Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Church Street Enoteca (Richmond)

Step in to this calm sophisticated space, next door to Robertsons, the most upmarket furniture store in Melbourne, from busy Church St. and you are in another world. Suddenly quiet with well spaced tables in a large room. White cloths, elegant glassware, good cutlery simply decorated with large posters (colourfuylly advertising Chianti next to a French restaurant next to motor oil!) Very promising.
They have a two or three course lunch special menu but we opted for a la carte. We both ordered a scallop and fennel saffron risotto which was one of their specials for the day ($23) This was served with three of the most sweet lightly cooked large scallops that almost melted in the mouth. Somehow the taste of the scallops had also infused itself through the risotto giving it a wonderful flavour with the fennel. Although there was an excess of saffron the whole dish was excellent and would have been remarkable had they used a lighter hand. My partner chose the 12 hour slow cooked pork belly ($34) served with a very sweet butternut pumpkin mash, spinach and a light and creamy polenta. Although a little fibrous overall the dish was excellent and rather bigger than it looks in this picture. I had the lamb ($34), pre cooked for only an hour and a half! Served crumbed with Parmesan on a bed of polenta with a warning to avoid the bones, it was a good size very satisfying. The lamb was tender, retained plenty of moisture, and fell away from the bones. This photograph does not do it justice. The dessert a creme strappazza ($16) was a pleasant end to the meal - an apple sorbet, thin slices of dried apple and apple puree
Wine: We tried a Chianti Ruffino ($12) which was light and much to my taste and a Nebillo ($12) which was a little acidic
Price: Made more reasonable for Entertainment book owners it is reasonable regardless

Comments: I'd be happy to come back here again. The duck breast wrapped in bacon I saw at an adjacent table looked fantastic!

Score: 14.75/20

2 comments:

wongoli said...

are u aware they are holding italian regional dinners every monday for the next 4? 4 courses plus wines for $85. last week was tuscany, which was great!

Anonymous said...

Hi Wong
I'm grasteful to you for mentioning that.
Certainly worth a return visit.