Popular Italian restaurant Il Baretto has opened up a new branch in Newtown on King Street focusing more on takeaway pasta dishes and quick bites. Find out what is on the menu and what is a must order!
Sister-brother team of Kelly and Brendan Picchio are behind Il Baretto. They are also behind Fiorini’s, one of my favourite restaurants in Orange so when I heard that they had opened a new branch of Il Baretto in Newtown I had to go with Michaela. She and I first met a few years ago at Santiago airport. We had disembarked a flight as strangers and were both standing at machines confused as to what to do next. We helped each other through the chaos of Santiago airport (she mostly helped me because she speaks Spanish) and we have kept in touch ever since.
There’s an outdoor section with heaters as well as an indoor section although the space for Il Baretto is much smaller than it’s Paddington counterpart. And while Il Baretto in Paddington is more of a proper restaurant, this is more casual where people can drop in for a plate of pasta and antipasti.
Focaccia $6
The menu is full of Roman classics as the family originally hails from Rome in Italy. We start with the toasted focaccia with garlic and lemon as well as a plate of firm green Sicilian olives marinated with chilli, garlic, fennel, orange and herbs.
Sicilian Olives & Lupini $10
Burrata $12
Prices are reasonable, and the oozy burrata is a creamy gorgeous specimen – all it needs is some of the fantastic Straniero Olive Oil and a sprinkling of Sicilian salt and lemon. Spread this on the crunchy garlic focaccia for a textural sensation.
Mortadella Plate $22
We pair this with tissue thin sliced mortadella (delicious!), more spongy warmed focaccia (this time just warmed not toasted) and a mini bowl of green olives. We will layer the mortadella with burrata on the bread and save some bread for the pasta.
Rigatoni Carbonara $24
What do you do when you can’t decide on a main? You get three mains between two girls. Mains come in two sizes: regular and grande. We both gravitate towards the carbonara. We love the salty hit from the pecorino and the crunch from the guanciale. It is served with perfectly al dente rigatoni pasta.
Lasagna Verde $27
There are two lasagnas on the menu, a regular beef ragu lasagne and a green lasagna. When you slice into it, you see some of the spinach pasta used. This version doesn’t contain meat and is a lighter version but no less delicious than a beef based lasagne.
Meatballs in Sugo $26
I cannot resist meatballs, especially these Italian veal meatballs with a touch of lemon zest in them, which is just the way I like them with shaved parmigiano on top.
Tiramisu $16
For dessert there’s two choices: a tiramisu or Panna cotta. The tiramisu is excellent and served as a very generous portion.
So tell me Dear Reader, if you could only order one, would you choose carbonara, lasagna or meatballs?
This meal was independently paid for.
Il Baretto
365 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Phone: 0408 987 042
Open 7 days 12pm til late
www.ilbaretto.com/
Dining and Cooking