Alberto’s Lounge
Alberto’s is more than just a typical Italian restaurant – which is probably to be expected given it’s owned by Anton and Stefan Forte, the brothers behind Hubert, Frankie’s, Baxter Inn and Shady Pines.
If you just want to show up unannounced and drink a few whiskies or cocktails, go ahead. Or if you want to settle in and make a night of it with the set menu, you can reserve a table and order from the wine list, stacked with wines from Tuscany and Sicily.
If you’re opting for the latter, you can expect playful takes on classic Italian cuisine with a subtle Australian accent. You might start with kingfish crudo and burrata, followed by pastas (there’s usually three) ranging from classic to inventive. For a main dish, it might be rainbow trout with pipis and leeks or grilled quail with polenta and grapes. Finish with some house-churned gelato for dessert.
Local artist Allie Webb – a frequent collaborator – created a mural on the rear laneway wall, which is visible through the large glass windows at the back of the venue. Elsewhere the aesthetics are the Fortes’ modernised interpretation of a “cool ’70s restaurant”. Alberto's often hosts DJs spinning world music – think Afro-beat, old-school disco, and the occasional Italian classic thrown in.
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