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Thursday, August 19, 2004

Buon Gusto, Chippendale

Tucked away down one end of Abercrombie Street, Buon Gusto is all red-checked tablecloths, cheerful service and home-style Italian food. This is a place where you are greeted with a hearty booming "Bon GIORno!" either on the phone or as you walk through the door.

Inside a cherub draped with an Italian flag welcomes you to the main dining room, where every inch of wall is covered with framed memorabilia--SMH reviews, food photos, Raphael-inspired paintings and even a signed endorsement from the legendary Bernard King. The chalkboard is crammed with specials, wine bottles hang overhead, and any minute you expect the Godfather to walk in through the door.

Soon after being seated, our group was presented with complimentary antipasta including tasty little arancini balls and a platter of marinated mushrooms, capsicum, olives and chilli octapus. We were then presented with a rundown of the day's specials--each dish demonstrated raw on a plate covered with clingfilm.

The menu here is fairly extensive for a 50-seater and this may well be its downfall.

Good: BBQ sardines, spaghetti marinara and steak Buon Gusto.

Buon Gusto is all about home hearty food--a little 80s style in presentation at times but good for atmospheric suburban unpretentious Italian. Some things are a little clumsy (drowning the delicacy of a creme caramel with chocolate sauce, for instance) but the food is honest and service is friendly.

During dinner, as the entire restaurant sang along to "When the moon hits your eye..." one couldn't help smiling and all was forgiven.


Alfredo presenting the day's specials


Day's specials


An interior straight out of the Godfather







Garlic bread


Ravioloni $13.90


Calamari Ripleni (Stuffed calamari)$13.90


Smoked salmon $12.50


Fresh BBQ Sardines $13.90


Garlic prawns $13.50


Oysters Kilpatrick $14.50


Eggplant Rotolene (with lamb mince) $13.90


Veal Scallopine (with mushrooms, shallots, white wine and cream) $16.50


Chicken Buon Gusto (with cream and shallots) $17.50


Lamb shanks $17.50


Pescepada Cutlets (swordfish) $22.50


Risotto (with shallots, asparagus, mushrooms, cream and parmesan) $15.50


Steak Buon Gusto $18.50


Veal Saltin Bocca (with ham, cream, brandy and sage) $16.50


Spaghetti Marinara $15.50


Tiramisu


Crespelle (crepes)


Zabaglione


Creme caramel



Buon Gusto
368 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale
Tel: 02 9319 4798
2 comments - Add some comment love

posted by Anonymous on 8/19/2004 11:59:00 pm


2 Comments:

  • At 8/27/2004 11:15 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Dear Augustus Jnr,

    Yet again you astound us with your witty yet subtle gastronomic observations and anecdotes.
    Keep up the good work!

    Your ever in culinary commentary,
    Augustus Snr

     
  • At 9/03/2004 9:40 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    (it's casey)

    Buon Gusto is around the corner (literally) from where I live. It's been there since my Dad was at Sydney Uni!

    Unfortunately, it has failed to impress me too - the pasta quality is average, and it feels like a bit of The Love has gone out of the place.

    These days my closest Italian is Mamma Maria on King St, hidden upstairs above two shops, with an inconspicuous side-alley entry.

    PS. your blog = excellent.

     

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