Abbiocco Pasta & Wine St Kilda, St Kilda review

Sequel to the popular Highett Pasta and Wine Bar of the same name, Olive-hued Barkly Street light spot Abbiocco is winning over a whole new group of followers. The moniker refers to an Italian phrase that loosely translates to “food coma,” and yes, that means you’re in for a bountiful feast.

Familiar Italian flavors are creatively refreshed, and while the menu shares a similar feel to its sibling, it also features plenty of new additions. The pasta is the hero, homemade every day. You might fancy shrimp and artichoke bucatini in shellfish sauce ($35), casarecce pork ‘alla Romana’ ($34) or pumpkin gnocchi topped with walnut cream and vincotto ($33 ).

A solid lineup of antipasti includes bites like cheesy porcini and leek arancini ($12) and swordfish carpaccio ($23), as well as Abbiocco’s own mortadella, served with Veneto peppers and pistachios ($17). And twisted classics like strawberry semifreddo with bush pepper pistachios ($8) and gianduja and orange cannoli ($15) await you on the dessert list.

Meanwhile, the wine offering celebrates Aussie drops alongside many of the homeland, with an impressive range by the glass – you might as well pair your after-work snacks with a Tassie Chardonnay from Barringwood ($16) , like the Tuscan Sangiovese Tenuta Orsumella ($20).

A lager collaboration made with Bad Shepherd ($11) features a solid array of craft beers, while cocktails sport a distinct euro lean – from blood orange negroni ($21) to a limoncello and grapefruit spritz. ($16).