I've been eating a lot of Italian lately because I've just watched the entire five seasons of Kitchen Nightmares. It's weird that I always feel like I don't have enough time to do things, when somehow, I managed to watch all 60 episodes.
Anyway, back to my point - in Kitchen Nightmares, Gordan Ramsay visits more Italian restaurants than any other cuisines... He really got me craving Italian!
We're pretty spoilt for choice in Sydney but on this particular night, we decided to revisit Pizza e Birra, which is just a short stroll from home.
Working so close to home, and living so close to restaurants means we're often eating dinner while the masses are still travelling home from work. Sometimes, by 7pm, we would have already finished a three course dinner! I guess that could be how I've been creating all this spare time...
I've been back to Pizza e Birra several times since my first visit (6 years ago!); it's a place which never disappoints.
This was just an ordinary weeknight dinner so we're here for a no-fuss meal that'll satisfy the cravings in which Kitchen Nightmares has induced.
The pizzas here are obviously what has put this restaurant on the map. Simple toppings with a really beautiful crust and base. We share the salsiccia e porcini ($22) which consists of pork sausage with mushrooms, mozzarella, porcini, parmesan and basil on tomato sauce. I love the rich and earthy flavour of the porcini mushrooms, and how it complements the savoury complexity of the pork sausage. The crust is slightly crisp and has an overall delightful lightness to it.
The fresh tagliatelle with duck ragu ($24) has a wonderful rustic appeal. The duck ragu tastes more summery than Il Baretto's version. It is brighter and sweeter. The al denta pasta holds the tomato sauce and lush pieces of duck very well and the serving size is quite spot on.
We were going to leave it at that, but we figured we really deserved a treat. The pannacotta ($12) is just irresistible. With every mouthful speckled with honey and vanilla bean and just a small dab of the coffee caramel sauce, we're quick to polish off dessert.
How pretty are the flowers by the window?
P.S. Beware of queues if you intend on dining here on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night!
Pizza e Birra
1/500 Crown Street, Surry Hills, NSW
Phone: (02) 9332 2510
Web: pizzabirra.com.au
Oh my ultimate favourite from e Bira was definitely the duck ragu. I totally agree with this place never disappointing :)
Yea, it's great that they're so consistent!
The ragu looks fab. I do remember their pizza being particularly good, but it's been years since I've been...
It'd been about a year between visits for me. It's good that the quality of food and service hasn't dropped!
Watching Kitchen Nightmares has the opposite effect on me: I want to eat at home after seeing all of those disgusting kitchens!
LOL! Yes, it can, depending on the episode! But usually by the end of it, I'm hungry :-P
Yum, forget the flowers by the window, I would like to dip a spoon into the panna cotta!
Nice to see it is still good I haven't been here for years either
The food looks delicious, and yes I do like those flowers, it looks like a restaurant my mum would love :D I need to eat more Italian food, Urbanspoon says I eat mostly Japanese and Chinese. :S
Ahhh, the beauty of having conveniences right at your doorstep! And I think because we mostly do have so much to do, that it is a reward to procrastinate and enjoy some passive entertainment as watching tv sometimes =)