La Tana

LOCATION
Just a few minutes from the city on Cleveland Street.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
It’s seems the drink of the season in Sydney is the spritz – a refreshing combination of Campari or Aperol, soda and sometimes a dash of prosecco or white wine – and La Tana may well have been the start of this new pre-dinner drink trend.

At this dedicated spritz bar and restaurant, they serve the signature Venetian mixed drink (apparently, the owners hail from the water-logged Italian metropolis) with a choice of either aperitif base and a chunky slice of orange that helps to cut through any bitter aftertaste.

The dining room is basic, but busy, and the wine barrels-cum-outdoor tables with rustic stools are an inviting seating choice on this balmy evening. Swirls of squid ink remain clung to the just-cooked flesh of calamari fritti, where the apple aioli condiment is strangley subtle on the apple side of things. Croquetta al formaggio are round, potato gem-like fritters, crisp on the outside and oozing with a 'special mix' of cheeses. Spiedini – the Italian version of kebabs, in this case duck - arrive with a curious side of Jerusalem artichoke puree, but with so many skewers to choose from and for such a small price, there aren’t any complaints at our table.

La Tana doesn’t offer fine dining, but it has hit a sweet spot in Sydney for affordable dining with a solid selection of surprisingly good quality bar snack-style food. All delivered with a dash of authentic Venetian hospitality.

Alecia Wood