Capriccio Osteria has been operating in Leichhardt since 2015. It's your Humble Italian restaurant where you won't find your traditional spaghetti bolognaise, or the fine dining dish where you feel like you need a few more pasta spoonfuls. However, it is fine dining food in a casual atmosphere with quality unique food at reasonable prices. Owner, Michele Rispoli, hailing from Positano on the Amalfi coast wanted to open a restaurant to showcase great Italian food. Drawing from generations of food and hospitality, as well as a breadth of experience in numerous Italian restaurants across Sydney and abroad, he has certainly made his mark with this great establishment. Head Chef, Nicole Bampton is ex-Tetsuya's and Lucio's chef and is the mastermind behind the incredible food and ever changing menu to keep customers happy and inspired. All the pasta is handmade on the premises daily and the focaccia baked on the spot in the woodfire oven. We are fans of the focaccia, soft and flavourful bread with a nice exterior crunch and dipped in the olive oil is perfection. The menu is changed seasonally to reflect the freshest, locally sourced meat and veggies. For example, we had the beetroot and ricotta ravioli with burnt butter sauce, they sometimes mix it up and do a pumpkin ravioli or whatever is fresh and seasonal. We began with a few drinks; an excellent Negroni and a mocktail; so good that we felt it was almost like the real thing. They've good a good variety of cocktails, spritzers and wine and the staff can suggest a pairing. Our Pinot Grigio worked well with our fish main. We tried a good variety of dishes including the Pambula Merimbula oysters with a vodka, limoncello and lemon granita. Nice and plump oysters and the granita accomodating and highlighting the beautiful natural flavours of the oysters. Second was the N'duja roasted octopus with Cannelloni, celery and green beans with a smoky flavour, extremely tender, a great rustic dish. From the pasta options, we selected beetroot and ricotta ravioli with burnt butter sauce, and poppy seeds. Flavoursome pasta parcels were filled with a smooth beetroot ricotta purée and doused with the delicious butter sauce that made our tummies delight with happiness. A new addition to the menu, baby snapper roasted on the bone was cooked perfectly and fell off the bone, served with almond romesco and braised leek. This was another great dish, simple with quality ingredients and perfect for summer. It paired well with a salad, their nicely ripened tomato salad made of Ox heart tomato, heirloom cherry tomato, buffalo mozarella and basil. We loved everything we ordered but also hear that crowd favourites are the arancini and squid ink linguine with mussels, so we'll have to return. We were sure though this time to leave room for the much talked about and anticipated baked ricotta cheesecake, which certainly holds up to the hype. Hands down the best ricotta cheesecake we've had in Sydney. If you're looking to have the choice made easy for you, you could also try their signature tasting menu for $69 which looked extremely generous. They also do house-made pastas & sauces for purchase of your selection to cook & enjoy at home. Pick up is available at the restaurant after 4.30pm the following day. The restaurant hosts quarterly gourmet events including black truffles, Italian wine tasting, and even Italian cheese making. Coming soon is their Wine Tasting in February and their Valentine's Day menu to share with that special someone. read more

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We came here on a voucher then stayed and paid for dessert. The place grew on us the longer we sat here. Parking can be a pain. It is better to get a two hour park near Pioneer Park without a meter. I judge an Italian restaurant by its vongole and it passed the test. The Bolognese was a bit small but it was lunch. The risotto was very nice too. The desserts were good and made on the premises. No probs with coffee as we went back for seconds read more

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An absolute gem and probably one of the best pizzas I've enjoyed in years if not ever. The Aperol Spritz was light and refreshing (outstanding drink) as was the app. The desserts were just off the charts delicious. Ricotta Cheese Cake is light, fluffy, absolutely delightful. The Cannoli, come on, not even fair it's so good. Highly recommended for business travelers who don't mind getting out and away from the business district near the harbor. Very well worth the 15 minute ride. Pretty sure I was floating when I got back to the hotel. read more

Came for dinner for two but also had our toddler. Welcoming, kind and courteous hosts and service. We started with the beef carpaccio and arancini (sp?). For mains had butternut squash ravioli with almonds brown butter sauce and sage. We also had the beet root noodle duck rage. Delicate Devine flavours. Thoroughly enjoyed our experience read more

Not that bad but plenty of room for improvement. Starters were very good but it's downhill to the main course. They made some basic errors like only bringing 4 out of 6 starters which is a little awkward for the two watching you eat. I understand every restaurant has an off night but the manager made simple errors like blaming his staff and being too busy but the biggest error he made was letting new customers leave unhappy. read more

Been here several times now, more recently for my birthday dinner. Would highly recommend this place. Beautiful Italian food and great service. Very reasonably priced and the owners make you feel very welcome Highly recommended read more

Absolutely love this place! I have dined here and gotten delivery & each time the food have been fantastic. I love to start with the warm, woodfired focaccia with a cruncht exterior and fluffy soft inside, topped with seasalt flakes & rosemary. The chicken liver parfait, although more French then Italian is done well here - creamy & rich, perfect with the slightly sweet, paper thin pistachio bread (like a thin biscotti /cracker). One of my favourite refreshing starters is the straciatella with colours of the Italian flag - creamy shredded mozzarella topped with roast red peppers & crunchy fried basil leaves. The cotechino (sausage) sliders were super cute, unusual & delicious. Then there are the pastas... omg each one I have had has been amazing... from the simple cacio e pepe with zucchini flowers which is refreshing & light, to the classic ragu with pappardelle which is flavoursome & comforting to the more dense & filling maltagliata with large sheets of house made hankerchief pasta with a rich, sautee of duck sausage & mushrooms, its all fantastic, generous servings & delicious. The pork rolled & wrapped with pancetta was juicy, tender, sweet & salty from the olive tapanade on top. Beautifully sliced in perfect rounds on top of a dollop of creamy Paris style mash & a side of sauteed icebergs was unusual but delicious & perfectly cooked. Woodfire oven grilled vegetables has a good selection & are perfect & glistening with a douse of good olive oil. Dessert of yogurt pannacotta was sweet & creamy, with the perfect amount of wobble. Enjoy an aperitivo to start then beautiful Italian wines which pairs perfectly with the food. Not to mention the efficient & friendly service from host Michele and his staff and you feel like your on vacation in Tuscany dining at someone's house. read more

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