I'm having one of those - I don't want to tell anyone about this place - moments. Ah shucks, I'll tell you.
Bar Racuda opened in Enmore on 12 April 2012, and their enterprise already looks pretty successful. It's an Italian style small bar, run by Gio Buscemi and Mario Montecuollo, who describe their business in historical terms: "Since1889, the Racuda family of Florence has been serving their patrons their own style of Italian drinks, made to measure."
The atmosphere is busy, rustic, understated Italian class. There were big bowls of fruit on the bar, and dim industrial lights hanging from the ceiling. There is a lot of very serious cocktail mixing going on here, and some excellent Italian wines (not outrageously pricey either, glasses start at $8). These guys are mates with Giorgio of 121BC, and possibly get their wine from him (I don't know that for sure though, that is pure conjecture.)
One of the best things about Bar Racuda is their complimentary aperitivos - yes, that means free food - from 6 to 8pm (DAILY). It's almost too good to be true. I remember aperitivos from Milanese bars; it's such a brilliant hospitality tradition. Plus - the food at Bar Racuda is seriously flavoursome Italian fare - antipasti, pasta, bread, chickpeas, green beans - all served up in homely 1970s-style cookware. They also have flatbreads and antipasti for sale, if you miss the free stuff. But I've gotta say, the free food tasted better than the stuff we paid for. Maybe that's just because it was free? Hard to say.
If I was a local Enmorian, I would be here ALL THE TIME.
Oh yeah, their website is still being built, but here's the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bar-Racuda-Australia/243016555745503 read more