Abbiocco Pasta & Wine St Kilda

Sequel to the popular Highett pasta and wine bar of the same name, light-filled, olive-hued Barkly Street spot Abbiocco is winning over a whole new swag of followers. The moniker references an Italian phrase that loosely translates to 'food coma', and yes — that means you're in for some generous feasting.

Familiar Italian flavours are given a creative refresh and, while the menu shares a similar feel to that of its sibling, it also boasts plenty of new additions. Pasta is the hero, made fresh in-house each day. You might be in for the likes of prawn and globe artichoke bucatini in a crustacean sauce ($35), pork casarecce 'alla Romana' ($34), or a pumpkin gnocchi finished with walnut cream and vincotto ($33).

A strong antipasti lineup features bites like cheesy porcini and leek arancini ($12), and swordfish carpaccio ($23), plus Abbiocco's own mortadella, served with veneti peppers and pistachios ($17). And revamped classics like strawberry semifreddo with bush pepper pistachios ($8), and gianduja and orange cannoli ($15) beckon from the dessert list.

Meanwhile, the wine offering celebrates Aussie drops alongside many from the homeland, with an impressive range pouring by the glass — you can just as easily match your after-work snacks with a Tassie chardonnay by Barringwood ($16), as the Tenuta Orsumella Tuscan sangiovese ($20).

A collaboration lager made with Bad Shepherd ($11) headlines a solid craft beer lineup, while cocktails sport a distinctly Euro lean — from the blood orange negroni ($21) to a limoncello and grapefruit spritz ($16).