Overview
The team behind South Melbourne's Park Street Pasta & Wine have some serious street cred when it comes to crowd-pleasing Italian food. And they're about to expand that fan base even further — now, they've opened the doors to their new restaurant venture Osteria Renata, just a quick hop east in the heart of Prahran.
Co-owners Alex Ghaddab and Gus Cadden (Head Chef) have delivered High Street a warm, modern take on the classic osteria and named it in honour of Ghaddab's Polish-Ukrainian grandmother.
Parker Blain
There's a sense of generous hospitality throughout, with a comforting, yet imaginative food offering matched by inviting interiors sporting soft olive accents and natural timbers.
An onsite pasta lab steers the menu's carb component, as Cadden embraces both the traditional and the innovative. You might find yourself twirling your fork around tagliatelle in a spicy pork shoulder ragu; or vegging out with the porcini, mushroom and caramelised leek quadratti. Give them 48 hours' notice if you fancy trying the statement spaghetti dish, swimming in rich brodetto and topped with half a rock lobster.
Parker Blain
Snack sessions are well catered, with a strong lineup of antipasti — maybe, decadently crisp gnocco fritto paired with 36-month-aged Iberico jamon, barbecued octopus skewers finished with nduja, and a plump burrata knot sat atop fava puree and drizzled in brown butter vinaigrette. Try an Italian craft brew or a Piedmontese nebbiolo to match.
A whole roasted garfish crowns a dish of fregola with pippies and bottarga, and the veal cotoletta features crispy capers and a blanket of pecorino. And the spiced pumpkin semifreddo is as warming a winter dessert as it sounds.
Thom Mitchell
There's a strong Italian lean to the drinks list, where Euro-inspired signature sips rule the cocktail selection, the spritz count is around four, and Italian vino is celebrated alongside drops from Australia, France and Spain. A handful of rotating wine taps will also offer a taste of what's happening with Italian varietals in the local winemaking game.
Located out the back, the aforementioned pasta lab won't just be whipping up fresh pasta stocks for the Osteria Renata and Park Street kitchens, but will eventually play host to a program of pasta-making workshops. And come balmier days, the al fresco space between the two buildings will be brought to life as the Prosecco Garden, with room for 25.
Parker Blain
Find Osteria Renata at 436-438 High Street, Prahran. It's open 12pm–late Tuesday–Saturday.
Images: Parker Blain and Thom Mitchell