Enzo’s Ristorante
308 Port Road
Hindmarsh, South Australia 5007
w
Not available
e Not available
t
+61 8 8346 2786
open Lunch Monday to Friday from 12 noon, dinner Monday to Saturday from 6.00 pm
FOOD Stepping through the doors at Enzo’s is stepping into a little piece of old Italy. Usually packed lunch and dinner, to arrive without a booking is decidedly unwise. There are the obligatory soccer jerseys on the wall, and my Italian dinning companion looked mortified when I was thick enough to ask what ’Baggio’ meant in Italian. Silly he’s a soccer star!
There are no surprises on their menu, and whilst in two visits we have had dishes from their main menu and their specials, it is their specials where the best of this restaurant is found. There is no muddle of a hundred ingredients, carrots and beans are unashamedly overcooked and the waiter annoyingly asks do you want pepper. ” How should I know I haven’t even tasted my food – do you know something I don’t is the right reply to this question and it flusters even the best waiter. Bread is not extra and there is oil and chilli on the table and butter comes in butter packs. Get the picture?
From the specials we had a very good Pasta marina bianco that was laden with seafood including oysters, cockles, mussels and prawns. It was not swimming in sauce and had a perfect back taste of wine and garlic. The Saltimbocca was lack luster, basically pub food, but the Grilled lamb chops and Seafood Misto were both good. The seafood included Blue Swimmer crab and it was sweet and succulent in a light tomato sauce that did not drown the fish.
On a previous visit Buffalo Mozzarella served with tomato, basil and
good EV olive oil was superb, made all the more so because it did not come tasteless
cold straight from the fridge. Also excellent was a simple dish of Chicken
giblets that
came in a classical old style Italian sauce with onion, garlic, celery and carrot
base. The other night we just missed out on another great favourite Pasta
Fagoli.
Desserts are typically Italian and we like their Tiramisu and their
house–made ice creams. Serves
are very generous, the food unpretentious and old fashioned and the specials
are where the best of Enzo’s is found. Coffee is very good.
Enzo’s will not be for everyone and in truth parts are very disappointing, but what is good, is really good. Best advice stay away from anything that has been replicated in a pub and stick to the classic Italian dishes.
WINE Fully licensed. Enzo’s wine list has no vintages and does not offer any of the now quite affordable Italian wines that would go well with this food, but wines are modestly priced and affordable.
