IL BACARO
Little Collins St. Melbourne
9654 6778
www.ilbacaro.com.au

One thing that is great about dining in Sydney or Melbourne is the fact that there are some great eateries hidden away in small streets and cobbled laneways.

 

Il Bacaro is a case in point. It’s at the nondescript top end of Little Collins Street in Melbourne. But is has developed a reputation that makes it packed for lunch and dinner.

 

To be honest I did not really like my first encounter. I lunched there with my lawyer and, because it is so small and intimate, I felt I was sharing every word with the next table’s entrée.

 

Recently though, I went there for an early dinner before going to see Pavarotti at Rod Laver Arena. One of about 12,000 people. At the concert – not the dinner.

 

And it was divine. Small, intimate, great service and good food. The lights were down, the service was smooth and they served oysters from Coffin Bay in South Australia. The best oysters in the world.

 

You know a restaurant is good when you read the menu and think there is nothing on there that you wouldn’t want to eat. At Il Bacaro that is true. It is also true that is not a huge menu.  I had some Coffin Bay oysters. That’s mandatory when you can get them.

 

Then I had “roast suckling pork with blueberry and black pepper compote”. The waiter told me that it did not have crackling—the best part of roast pork. Even if is just crispy fat. I ordered it anyway. And it came with delicious crackling.

 

Ms Nosebag had the Bruschetta del giorno. That was tasty. And then she had a fancy slice of schnapper – but passed on the planned bed of mashed potato.

 

This place has a great range of food. I am going back. Things like roasted duck with candied cumquats. Or a wild rabbit ragout. Or spaghettini with Moreton Bay bugs.

 

The maestro was calling so we didn’t have time for dessert. But I would have loved to have tried the “dark chocolate, glace cherries and almond terrine with raspberry and vanilla sauce”.

 

The ambience at night is 100%. So is the service. And the wine list and the food. You want a classy Italian meal in Melbourne’s CBD?

I’d recommend this place any time.

 

February 13, 2006