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
While the food here may not be strictly authentic, Farina00 delicately balances modern and unique twists with traditional Italian influences with great success.
The result was perhaps no less enjoyable than a traditional Italian feast, and needless to say, we thoroughly enjoyed both the ‘original’ and the ‘modern’ take on these Italian-inspired dishes.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Definitely. We simply can’t wait to be back for more of that Sticky Date Pudding, and more pasta in a Pizza Dough Bowl of course!
Penguineats would like to thank owner Nadim for inviting us to Farina00.