Restaurant Reviews

Rosa's Kitchen: Restaurant review

Address

22 Punch La
Melbourne, VIC

Hours

Tue-Fri noon-10pm
Sat 5pm-10pm

Prices

E $16-$23
M $24-$33
D $5-$12

REVIEW

Sicily is the clue to everything, wrote Goethe. It's certainly the key to Rosa's Kitchen, where the big-hearted cooking of Sicilian-born Rosa Mitchell showcases the island's vibrant brand of cucina povera. A simple trattoria tucked down a laneway (newcomer Rosa's Canteen dons more corporate livery for the legal district), it sets the dial to produce-driven comfort with dishes such as tender octopus and potato ramped up with the crunch, salt and kick of fennel, capers and chilli. Pasta is a strong suit: spaghetti alla Norma features sweet tomato sugo and roasted eggplant in a snowstorm of ricotta salata, while main courses cover the gamut of proteins from roast spatchcock and caponata to thin slices of smoked veal tongue with pickled vegetables. From a wine list that takes Mount Etna as its guiding star to the booze-soaked Marsala cannoli, Rosa's Kitchen feels deeply authentic - as if this was Messina, not Melbourne.
Phone:
(03) 9662 2236
Bookings:
Bookings recommended
Features:
  • Licensed
  • Vegetarian-friendly
  • Impressive Wine List
Accepted card types:
  • American Express
  • Eftpos
  • MasterCard
  • Visa
Chef(s):
Rosa Mitchell & Clare Bartell
This review was made independently for the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. The guide's reviewers visit unannounced and pay their way.