PROFILE BY BEST RESTAURANTS
Alfonso's has been building up a loyal band of followers for four years now. Tucked into the gastronomic Hutt Street strip, it rings no bells and blows no whistles; lacking the media-hungry appetite displayed by some of its contemporaries. The locals love it and know they can walk from their south-east-corner-of-the-city homes and be greeted with a warming coffee and smile from any one of the Alfonso "family" – chirpy manager Mellissa Buttery, Nino Castello, his parents, wife and two little ones. On occasion you may hear the latter squealing with delight, their good set of lungs no doubt inherited from Nino's dad who is known to serenade passers-by between his bouts in the kitchen. Or perhaps from Nino's mum who is equally fond of chatting to the customers.