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[title]Hidden on a quiet residential backstreet in Alexandria, Pino’s Vino e Cucina is serving up traditional hospitality by the bowlful. Pasta is made and bread is baked in-house daily at this family-owned affair, where the seasonal menu also champions small suppliers and the freshest ingredients.
You’ll be welcomed in as part of the family as you take a seat at the hand-crafted wooden bar or sink into one of the soft leather banquettes. Sip on an Italian wine or lager, or try one of the specialty cocktails or masterfully crafted traditional drinks – like a Nonno's Remedy that mixes Amaro Nonino, eucalyptus pear, bee pollen and ginger beer.
Pino’s summer offerings are packed with flavours perfect for grazing on warm evenings. Start with antipasti selections like house marinated olives or soft, gooey burrata with crispy prosciutto and rockmelon before moving on to an impressive selection of mains. Such as fresh gnocchi-shaped malloreddus pasta infused with hay ash and served with zucchini flowers and ricotta; spaghetti with spanner crab, roasted tomatoes and dill; braised pork ragu with Gigli (a cone-shaped pasta with a ruffled edge); or the sizeable black angus Fiorentina.
If that’s not enough, there’s also a selection of formaggi (cheese) and salumi (cured meats) to peruse, including a truffle pecorino and a ghost chilli infused Norcia salame (one of the most sought after salami’s in Italy).
If you’re thinking ahead, you can pre-order a special lobster pasta on the restaurant’s website, or a nine-week dry-aged Rangers Valley black onyx côte de bœuf.
Owner Matteo Margiotta took inspiration from his Italian heritage and his family kitchen in the creation of Pino, which takes his father’s namesake, from the copper pots and pans from his parents kitchen in Rome that hang on the exposed brick walls to the focus on creating a warm, welcoming environment. Margiotta established Pino’s after working the kitchens of the Cottage Point Inn and Black Star Pastry. His authentic, stylish Italian diner has achieved what Black Star has done in the bakery space – created something new and exciting out of something familiar.
Head to Pino’s next time you have a date to impress over a cocktail and a candle-lit dinner, a large group to feed for a special occasion, or a corporate gathering (platters to share ensure no one leaves hungry).