Well, hello there old friend. Good old Fratelli Paradiso. Can’t even remember the last time I headed here for dinner. Being so spoilt for choice would be an understatement when it comes to dining options in my neighbourhood and with a new opening on every corner, sometimes your old faithfuls get a little lost in the fray. So many restaurants, so few meal times.

When restaurateurs around the world open their businesses this is surely what they are aspiring to. A packed restaurants full of regulars, the occasional celeb chef and a happy dining experience that transcends being on trend or simply the ‘it’ spot to be eating.

Though it’s been a while, the food is exactly as I remember it. Beautiful, simple, quite traditional and delicious. The Swordfish Crudo is a seared on the outside  and finished with the simplest of dressings. The Buffalo Mozzarella with Tomato and Herb dressing is fresh and delicious.

The Scampi with Pasta has been on the menu for as long as I remember and difficult to resist. If there’s one thing that Fratelli do incredibly well, it is to not mess with the food too much and nothing demonstrates it better than this dish.

The Gnocchi Amatriciana is a winner. Perfect little pillows of gnocchi with a rich tomato sauce with the delicate kick of chilli. Beautiful. My favourite dish.

In the interests of ensuring that no carb goes unturned, the seafood risotto special I thought was worth a look in. It’s a rich tomatoe-y risotto with calamari, snapper and scampi throughout, with the scampi’s sweetness creating a taste sensation.

My dinner companion is having the Spatchcock this evening which is crumbed and stuffed. The spatchcock is incredibly tasty, beautifully tender (the pic doesn’t really do it justice).

These are accompanied by a simple dish of roasted carrots with yoghurt and hazelnut. This idea will be stolen for next dinner party for sure.

In the interests of providing a fully comprehensive blog post we are squeezing in a dessert to share even though our sides are hurting. The apple pie isn’t the most traditional serving I’ve ever eaten. More pretty apple tart than pie, it’s served with a cinnamon ice-cream. It’s not setting the world on fire, but nor is there a mouthful left for the waiter to take back to the kitchen.

Am very pleased to reconnect with this old friend, and am excited that a new version of Fratelli is on the horizon (opening behind the Ivy later this year).

16 Challis Avenue, Potts Point | +61 2 9357 1744
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