1889 Enoteca

Overview

Looking to the past often helps shape the future, and the crew behind 1889 Enoteca renovated the fit-out to best show-off the old Moreton Rubber building in the increasingly buzzy Woolloongabba.

Like stepping into the heart of old-time Europe, 1889 Enoteca offers gutsy Roman fare with a superb wine list. 'Enoteca' translates as 'wine library', and wine can be seen everywhere – from the hundreds of empty bottles making up the decor to the full ones ready for drinking. Evidence is everywhere of good times past and good times to be had.

The miraculous wine list reads like War and Peace — so if you're a novice, leave it to the experts who run the floor and know the cellar like most people know their own children.

When to comes to the food, expect a comfortingly classic Italian menu. Antipasti leads the charge with salumi, artichoke and prosciutto di parma leading the way. For the primi course, we recommend the highly-coveted and long time menu favourite the fried zucchini flowers stuffed with mozzarella and anchovies or the particularly elite traditional vitello tonnato.

Then for the pasta course you'll find classics like a rich and meaty ragu on pappardelle, a spaghetti cacio e pepe, or the tagliatelle with prawns, chilli, garlic and chives.

1889 Enoteca's secondi plates include a transportative saltimbocca alla Romana (veal that's been wrapped with prosciutto and sage before being marinated in wine and baked in the oven), Moreton Bay bugs in a creamy pesto sauce, and the bistecca — a beautifully grilled Cape Grim T-bone served at the table with horseradish mayo and salsa verde.

Not surprisingly, you'll find all your favourite Italian desserts on the menu too like a textbook tiramisu and very good pannacotta. All these quintessential Italian dishes have survived the test of time, being perfected throughout many generations. And 1889 Enoteca isn't trying to reinvent the wheel. It's simply mastering each and every option.

Top image: Nikki To

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