Vino Ristorante

LOCATION
Near the Greenhill Road intersection.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
You will warm to this eatery no matter what the occasion. In the corporate and retail belt of Unley, Vino Ristorante is ideally located for both casual and business lunches. In fact, some have lingered so long over lunch they have stayed for their evening meal. That is how easy it is to feel at home here. Tables are set for intimacy on rustic wooden floorboards, and Chianti bottles are hung like tinsel around the dining room. Provincial artwork, antique phones and a gramophone add to the appeal. There is a private room and alfresco area at the rear, but to enjoy Vino at its best snaffle a spot in the main dining area at night. Candles, tea lights and lamps bring a warm glow to the room that is not just for romantics but fun for families as well.

Vino’s feature wall is smothered with industry awards achieved since the restaurant’s establishment in 2001. In 2008 the former owners handed Vino over to Adelaide hotelier Cheryle Docimo. Resident chef Jonathon Nixon continues to produce the brilliant cuisine that saw him nominated for Chef of the Year in 2007 (Restaurant and Catering South Australia). He loves sourcing wild game so check the specials board for rabbit, duck and quail. Nixon believes “giving food time offers the best results in the end”, which speaks volumes in dishes like the osso bucco. With three hours of cooking time, he warns, “When it runs out, it runs out!” Should you miss out, the house seafood dish is New Zealand mussels. Cooked in the half shell, they are simmered in a sauce of white wine, tomato, lemon juice, herbs and bacon. To complete a comforting meal in one of Adelaide’s most charming Italian restaurants, try some white chocolate cheesecake.

Roz Taylor