Don’t be alarmed if you’re finding Bucci hard to resist. This well-liked Italian’s upbeat red-and-black fit-out, its lively diner buzz and slightly sunken dining space exert a powerful pull on passersby. The attraction is compounded by a pitch-perfect drink list, with its clever array of apéritifs and digestifs, and classic entrées like mussels boosted by a well-judged sauce of white wine, parsley, garlic and tomato, or a knot of creamy burrata, say, simply dressed with a drizzle of James Street honey. Service can be brusque and short on detail, but a generous rack of hay-baked Flinders Island lamb paired with crushed potatoes and a bright salsa verde needs nothing extra. The River Café-inspired chocolate nemesis cake has been a signature since Bucci opened – or you could try a contemporary take on granita, a super-light snow dome of limoncello and mascarpone finished with roasted almonds and biscuity, caramelised white-chocolate rubble.
This review was made independently for the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. The guide’s reviewers visit unannounced and pay their way.
Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide
Wine: ★ ★
Gourmet Traveller’s star-ratings, which range from zero to three stars, reflect reviewers’ first-hand experiences. The best-rated restaurants form our national Top 100. Our wine ratings, from zero to three stars, are made by wine editor Max Allen on the strength of the quality of the restaurant’s wine list. View our rating key here.
