PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAOwner Joseph Spagnoletti consider himself fortunate to have a great chef at his restaurant. His passion for cooking comes from his childhood spent watching and learning in family kitchens. Between them dishes are discussed with an energetic, contagious enthusiasm – Joseph even reminisces about past specials with a sentimental smile like a proud father. When the menu greeted me with pasta made with palm hearts (edible palm tree buds) and the wine list hit me between the eyes with the elegant Mount Mary Pinot Noir, I realised this is not your average pizza joint.
Belmondo Ristorante attracts a loyal clientele with its specialty meat dishes such as wild boar, goat and suckling pig for that special feast. Entrees offer cozze e vongole – whole black mussels and cockles with garlic, chilli and parsley swimming in a luscious sherry seafood broth. Main courses surprise with a whole soft shell crab lightly fried and served with a baby celery, tomato, cucumber and red onion salad. “I wanted to recreate the joyful atmosphere of Italian family hospitality,” Joseph beams. “We want to welcome people not as customers into our business but as family into our home.” Recently a diner felt so “at home” here he got down on bended knee and proposed to his girlfriend! Looks like the Belmondo boys have achieved their dream.
Roz Taylor