Pure Italian

Many cafes talk up their daily-changing menu, but it’s not until you see the waiter wash down the blackboard at the end of a languid lunch at Pure Italian that you appreciate just how spontaneous the offerings are. The kitchen’s whims might include lusty duck ragu tossed through fettuccine, or lamb shanks with dense semolina gnocchi. A cabinet filled with bowls of olives, char-grilled vegies and cheeses forms the antipasto, which varies not just daily, but from one table to another. It’s all dished up in a comforting dining room of wooden tables, vintage posters and family photos, by accommodating waitstaff who add to the charm.