Delizioso on Oxford

As mentioned in my previous post, we had journeyed to Bulimba in search of a nice restaurant to host a celebratory dinner for a relative. We opted to sample a relatively new addition to the main strip of trendy Bulimba - Delizioso on Oxford. This bustling restaurant meaning delicious in Italian, is the latest occupant of the eye catching spot on the corner of Oxford and Cambridge Streets. When we arrived the place was packed with people, which seemed very promising for a Thursday evening. Our party was seated quickly and attended to very efficiently by a bevy of great staff. Things were looking good. We had opted to BYO as the corkage was a very reasonable $3, although the extensive wine list and nifty bar/wine fridge almost demand sampling.

After some deliberation we decided to share a plate of Arancini Balls as an entree. These arrived very swiftly and were warm and fairly plentiful - a plate of six medium sized balls. The balls were listed as "made with different flavours to share" we all had one each and it seemed that each had a fairly similar cheesy parmesan flavour. But in saying that, the balls were crispy on the outside then soft and tasty on the inside leaving you with the desired hunger for the main dish.

Our mains had been ordered just after the entree arrived and were brought to the table in just about perfect timing - long enough to allow plenty of banter but not too long that you were tapping you fingers and constantly looking over your shoulder. In the meantime, the lovely staff had been very attentive - good service always makes for a great environment! Our group ordered two of the Gnocchi dishes, the Lamb Rack, a Saltimbocca (pictured above)and one of the Linguini Scoglio (pictured below). All meals were presented as hearty Italian dishes and looked very appetizing - we couldn't wait to dig in!

The Lamb Rack was gloriously cooked, tender and pink on the inside and so tasty that even a seasoned cook was impressed. The Gnocchi I am told were light and tasty with a hearty tomato sauce - great on a cold evening. The Saltimbocca was delicious and well plated, but sadly let down by the veal being overcooked and chewy. I opted for the Linguini as I was craving a seafood fix. It was served with plenty of mussels (perhaps a few too many), beautiful tender calamari strips which were definitely the highlight and a few prawns which probably could have been more evenly balanced with the ratio of mussels. Nonetheless, the dish was very tasty and the seafood was a high quality.

We were so full from dinner that desserts were not required, although the gelato and tiramisu that passed our table looked delicious. Instead we elected for a round of coffees and given the hour I felt a chai latte would be a yummy option. The coffees all appeared to be well made and in typical Italian style were nice and strong. My chai was quite enjoyable, not too strong and a good temperature. Overall, Delizioso was a great host for our dinner - the food was fresh and tasty, the staff were helpful and attentive and the restaurant was very comfortable and well priced.

Food - 4/5
Coffee - 3.5/5
Atmosphere - 4/5

Larte

We were driving through Bulimba the other day seeking a restaurant to host a dinner party later in the week and took the chance to visit a new coffee shop which we were yet to sample. Larte is located on Riding Road in Hawthorne and is sneakily hidden in a little group of shops, making it a little difficult to spot at first. However, there is plenty of parking around so once you sight it, it's easy to pull over and pop in. 

This location has housed a cafe for around 2 years but was taken over in March by new owners who have breathed a new life into this funky joint. The interior has fresh and interesting decor with a little section of jewellery and nic-naks which make for great browsing whilst waiting for your brew. When we entered we were greeted by a couple of very friendly and welcoming staff. The cafe was suprisingly quiet but the girls informed us we had just missed the morning breakfast rush - lucky us!

My accomplice is a well practiced coffee drinker who loves a very strong cup, so we went to order my usual cap and her double shot latte. The lovely barista warned us that the beans they use are generally a stronger blend and perhaps the double shot may be a little much. After some deliberation the latte order was left at a double shot and we were very impressed by the barista's forthcoming willingness to make another coffee if it was not to taste, love good service! 

The coffees came in great time and were delish! The double shot didn't end up being too strong for my lovely sidekick - however she does warn it is definitely a stronger blend then a mainstream brew and may be too strong for most. What absolutely made the coffee for me was the melt in your mouth almond shortbread served complementary with the coffees. Today we did not order any sweet treats which made the shortbread just that extra bit wonderful! 
Overall, Larte is a wonderful addition to the area and with great service, good coffee and complementary shortbread it is certainly worth a visit. 


Food - N.A (though the breakfast menu looked a treat)
Coffee - 4/5 Made that extra bit better by the bikkie
Atmosphere - 3.5/5