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and hosts Robert and Janice are truly lovely, hard working people who take immense pride in the impression their restaurant will have on diners. I must also say that the staff take just as much pride in their work too and today this is the one thing that can either make or break a business. Today because its a scorcher I'm looking for something that is light, fresh and enjoyable. None of that heavy food to carry around when I leave the cool of Scuzzi to travel home in the heat. I've arrived right at the start of the busy lunch period and already diners are enjoying what Scuzzi is renown for, damn good food. There's an obvious Italian influence here when it comes time to choose from the menu but there is also the daily specials board with plenty of taste tempters. Talking of being tempted, today I'm starting with a mini pizza called Angel Hair. This is definately not your generic all you can eat type pizza but a gourmets delight. Comprising roasted capsicum, onion, sun dried tomato, prosciutto, basil, garlic on a delicious crusty base |
| that is first basted with a rich tomato and basil sauce. Because its busy and I will be photographing the food I'm in no hurry and I'm planning on escaping the heat for as long as I can, so the four courses I am sampling today will not be rushed. Next from the menu is the Antipasto which arrives looking very cool and snappy. It's typical summer fare comprising mortadella, panchetta and casalinga salami for the meats together with provelloni and bocconcini cheeses, stuffed capsicum and a salad base of crisp celery slices and mixed lettuce greens. It looks and tastes delicious and is a great little dish for picking over using the fingers and foregoing the old knife and fork. Mark breaks from his work behind the counter to bring me a large coke with a twist of lemon and lite ice. I remember a quite humerous episode once in a Mexican restaurant when I asked for a coke and lite ice and the owner trotted me out a bottle of coke and a stubby of lite ice beer. No such confusion here today. Marke has been around Scuzzi longer than I've been coming here, six years in fact he tells me. If you need assistance with the wine list don't be afraid to ask for help, |
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he knows his business. I figure anyone who has been in the one place for six years in the restaurant industry must be a valued employee. I take the opportunity to speak with a couple of diners who seem to be enjoying themselves and with their permission get a couple of shots for this feature. By the time I am back at my table my main course has arrived. Chef Lou is a master with seafood and I've chosen the Salt & Pepper Squid which is a bargain at $13.50, heck I reckon I got my monies worth with this one. Considering that since my last visit the GST has come in to force the prices at Scuzzi are still very good. There was plenty of fresh squid rings and strips that had first been very lightly dusted in a mixture of double sifted plain flour to which salt and pepper were the added. All that is then required was a light frying to give a crisp finish. Served on a bed of diced salads all that it needed was a squeeze of lemon juice and that proved simple because the meal comes with two lemon halves. The squid was very tender and enjoyable while the salad comprises |
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capsicum, tomato, cucumber, black olives and garden fresh lettuces dressed with a mixture of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. While it didn't
look all that large it sure proved a job getting through the generous serve. If your a seafood lover and your visiting Scuzzi, try their seafood pasta a rich treat
with prawns, calamari, scallops, mussels, fish, basil & garlic in a virgin olive oil and tomato sauce. Another specialty is their Risotto, a tumeric infused white rice with
crab meat and italian parsley. I finished todays visit with a slice of carrot & walnut cake served with refreshing Everest gelati & naturally this came with a cappuccino. There can be no doubt that we are blessed with an abundance of great places to eat and relax at here in Adelaide and Scuzzi is a fine example. |
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Cafe` Scuzzi 97 O'Connell Street NORTH ADELAIDE |
Ph:(08)8239 2233 |
