Our favourite Italian venues to take you from breakfast to dinner

Italian food is beloved, ubiquitous and, in Canberra at least, very good! We are lucky to have a huge range of Italian offerings, from casual eats to proper fine dining, no matter which part of the city you live in

Here’s our pick of Italian places to see you through the whole day.

Breakfast

Breakfast isn’t actually a huge deal in Italy. Many people drink un espresso (very strong, very bitter) with a sweet pastry and call it a day. But here in Canberra, where brunch is king, you can live out your best la vita bella and order lasagna for breakfast at Agostinis. For sweet tooths, try the panettone French toast.

Tutto Delicatessen at Mawson shops does brunch, and while you’re there, get their brilliant Italian panini and specialty sweets like the crispy-as-hell sfogliatelle. But mostly this is an excellent place to stock up on Italian goodies from the deli display; mortadella and prosciutto sliced to order, antipasti vegetables, olives, cheese and dips. The shelves are packed with imported pasta, sauces, chocolates and all things molto bene.

Lunch

There’s been a recent trend in Canberra for deli-style sandwiches on freshly baked schiacciata (Tuscan focaccia) bread. Caffe al Lago in Gungahlin even bakes the bread to order, then stuffs it full of incredible deli goods. In the city, hole-in-the-wall Sliceria does epic schiacciata sandwiches as well as slabs of pizza by the slice.

Meanwhile, Mariangela and Sonia at Fyshwick Market’s Colosseum Italian Street Food were well ahead of trend and have been doing a roaring trade in their Roman-style pizza, paninis, antipasti and traditional sweets (hello cannoli!) for over 5 years.

Wine and Snacks

Pick up a bottle or two of Italian wine from DeVino Wine and Salumi in Woden. The shelves of this family-run enoteca are full of wines directly from the family’s import business, and you can also sit in for a taste, with a rotating list of wines by the glass. The fridge is also stocked with home-made tiramisu, cured meats and cheeses, and they also offer catering boxes full of antipasti.

Dinner

Canberra is full of great Italian restaurants, so it’s very hard to pick just one to recommend for dinner. So I won’t even try to limit my suggestions!

The Italian Place in Braddon is a warm, authentic favourite with a seasonal menu showcasing regional dishes. Chef Francesco’s food is always generous and delicious. Just down the road, Italian and Sons is another long-time favourite. Pick your day of the week wisely for the rotating piatti principali (main dishes).

Gianni’s in Belconnen is a new addition to the scene, with a proud lineage as the younger sibling of Briscola in the city (itself an excellent choice). I’m told they’re often packed, so book ahead.

And shout-outs are for Andre’s Osteria and Pronto in Weston Creek, because Southsiders deserve squisito (exquisitely delicious) Italian too!

Or if you’re looking to really go all out on your Italian dinner, Canberra also has a few elevated options worthy of a Roman emperor (minus the backstabbing. Et tu?)

Mezzalira is a Canberran institution, full stop. The Trimboli brothers (who also run Italian and Sons) have been serving up Italian elegance on the corner of the Melbourne building since 1996. The space was once a bank, and the old vault holds their premium wines. Get the set menu and relax, safe in the knowledge that you’re in good hands.

Lunetta has revitalised the iconic Red Hill lookout and established itself as a similarly iconic destination restaurant. Upstairs is seriously fancy, and the downstairs Trattoria is still fancy (but you won’t need a second mortgage).

And for dessert, you obviously require gelato. Fortunately, we’ve already written a list about where to find some of the best in Canberra. Check it out here.

Where do you go for Italian in Canberra?

Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Region Canberra.

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