Mister Bianco
An authentic Sicilian restaurant with a seasonal menu that fuses the traditional with the new.
Overview
UPDATE Thursday, June 3: Mister Bianco is back to offering its Italian Job finish-at-home meal boxes for pick up and delivery (days vary, so check here for details). It's also got a menu of ready-to-eat fare, including dishes like black truffle cannoli and gnocchi osso buco — order from that lineup here. And this weekend, on June 5 and 6, you can swing past the restaurant for a special lunch pop-up if it's within your ten kilometer radius. The restaurant is slinging Sicilian barbecue street eats to-go. There'll be oregano sausages, steak sandwiches loaded with onion and beetroot pickle, Golden Gaytime cannoli and more.
In the heart of Kew, this charming neighbourhood restaurant pays homage to chef-owner Joseph Vargetto's southern Italian heritage, while embracing a touch of modern European flair. Sibling to the CBD's Massi, it's a warm, art-filled space designed to transport you straight to the stylish eateries of Italy.
Pull up a banquette and dig into the menu of finely-tuned seasonal dishes. Starters might include pumpkin and taleggio arancini ($4.50) or chargrilled octopus with a chickpea puree ($24), while the kitchen's pasta prowess shines through dishes like a rabbit cavatelli spiked with capers and green olives ($30), and truffle tortellini finished with peas and a prosecco cream ($31). Main plates run to the likes of slow-cooked beef cheek teamed with celery leaf spaetzle (a style of egg pasta) ($39), while a multi-course shared chef's menu clocks in at $68.
And if Mister Bianco's menu leaves you inspired to hone your own culinary skills, the restaurant's also home to Giuseppe's Cooking School, where Vargetto runs a regular program of themed masterclasses. Discover the secrets of slow-cooking, learn how to whip up a cracking sugo, or master the art of making classic Sicilian cannoli.
Top images: HiSylvia