LOCATIONNear the intersection of Greenhill and Fullarton Roads.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIATables at Aria are not just reserved for residents of the groovy complex it lives in. Everybody is invited to stroll in for a quick coffee break or a leisurely breakfast on the balcony when the office is not calling. Even when it is, nearby number crunchers on corporate Greenhill Road are hip to their chic noshery neighbour. Evenings bring in locals and anyone who's built up an appetite after scouring the warehouse outlets of nearby Glen Osmond Road. All are welcomed by amicable owner Nick Maio. His dry martini wit and gift of the gab are reason alone to visit. He is also known as founder of the iconic Paesano which reigned the cafe scene in North Adelaide for two decades. Meanwhile a young chef called Eduardo was cooking his way through Italy and England. Now these passionate Italians are waiting to feed you with simple fresh flavours at Aria.
Swan up the staircase and be met with the likes of Dean Martin crooning and bottles of Grange lounging in the entrance’s elite vino fridge. The feel is smart and swanky with silky cinnamon wall panels and gold curtaining with caramel swirls. Suspended balls of spun sugar lighting dangle delicately above and the balcony beckons form beyond. There you sit so close to the parkland treetops that you feel within arms reach of the koalas. Although once they get a whiff of Eduardo’s pasta you may have to fight them for it. When it comes to the mains, highlights include handmade
gnocchetti with four cheeses and
taglierini with blue swimmer crab in a rose sauce. On occasion Eduardo gets back to his roots with specials of rabbit, goat and shanks. Nick’s partner Ute fills the cake cabinet with desserts while mum fills the biscotti barrel with homemade treats.
Roz Taylor