Overview
Thornbury locals will know Pastificio Sandro well. The Italian grocer fills its cabinets with its own handmade pasta and ready-made meals, along with stacks of local and imported produce. To enjoy Sandro's cooking prowess in its full glory, you used to have to buy its pasta and sauces separately (or its excellent meat lasagne) and cook it all up at home. But there's now another way.
Every Friday and Saturday night, diners who book a seat online can head around the back alleyway and find the entrance to its new secret restaurant p r o v a. Here, you'll either sit at the large table where they make the very pasta you'll be eating or at one of the smaller tables by the pasta cabinet, and tuck into a six-course feast ($125).
Head Chef Adrian Bressanutti (ex-Stokehouse and Tipo 00) has created a menu of contemporary Italian eats — of course, featuring plenty of pasta. Bressanutti has worked at some of the best pasta spots in Melbourne, so we have very high expectations. We're also hoping the team's limoncello tiramisu and cannoli make their way onto the plates.
Diners can also add wine pairings to the whole experience, curated by Andrew Barry (ex-Gingerboy and Anchovy), or just order as they please from the small selection of wine and beer.
And don't worry too much if you can't get one of the 14 seats. You can always settle on Pastificio Sandro's fresh pastas, sauces and desserts while you wait for availabilities.
You can find p r o v a at the rear of Pastificio Sandro, located at 822 High Street, Thornbury. It's open from 6pm–late on Friday and Saturday nights. For more information, head to the venue's website.