Lupino.
Lupino
41 Little Collins Street
Melbourne
MARCH 2012: I’m back for more.
I’ve been wanting to pop by Lupino for a while now. It’s pretty close to my office but it’s always fully booked out, especially for Friday lunches.
On a whim I rang them up close to lunch time, and I inquired if they had a bar area where they accepted walk-ins when I was told they were full. Thankfully they do have a little counter that seats 4 along the window.
When we arrived, we were offered the option of another 4-seater along the counter further in which had a perfect view of the pass, and we thoroughly enjoyed watching all the dishes being prepared and plated.
I’ll be honest with you, there’s a lot to like about Lupino. There’s something simplistic about the decor, yet it’s warm, inviting and there’s a great vibe. They were pretty packed. And yet we barely had to wait before all our dishes were prepared right before our eyes and served at the same time.
Lamb Salad, Lemon, Herbs & Goat’s Cheese ($18.5)
The lamb was invitingly pink, seated on a bed of salad, creamy goats cheese and little lemon pieces.
Grilled Peaches, Parma, Prosciutto & Marinated Goat’s Cheese
One of the specials, I love how they substituted the customary rock melon with luscious fragrant peaches. Hands down my favourite dish to start. The juicy tangy peaches cuts through the intense saltiness of the smooth parma prosciutto, accompanied with creamy goat’s cheese, all in one little mouthful.
Spaghettini Marinara ($29)
This picture doesn’t do the portion justice. A generous serve, with beautifully fresh seafood. The clams and mussels, the prawns, each seafood morsel was a sheer delight. And the pasta smelt and looked amazing. We did request for this dish to be tomato based, which head chef Marco Lori kindly obliged.
Ricotta & Spinach Cannelloni ($18)
The ricotta and spinach filling was generous and so soft, and the cannelloni was coated in this vibrant and fragrant sauce. Wonderfully light.
Tiramisu ($14)
Rich and sinful, each heavenly bite filled your mouth with layers of rich mascarpone and thin layers of coffee-soaked sponge fingers.
Flat White
Lupino reminds me of Bocca di Lupo, I really shouldn’t draw comparisons but there’s something about the feel of the place - it’s relaxed yet seductive, and the gorgeously simple and wholesome Italian food they plate up that I find comforting.
Put simply, after lunch, we immediately made reservations for dinner in two weeks time, right before their Christmas break. I’ll be sure to try the Bombolini with imported Italian Nutella and report back.
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