Ciao Mamma
3-5 Union Street, Brunswick
03 6122 0331
Italian
$$$
Food
- Bolognese Tagliatelle
- Mushroom Maria Gnocchi
- Chocolate and Ricotta Cannoli
- Tina-Mi-Su
The Good
We were off to a tasty start with the Bruschetta and Polenta Fingers. The special Bruschetta looked amazing, with, fresh, vibrant red and gold cherry tomatoes chopped up and topping each piece of seeded toast. With a garlic and basil dressing mixed with olive oil to hold it altogether and spice things up, this was a light yet absolutely delicious start.
The Polenta Fingers didn’t disappoint either. The crisp outer was fried to a beautiful golden brown. Within, the polenta was light and fluffy, which acted as the perfect sponge to mop up the sirarcha Mayo that provided a creamy and spicy sensation.
Our Bolognese Tagliatelle was on point. The thick cut, house made tagliatelle was cooked to a perfect al dente. The fresh egg pasta was absolutely delicious, and was generously coated in a beautiful Bolognese sauce. The rich, acidic tomato was so appetising and full of flavour, with a beautifully soft, slow braised beef and pork mixed within. Every mouthful just begged for one more. Delicious.
The Mushroom Maria Gnocchi wasn’t bad either. The gnocchi itself was nice. The soft and fluffy parcels were cooked in an amazingly fragrant wine and mushroom sauce. The luscious, rich and creamy sensation was simply incredible, and the chunky slices of mushroom made for a flavourful and juicy experience.
We rounded off the meal with the Chocolate and Ricotta Cannoli as well as the Tina-Mi-Su. Made in house, the cannoli shell offered up a satisfying crunch and crumbled effortlessly. Within, the shell was piped with a sweet and creamy ricotta filling with chocolate shards, well behaved in sweetness and perfect with a cup of coffee.
The Mediocre
The Tina-Mi-Su was also enjoyable, though there was a definite imbalance in the mascarpone and biscotti ratio. The sheer abundance of silky, creamy mascarpone made it hard to find the soft, spongy biscotti within, making for a lack of texture diversity. Also a tad more espresso flavour would definitely help even out the sweetness a tad.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
Located in trendy Brunswick, Ciao Mamma brings an authentic piece of Italy to the locals, all the while managing to to cater to a variety dietary requirements.
Their freshly made pasta is definitely a must-have, and don’t go get to pair it with a gorgeous Italian red too!
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Of course!
Penguineats would like to thank Ciao Mamma for inviting us.