It is not often I stumble across a restaurant that turns me into a poet but this one magically did.
Nick had been working in his new job for a week and proceeded to have a number of celebratory after work drinks on Friday night. Needless to say when I picked him up from the city around 7.30pm he was in great spirits. I couldn't be bothered cooking dinner and I have been wanting to try Bar Idda since I first noticed Rumi had evacuated the gorgeous corner site for a more spacious area still on Lygon street but a couple of blocks closer to the city.
We arrived at Bar Idda and immediately thought our chances were slim to none of getting a table, luckily as the name suggests there is a substantial bar with seating where you can quite comfortably eat a meal and have a chat. The attentive wait staff immediately shuffled everyone down to make room for us.
The Sicilian menu at Bar Idda is short but oh so sweet, consisting of a few antipasti to start followed by a variety of around 5 mains covering most food groups from fish to pistachio crumbed lamb cutlets which I must say are to die for, gorgeous, juicy lamb cooked to perfection (my idea of a good Friday night!). There are a number of creative vegetarian dishes that you could either choose to have as a side or if you don't eat meat would make a more than satisfying main.
We ordered the dolce meatballs, little balls of heaven cooked in a rich tomato sauce with lots of cinnamonny goodness. You could tell this was one of Mama's recipes! Nick devoured the lamb cutlets, leaving me a tiny morsel and we had the most amazing vegetable dish of broccoli cooked with slightly caramelised red onion and anchovies. If only I could have found the broccoli when I was in Italy, I think I craved green vegetables in that country more than anything.
Because we were enjoying having a giggle and a carefree dining experience, we decided to share a chocolate filled cannoli over another glass of wine.
There are about four wines on the menu along with a number of aperitifs and a select group of international beers. The wine can be ordered by the carafe which, let's admit is the only way to drink it if you are going for an authentic Italian experience.
This tiny Sicilian restaurant is full of charm, great value and inspiring flavours. I would have to say it is one of my new favourites. Thank you so much!
Oh, I almost forgot the poem...
L'addition, s'il vous plaît, Il conto, per favore, this is how we say... Can I please pay!!!
Address: 132 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
Phone: 9380 5339
Licensed: Yes
Bookings: Recommended unless you are happy to sit at the bar
Prices: Great Value
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Are you kidding me? We went to Bar Idda tonight and it was terrible. The bread was stale and I paid $20 for a plain piece of fish with a slice of lemon next to it. Ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteAnchovies are fish. That dish isn't vegetarian.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous 27 November 2009...
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your comment about the fish dish I went back to Bar Idda and noticed that on the menu it clearly says grilled fish with lemon. What were you expecting to receive after reading this? I am assuming that you noticed the menu also offers side dishes if you would like something to go with it! $20 is a good price for a nicely cooked piece of fresh fish served to you by a waiter and cooked by a chef in a restaurant where they are no doubt paying rent on top of wages and supplies. I actually heard you may have also complained about the orange salad only containing oranges and mixed salad leaves... hmmm
To Anchovies are fish. That is why I called the dish a vegetable dish not a vegetarian dish.
I concur with Anonymous (27 November). I too found Bar Idda produced boring food, without style, and poorly executed. The entrees sitting in a pie-warmer should have alerted me! My pasta was cold, sauce lukewarm, very unappetising.
ReplyDeleteThe place is extremely over-rated, don't bother.
I have been to Bar Idda numerous times since it opened.I have always found the food fantastic,along with everyone else who has dined with me:)
ReplyDeleteUninspiring food, and occasionally disingenuous menu descriptions. I ordered the “pot roasted pork and spiced sausage with caramelised onion, black olives and vincotto” only to find said roast pork had was in fact hiding inside the sausages, of which there were three - the largest being the size of a walnut. “Secondi”? Only in price.
ReplyDelete