Nove
Cucina
By Franz Scheurer
Basking in the sun at the wharf in Woolloomooloo is my idea of relaxing in Sydney and Nove Cucina is a great spot for just this. A modern, Italian restaurant, serving terrific food under James Kidman watchful chef’s eyes and it’s a place that gets it right. Bright, easy on the eyes, comfortable and never confronting, this is a terrific restaurant and anything but the ‘poor relation’ to Otto next door.
The food is straightforward and looks and tastes exactly the way you would hope to expect. Try the ‘salad of buffalo (DOP) mozzarella with fresh fig, prosciutto and vino cotto’ when in season and the gooeyness of the mozzarella will surprise you. The same superb cheese is of course also used in a simple ‘Caprese Salad’ or the buffalo mozzarella, tomato and basil pizza. I love the ‘Orrechiette with braised shoulder of lamb, Ligurian olives, rosemary and gremolata’ and it’s hard to go past the ‘Whole river trout stuffed with herbed soft breadcrumbs and wrapped in pancetta’.
Desserts are competent and if you really want to indulge there is always the ‘Panettone bread and butter pudding with grilled figs and caramel sauce’. WOW!
Value for money is excellent and service is affable. The wine list is poignant and suits the food.
Score: 7.5/10
For more information and bookings:
Nove Cucina
Area 9 / 6 Cowper Wharf Road
Woolloomooloo
Tel.: 02 9368 7599