Sud Restaurant Two

PROFILED BY DEGROOTS MEDIA

Many have a soft spot for the CBD Sud, which manages the difficult combination of being both sophisticated and reliable. Sud Restaurant Two looks, however, steps up to match its sister partner. It’s in a terrific location in the Como centre which makes if perfect for something before or after a taxing shopping trip. Yet the site has been a difficult one for years, baffling even experienced operators. We hope this time this beauty is here to stay. The restaurant is divided into a series of spaces, starting with the street level bar and restaurant. Up the stairs, there’s another dining space and a private room. Colours are dark, and the atmosphere is cosy.

The cooking style is Italian, with a particularly nice selection of primi (first courses) and delicious pasta dishes as well as secondi (main courses). We had a terrific braised leek tart with a northern Italian cheese, and thought highly of the braised ox cheek and ox tongue, served with baby vegetables and a sweet parsnip puree. There’s an extensive wine list that includes some interesting Italian choices and wines by the glass. There are some bonuses here; the bar has its own menu and is ideal for a quick bite before a movie, or a reflective drink afterwards. A second is the express lunch menu, which provides a choice of a two-course $30 menu, or three courses for $40, including a glass of wine. The last is a very cute private room that seats a maximum of four, and is ideal for a romantic double.

Rita Erlich