PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAIf you can manage to tear yourself away from the main strip of eateries on Norton Street and take a stroll down to the Lilyfield Road end you’ll be rewarded with the likes of Grappa Ristorante e Bar. Tucked away behind a row of hedges in the same complex that houses Amatos Liquor, Grappa’s classy menu of produce-driven southern Italian cuisine and vibrant atmosphere ensure that plenty of diners are happy to migrate to the northern end of Norton. The restaurant itself is bright and stylish, with a huge terracotta wood-fired oven holding court at one end of the floor alongside the bustling open-plan kitchen.
Grappa has a flexible approach to dining; their drink or dine licence means that you can pop in for a glass of vino after work without having to sit down to a meal, but once you get a glimpse of what is coming out of the kitchen you’ll most likely change your mind. The menu changes daily and is heavily influenced by the quality of the produce available, particularly seafood. The yellow fin tuna carpaccio dressed in olive oil, lemon and chilli makes an ideal entree or go for the grilled Tasmanian scallops with leek and chilli. If you’ve got a party of three or more, you can’t go past the signature dish of snapper baked in rock salt crust for an indulgent main course. If you’re having trouble making up your mind, the five-course degustazione is selected daily by chef Wade Revell and showcases the best of the menu. Grappa is family owned and run, so rest assured that the little ones are well taken care of with their own menu. The wine list is enormous, with plenty by the glass and a good blend of Australian and Italian drops.