Spinetoli
25 Toorak Road, South Yarra
03 9913 8642
Italian
$$$$
Food
- Tortello di manzo burro e salvia
- Gamberi d’Inverno
- Seafood Risotto
- Lombo d’agnello Sardo
- Hot Chocolate Pudding
- Tiramisu
The Good
It was an impressive start with the Tortello and Gamberi. The homemade Tortello skins were light and delicate, perfectly cooked to al Dante and enclosing an inner filled with such a fine and smooth beef purée. Served with a generous helping of delectable beef jus and the occasional crunch of Parmesan crusts, the depth of flavours and diversity in textures were simply incredible.
The Gamberi d’Inverno was an astonishing sight and tasted just as good. The four king prawns were perfectly cooked and lightly charred, the fresh crunch of the protein was well accompanied by a beautiful prawn flavour. Served alongside was a lovely, silky smooth pumpkin cream and contrasted by the crunch of almond
Our special pasta of the was the Seafood Risotto. The seemingly simple dish was full of flavour and was definitely any seafood lovers dream come true. Loaded with an abundance of fresh calamari, clams, prawns and mussels, the fresh seafood flavour was bold and unrelenting. Underneath, the bed of soft, creamy Aborio rice was cooked just so, inhibiting all the amazing flavours of the fresh seafood.
Another highlight was the Lombo d’agnello Sardo. The lamb loin was just flawless, lightly seasons with just a pinch of salt, the lean protein was cooked to a perfection with a still-pink inner. The protein was full of flavour, incredibly tender and succulent. Adding to the incredible flavours was the sweet and savoury capsicum mousse, topped with minced olives and a dash of smokey eggplant purée. When combined with the aptly fatty roast Lamb Porchetta, this was one hard lamb dish to beat!
We concluded the evening with the Hot Chocolate Pudding and the classic, Tiramisu. The Chocolate Pudding definitely deserved a special mention, it’s still-runny inner was rich and creamy, exhibiting a beautiful chocolate flavour that was neither too sweet nor bitter. The outer crust offered a slight crispness, while the sweetness of the chocolate was well balanced thanks to the slight tartness of apple cubes.
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
Located slightly off the beaten track yet within the vicinity of numerous Italian restaurants, Spinetolli differentiates itself by its refined and modern approach to authentic Italian dining.
The stunningly plated dishes made way for some impeccably balanced flavours and textures, and it’s no surprise that we thoroughly enjoyed every last bit of every single dish.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Oh definitely.
Penguineats would like to thank Spinetoli for inviting us.