p r o v a

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 — featuring plenty of pasta, of course. You can also add a wine pairing to the whole experience, curated by Andrew Barry (ex-Gingerboy and Anchovy), or just order as y0u please from the tidy selection of wine and beer.

And don't worry too much if you can't get one of the 14 seats. You can always take home one of Pastificio Sandro's fresh pastas, sauces or desserts while you wait for availability.