Last night we decided to dine out and as is our want to try out new places to eat we decide on Martini Ristorante which is located on 59A The Parade Norwood SA 5076. Upon waking into the restaurant I thought it had a really nice atmosphere especially with the presence of a lovely wood oven, which I thought would lend to some really traditional cooking, especially the pizza. Nothing better than a tasty wood oven pizza.
Unfortunately we were directed to another room which apart from the bar was really very drab looking. As we sat down we couldn’t but help notice all the noisy chatter, especially from one table of revelers. The noise was such that it really spoiled out dining experience, completely different from Chianti which I reviewed on my Chianti Classico Restaurant Adelaide, A Great Experience post. Perhaps management should consider doing something to that room that would absorb the noise as well as lift the atmosphere of the place.
Martini is obviously and Italian restaurant, and being of Italian background I was looking forward to a lovely meal.
As an entree I decided on the Gnocchi al Ragu, a house made gnocchi with tender veal pieces in tonato ragu. Although this was really a main I asked for it as an entree and I have to admit it was absolutely divine. The gnocchi dumplings were absolutely divine, definitely the best I’ve ever had, so light and fluffy I’m sure the only thing stopping them from floating off the plate was the sauce and tender veal pieces, both of which only added to the a very tasty entree.
For my main I chose the Risotto alla boscaiola with portobello & porcini mushrooms, sage, barolo wine & baby spinach. Those of you who follow my reviews would know that I love my risotto, unfortunately this one, as far as I was concerned, was below par. Although the rice was cooked to perfection the dish just wasn’t very flavorsome. It definitely could have done with a little more salt but considering the ingredients I was expecting more. I let my wife sample some of it and she thought it was alright but sorry I can have alright at home, when paying for a meal I want something more.
Speaking of the wife, she had the Pappardelle con Anatra, a flat wide ribbon pasta served with slow cooked duck and field mushroom ragu. Now that was something that looked really tasty and so I had to sample me some and it was as tasty as it looked. After speaking to the others that were dining with us it seemed that I was the only one whose dish was left wanting. Oh well, c’est la vie.
By that time the noise had become intolerable and after telling the waitress we would love to stay for dessert but we couldn’t eat with all the noise around us she has us moved to the front of the restaurant. Much better, and not longer after the move we noticed another table from the ‘noise’ room were right behind our heals. Seems we weren’t the only ones that found the noise level intolerable.
For dessert I had the Bombaloni di banana, a banana & chocolate beignet with vanilla custard. This consisted of four tasty balls that were of a cinnamon donut consistency and texture, with a chocolate center, each surrounded by a little vanilla custard. Don’t know where the banana came in. Overall it was passable. The wife had the Crème Brulèe, a vanilla crème brulée served with house made almond biscotti which was quite tasty.
Apart from the risotto and the noise the only other disappointment was the service. Although the staff was very friendly they just were not around often enough. There were times when we needed drinks and no-one was around to ask. I also think that the it took way too long for the main to come out. We sat down at about 7.30pm and we weren’t served the main till after 10. Other than that it would have been a very enjoyable evening.
