The team behind Fortitude Valley favourites Hôntô and Agnes made a clever addition to their restaurant portfolio with the opening of sleek James Street trattoria Biánca in 2021. And it has consistently gained fans and repeat customers ever since.
Nestled into Ada Lane which branches off of the popular Valley roadway — and also houses The Calile Hotel, Same Same and Gelato Messina — Biánca is all about simple, old-school Italian fare.
Within the trattoria's pastel-hued confines, diners can fill the table with antipasti items like Cantabrian anchovies, burrata, fritto misto and prosciutto di parma with melon — as well as a pasta range that includes prawn spaghetti and a mafalde with beef ragu.
The Biánca mains are true classics. Pork cotoletta served on soft polenta, grilled spatchcock, and wood-roasted flounder served in an almond cream are all big wins.
But be sure to leave room for something sweet. The stellar dessert lineup includes fior di latte gelato, salted caramel and walnut cannoli, tiramisu and a rich chocolate torte topped with seasonal fruit and diplomat cream.
When you're tucking into Biánca's cheeses, breads and pastas, you're eating slices of dairy and servings of carbohydrates all made in-house. Pair it all with one of the many Italian wines or a few cheeky cocktails — highlights include a Campari, creme de peche, white peach and orange juice number, plus a combination of gin, apricot, rosemary and lemon.
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The Best Restaurants in Brisbane