Vicolo is a nice, little, Italian spot on a bricked-in alley off Merimbula Drive. And it's probably my favorite dinner spot in Merimbula. The food is very good here; and the ambiance is even better - a little bit of a speakeasy feel, which is hard to come by in this sleepy burg.
I've eaten here several times now, usually with a large party. The place is small, so they weren't always able to seat us inside. But they have more room in the brick alley, which is lit by candles and strung lights.
They've got a decent wine list here. We've had some nice bottles during our visits. And the beer list is good for an Australian restaurant (not just VB and Carlton draft). I chose the Hop Thief from James Squire; very tasty
The menu is Italian style but with a nod to both local sources and west coast U.S cuisine. My only nit was that the secondi menu was a bit limited - only 4 items. But all was not lost with one of my favorite meats offered:
-- Lamb Shank: ($29 AUS) Served osso bucco style in a tomato broth over roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes. Fantastic; the best lamb dish I've had in a while.
They've also have a good selection of thin crust pizzas here. The crust is cracker-like and a little burnt around the edges - just the way I like it. My favorite so far has been the sausage, pepper and cherry tomato pizza. So good I've ordered it twice now.
When compared to restaurants everywhere, Vicolos is probably 4 stars. But grading on a curve of all the local places, it gets maximum points. read more