Canberra is starting to cool down, daylight savings has come to an end and the long cold nights are upon us. Although not a big fan of winter there are some benefits, such as the opportunity to enjoy an evening of Italian cuisine and a smooth glass of red wine. There is just something about simple ingredients of the highest quality crafted together with love and Santa Lucia does it with flare. The restaurant started in the mid 70s by the current owner’s grandfather and the attention to detail and family recipes still live on as a legacy today. The beautiful new restaurant in Kingston is the second Santa Lucia restaurant, expanding their seating capability from their Swinger Hill restaurant. The chefs and menu are the same so patrons are guaranteed quality and consistency.
Santa Lucia has a warm, welcoming feeling, with prompt and friendly service and photos of old family members printed on canvas adorning the walls. The decor and staff set a high bar for my dining experience, which was exceeded by my delicious gustatory journey.
We were spoilt for choice, with a diverse menu catering for all tastes. For entree we chose the antipasto, flame grilled calamari and bruschetta. For me, a staple entree is always the bruschetta and this one was delicious. Prepared on fresh toasted Italian bread topped with fresh tomatoes, bocconcini, spanish onion and a garlic and balsamic vinegar it was delightful and fresh. The antipasto is all you would expect from a family who pride themselves in freshness and quality. The cured meats were tender and delicious, just salty enough to enhance the flavours, but not overpowering, and the vegetables were pickled to perfection. The calamari was exquisite – I have eaten calamari in many restaurants however the team at Santa Lucia managed to surprise me with a raw flame-grilled taste and a complimentary lemon and garlic sauce.
Already feeling very satisfied we were indulged by the lovely staff who selected our mains and served us with the most famous of house dishes. First we sampled the Gnocchi, hand rolled that afternoon, with a delicious tomato and mozzarella sauce, this was my favourite, but only by a very small margin. Our waitress told us our next dish was one of the most famous for the restaurant and was in fact, still an original recipe. Homemade egg and spinach spaghetti with crisp peas, soft mushrooms and succulent bacon served with a light cream sauce, all it was missing was a loud Italian family co-coercing you to eat more! The last main served was another original, a marinated spatchcock served grilled with hints of garlic, lemon and chilli. Served on a bed of roast chat potatoes and with a side of garden salad this was a magnificently prepared and presented dish which tasted as delectable as it looked.
To me traditional is always the best, so tiramisu is always a good test of an Italian restaurant, and this one did not disappoint. The dessert was not small by any means, but offered a beautiful blend of coffee and liqueur with a subtlety which is rare, by far one of the best I have tasted in Canberra. The cannoli, which was brought out next was presented beautifully as small rolled biscuit like cylinders filled with creamy ricotta and drizzled with chocolate, although only able to eat one of the three in the serving it was beautiful and light in both flavour and texture. The last tasting treat for the evening was the velvet coffee. This is the most amazing drinking experience! Served in a champagne flute this is an icy cold coffee beverage which throws hints of chocolate. The texture is, as the name suggests, similar to velvet. It can be enjoyed with either a spoon or simply sipping the glass. I was delighted, and being a cool beverage somehow managed to make finish it quite easy when I considered myself unable to eat another thing.
The whole experience and Santa Lucia was marvelous. The food was delightful, the wine list is extensive and the coffee delicious. The staff are wonderful and happy to assist in making food or complimentary wine choices. The owners are committed to keeping the food simple, fresh and delicious. Live entertainment is available on the first Saturday of every month at Kingston and the last Saturday of every month at Swinger Hill. I suggest you come hungry, but make a booking, as both the restaurants fill up quickly!
