Oh what a joy! We found a new restaurant to experience! We had the pleasure of eating at Enoteca Lounge and Cucina, just off Rundle Street at Frank’s Lane. It is deceptively large, with a long dining area dominated by red velvet seating and booths. We entered off Rundle Street, seeking something light rather than full meal. Booking is recommended, especially if you want one of the inviting red velvet booths. Even though the restaurant was completely empty when we arrived, the staff struggled to find a seat for us.
The menu is an exciting combination of Italian and Mediterranean. There are many interesting options with the usual Italian style of presenting stuzzichini, antipasti, pasta, secondi and contorini. We were not looking for a large meal, so we decided to share a few antipasti.
We ordered the steak tartare, burrata, and bread. Steak tartare is one of our favourite dishes and we always choose it when it is available. The smooth texture of raw meat and egg yolk, combined with herbs and often a pungent vegetable like onions, cornichons or capers, creates a delightful dish. It is often served with French bread, but Enoteca provides a thin and crispy bread designed to scoop up mouthfuls of the yummy seasoned meat. The smooth and creamy burrata was a fantastic contrast. Mozzarela stuffed with cream and more mozzarela, topped with a pesto oil and on a bed of roasted and pickled vegetables. We loved it. Rounded off with some fresh bread and a bottle of prosecco, the meal was just what we were looking for.
Hilariously, we matched the red furniture in our red outfits. As we did not have a large meal, we were finished quickly, something which seemed to make the staff happy. The menu prices looked reasonable, with most dishes coming in under $35, so we will go back and have a full meal soon (and this time we will book).
