Napoli in Bocca, Haberfield

It's 6.15pm on a Saturday and like most restaurants around Sydney at this time, Napoli in Bocca is fairly desserted. "Perfect", we think as we approach the maitre'd.

"Do you have a booking?" we're asked.

"Err... no."

"One moment please" he says as he scans his reservations book. "Hmmm... I can give you one-and-a-half hour only. Is that ok?" he proposes.

Holy mackerel. (Or should that be anchovy)

We nod quickly and he shows us to a table in the corner which we accept gratefully.



We're in Sydney's other Little Italy, Haberfield--home to woodfired pizza, patisseries and of course, Colefax chocolates.

With Leichhardt's proliferation of parking meters and upmarket gentrification, it seems like Haberfield is more popular than ever. By 7pm Napoli in Bocca is full of couples, families and noisy gatherings.

The restaurant is cosy and family-style low key with traditional red-and-white checked tablecloths, framed newspaper clippings on the wall and the tantalising aromas of freshly cooked seafood wafting past us every now and then.


Calamari Ripieni $16.90
Stuffed calamari with seafood, cooked in Napoletana sauce


Caprese salad $10.50
Bocconcini, tomato and basil


Scugnizzo $16.50
Tomato, mozzarella, ham and hot salami


4 Stagioni $17.00
Tomato, mozzarella, prosciutto, olives, mushrooms and eggs

We shared the stuffed calamari, two pizzas and a bocconcini salad. The pizzas were light and fairly tasty although I prefer my bases a little less doughier and little more crisp (maybe the woodfire oven was still warming up for the night).

The stuffed calamari was absolutely divine though. A tender and delicate whole calamari was filled with a tasty seafood stuffing. The accompanying Napoletana sauce was also zingy with flavour and devoid of the usual excess oil. I could have happily hogged two of these for myself!


Ricotta cheesecake $6.50


Homemade tiramisu $6.50


Mixed gelato (coffee and vanilla) $6.50

Desserts were also well-received although it was funny how homestyle Italian presentation of desserts is eerily similar wherever you go. I don't necessarily need my food fancily presented, but a heavy-handed sprinkling of chocolate powder on the cheesecake did little to enhance it! :P

The cheesecake was light and airy, the gelato was surprisingly creamy and the tiramisu had quite a bit of kick to it too!

The food is fast, the atmosphere is casual and the kids in the restaurant all looked happy.




View Larger Map

Napoli in Bocca
73 Dalhousie Street, Haberfield
Tel: 02 9798 4096