Ormeggio at The Spit

Ormeggio at The Spit Restaurant Review:

It’s little wonder that when chef Alessandro Pavoni became nostalgic about his birthplace of Lombardy, he felt beautiful Middle Harbour was the ideal location for his next restaurant. It’s fortunate for local diners, too, as his food had already gained a faithful following in the city. With the Italian word meaning “mooring” as its name, Ormeggio was built glass-sided, boat-like, so that guests could feel they were dining in yet another craft moored in the surrounding marina. Think of the menu as food the next generation of Italians now cooks --- traditional flavors wrought from contemporary techniques, here applied to the best Australian produce. The result is a dynamic lineup with lunch or dinner dishes such as a primi of carnaroli risotto with eggplant, tomato, mozzarella and basil, a secondi of charcoal lamb with witlof, beetroot, sour cherry and goat cheese, or a “cheese box” for two. The Italian-driven wine list manages to match the expanse of flavors, with carafes and many by the glass. If for some reason time is against you for dining, the adjoining Chiosco by Ormeggio (open daily all meals, lunch and dinner for a “chef’s sharing fest”) offers coffee, takeaways, a kids’ menu and bar menu, ideal if you are heading off on the water or even while enjoying the same view. One more incentive to visit: people with boats moored at the jetty may pick up their pre-ordered hampers early, before their day out.