It was a milestone celebration for my wife, so it had to be special. We were in Norton St to watch Ferrari, so when Grappa was recommended to us, it seemed logical to maintain the Italian theme. We have travelled extensively in Italy so our...expectations were high.
Awesome wine list, with many Italian regions represented. We went all out for a 2014 Calabretta Vigne Vecchie from Sicily, which was decanted for us as we sat at the bar having pre-dinner drinks. That wine just got better and better through our meal, and was definitely worth the $130.
Standouts in the food department were the Tuna Carpaccio (just divine and ample serving), the Gnocchi (freshly made on site), the Barramundi and the slow-cooked Barramundi. The "potato chips" side extra turned out to be a huge plate of French fries and were spot on.
The wait staff were numerous, friendly, professional, and attentive. We never had to refill our glasses ourselves, and for a restaurant with over 100 diners that level of service is special.
I could not believe the size of the kitchen compared to the number of diners. I do not know how they do it, other than to marvel at the expertise in getting their systems flowing. Waiting time between ordering and serving and between courses was not noticeable, and in fact we had to ask for a delay before mains just to sit, sip, and soak in the atmosphere, which was that of a restaurant filled with happy people and no dramas.
During our time there, the owner/manager arrived and was working the tables, talking to guests and even pitching in to take orders and collect plates. I never saw him having to deal with any issue. He checked in on us twice, the second time to offer us both a complimentary Limoncello. This is quite common in Italy, but the first time we had experienced it back home. And it was good Limoncello, not cheap crap.
Overall, our expectations were exceeded. It was the most expensive dinner we had ever had (not by much), but as I said, it was a special occasion. We left happy and full as googs.More