LOCATIONThe Darlinghurst end of Oxford Street.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAThe style and savour of Crown Street seems to be migrating up Oxford Street. Clever chefs and restaurateurs are introducing refreshing flavours amidst the buzzing city strip of late-night delicacies.
One of the trend-setters, Chianti, serves Italian flavour, but unlike that of Oxford’s usual street-side pizzas. Prasad previously designed the menu of The Falconer giving it his signature South Italian flair. His menu at Chianti showcases the same rich and comforting style but his dishes here are also elegant and homely.
Despite only being open only a few weeks, the restaurant is filled with diners who look as though they have already become regulars. Couples snuggle up on the secluded banquettes at the back of the restaurant while Darlinghurst locals stand by the bar chatting over negronis and aperol spritzs.
Rich roasted meats, pasta and rustic vegetables make it hard to choose from the autumn menu and so our orders become a shared experience. The sunny yellow petals of zucchini flowers bring a little warmth to the chilly evening for our entrée and are stuffed with a herby mix of roasted pumpkin, goats cheese and marjoram. Heart-warming comfort food is served in the form of a thick slice of slow-roasted pork belly, crowned with golden crackling and surrounded by earthy saffron pear, parsnip puree and pork rillettes. The sweet fragrance from confit of vine-ripened tomato and basil aromatises the table as it is presented with barramundi fillet and asparagus. Truly Italian tiramisu finishes our meal with its subtly sweet coffee-soaked savoiardi biscuits enveloped by layers of creamy mascarpone of which the last spoonful is politely fought for.
Chianti is contributing to the restaurant revolution that is happening on Oxford Street. Its reasonable prices, beautiful dishes and relaxed setting make it a great little spot to spend the evening.
Edwina Grace Storie