Authentic Italian restaurant Nonna & I have just opened their second restaurant, located on Magill Rd. Though the decor is reminiscent of an arts and crafts explosion, the food is what keeps the customers at their original Norwood location coming back, and here is no exception.
When Nonna & I say ‘family-sized’ antipasti platter, they aren’t joking about family-sized. Fresh tomato is layered between slices of mozzarella, and sweet roasted capsicum, warm herbed olives, buttery fried baby squid and garlic bread all heap together on the plate. It is easily enough food to feed 6 as a starter. The garlic bread was the table favourite: thick cut doughy bread toasted with a good amount of butter, a punch of garlic and the added savouriness of parmigano reggiano on top.
Next was slow-cooked beef cheek in a red wine and balsamic reduction. The beef was cooked just the way that beef cheeks should be, soft but not totally falling apart. That point where the fat has turned from solid immovable barriers to soft jelly like structures offering gentle support to the meat; perfection. The sauce itself was sweet and rich; fresh relief was supplied by just-cooked broccoli florets on the side.
To finish was tiramisu. The custard held together well and was not too sweet, while the biscuits had a good hit of liqueur and coffee without being soggy (the biggest killer of tiramisu!).
The chef’s motto is ‘come hungry, leave happy’, and walking out in to the fading sun of late afternoon we had a feeling of fullness and satisfaction. In summation, come for a selfie in the craft-plosion… stay for the garlic bread.