Amalfi White is a brasserie and fine dining restaurant just on the outskirts of Melbourne town…read morecentre. Even though I live relatively near to Melbourne, I've never actually ventured into the centre to eat before, which is surprising as there are numerous restaurants with great reputations located there. I'd been recommended Amalfi White by a colleague at work, and the restaurant certainly has kerb appeal, an impressively inviting façade. We had come to dine in the brasserie, but there is also a fine dining restaurant upstairs, with limited opening hours.
Inside is just as impressive as the outer, high ceilings, a big sweeping bar, with every possible drink you could imagine, and enough space to seat around 35-40. To the rear is a pizza oven, and the bathroom is down a couple of flights of stairs. Two menus to choose from, an extensive evening menu and another limited menu for a set price, for either two or three courses; 3 choices for each course. We plumped for the latter, and whilst we made our choices, we sat on comfortable sofas adjacent to the bar.
The tables were large and well spaced, with leather seating on one side and comfortable chairs on the other. Between the three of us, we chose one of the starters each: smoked salmon salad, duck arancini and large garlic pizza bread with sea salt. A great selection, the salad was fresh and light, the garlic bread crisp and savoury, and the moreish arancini, with a sweet onion dip, was devoured with relish!
Mains wise, off the normal menu, there were a variety of pizzas, burgers, steaks and various pasta dishes, but off the set menu, I chose the Spaghetti Carbonara, very rich and filled with salty pancetta, whilst my wife and mother-in-law had the seared chicken breast, with crisp fries and a salad, which was a generous portion to say the least!
Just enough room for a dessert, the gooseberry and elderflower fool was light and tasty, perfect for an early summer's evening. On the whole a great meal, the staff were friendly and efficient, and the homemade 'mocktails' large and refreshing; we will return to try the fine dining restaurant upstairs soon.
