Overview
Between the cheesy margherita pizzas, parmesan-doused tagliatelle and ricotta-stuffed cannoli, you'd be forgiven for assuming Italian cuisine is forever doomed to be a vegan no-go zone. But Hardware Lane's newest resident is here to remind you that's not true. Introducing, Funghi e Tartufo — a laneway Italian restaurant with an entirely plant-based menu and wine list.
Named after the Italian words for 'mushrooms and truffle' in a nod to the kitchen's signature dish, Funghi e Tartufo comes from the minds behind Clifton Hill's Osteria Italiano. And it's a dream for vegans, coeliacs and FODMAP folks alike.
Following in the footsteps of dietary-friendly local Italian eateries like Farro and gluten-free pizzeria Shop 225, the newcomer is taking an inclusive approach to a cuisine that's traditionally not so vegan-friendly.
On the menu, you'll find all the Italian classics, with a plant-based makeover. Kick off with antipasto bites like bolognese arancini, lemon pepper 'calamari', vegan meatballs and a Sicilian-style caponata paired with toasted bread.
Pasta fiends can get their kicks with the likes of fresh pappardelle in rich truffle and mushroom sauce, a spicy penne puttanesca, and even a creamy carbonara situation. Or, try Funghi e Tartufo's take on the classic cotoletta, here matched with vegan cheese and a tomato sauce.
Dessert's sorted, too, thanks to sweet creations like panna cotta and a silky chocolate cheesecake.
But that's not all. The menu abounds in gluten-free options, and even the wine and cocktail list is an all-vegan affair. Pop by for aperitivo hour, and enjoy your Sicilian snacks and vegan cheese board matched with drops like a negroni or a 2018 chianti out of Tuscany.
Find Funghi e Tartufo at 60 Hardware Lane, Melbourne CBD. It's open 5–10pm Wednesday and Thursday, and 5–11pm Friday and Saturday.