Grappa Ristorante

There are enough Italian restaurants in Leichhardt to feed an entire Italian village, but one has stood the test of time in this fickle neighbourhood. Perhaps it's Grappa's charming Italian waiters, or the extensive tick-all-boxes menu that appeals to young couples, serious suits and big families alike. From the trusty terracotta wood-fired oven comes not just traditional thin-crust pizza but also scampi, spatchcock and Calabrese sausages. A king prawn hotpot features an honest, well-spiced tomato sauce, while zucchini flowers stuffed with crabmeat are crisp and nicely prepared, if a little under-seasoned. More impressive are silky ricotta and porcini ravioli, with a nutty burnt butter and sage sauce. A bittersweet crust of minced olives on a rack of lamb contrasts nicely with a sweet-ish chianti reduction. With mains devoured, a satisfying combination of peanut butter brittle semifreddo and caramelised banana filo is a true slice of la dolce vita.