PROFILE BY BEST RESTAURANTS
Like a beacon offering a guiding light to the wayward and hungry, Annie's Restaurant sits atop Coogee's Beach Street enticing diners with its traditional yet unique Italian cuisine. Annie's has something to offer everyone – culinary apprentices and aficionados alike – with a keen eye towards seafood lovers. Opening with beautiful sides and starters, including a generous antipasti platter that could tempt the most abstemious diner, the menu offers everything from classics to signature dishes. Noteworthy inclusions such as the seafood risotto and fish of the day sit comfortably beside traditional dishes such as the spaghetti and meatballs, bruschetta and fettucine puttanesca. That is, if you manage to pass up that foundation of Italian dining, the ever-popular osso bucco. There are also seriously decadent desserts on offer, including a tiramisu and killer chocolate mousse, as well as a varied gelato selection, and affogatos for the night owls. If the choices become too much, groups of four or more can opt for the banquet that offers the best of everything!
The relaxed atmosphere of Annie's only adds to the charm, with an open layout that is surprisingly intimate. The inviting ocean air bleeds into the warm and chic interior through the huge, timber-framed windows that open onto the street. Soft lighting, beautiful paintings on the walls and a very distinctive retro refrigerator lend a comfortable feeling to the decor, and the friendly staff will welcome you to Annie's place like an old friend. Indeed, after adventuring to Annie's house-on-the-hill you'll have found a true Italian gem, offering heart-warming meals and a sanctuary from the bustling world below.
Claire Reilly