PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAIn serene, breezy Braddon, new restaurants tend to stand out from the older, sleepier establishments. This district of art galleries and eclectic boutique stores seems to show a definite preference for the unfussy elegance of casual dining, and Delissio comfortably corners this niche market. This is the second Delissio to grace the Canberra restaurant scene, the first tucked neatly away near the Curtin shops. While the original restaurant wooed their clientele with generous, hearty pastas and other Italian-style dishes, the Brasserie in Braddon favours a smaller, but more eclectic, menu.
Modern Australian fare still forms the core of its cuisine, but there is a distinct international influence as well. Elegant tapas such as chorizo cantimpalo, Chesapeake rolls (crab and shrimp pastries with sweet corn and snow peas) and soft, scrumptious zucchini puffs whet the appetite; while a diverse range of pizzas (topping ingredients include prawns, jalapenos, pistachio nuts, eggplant, and goats’ cheese), pastas and risotto are more than capable of satisfying the greediest of stomachs. A mostly Australian wine list is designed with the menu in mind, providing a perfect complement to the more solid component of the meal. If the buzz and chaos of the city is getting to you, venture two hundred metres down the road and discover the classy, relaxed atmosphere that is Delissio.
Stephanie Wang, November 2007