It was a beautiful balmy Canberra evening and the rustic design of Bicicletta Italian Restaurant Canberra in New Acton, painted a welcoming picture as I entered. With an outdoor dining area featuring recycled timber tables and a stage area for entertainment and functions, indoor/outdoor dining is a definite draw card.
As funky as the restaurant is, we were there for the food. For entree we ordered gamberoni, or spicy king prawns for all those who read the description (me). This dish was presented beautifully, with four king prawns, grilled, with just the right mix of tomato, basil, lemon and chilli. The waiter also recommended a light Pinot to accompany this dish, which was absolutely divine. The wine list comprised a combination of Australian and Italian wines; all chosen by the chef and restaurant manager.
For mains we asked for advice from our friendly waiter, she recommended a combination of all their best options, a pizza, pasta and main accompanied by a side of salad. The main was lamb cutlets accompanied by roast kipfler potatoes and broccolini, the lamb was cooked to perfection, melt-in-your-mouth tender. The chosen pasta was Crespelle, which is a thin pasta sheet, almost crepe like, with a chicken, mushroom and truffle oil filling. The sauce was rich and creamy, and the thin pasta parcel had the right amount of lightness. All pasta’s are made fresh in-house on the day of service, and this was clearly evident. My favourite of the meals was the Pizza. The dough is made in-house and was so crisp and tasty, the best pizza crust I have had in a very long time. We chose the vegetarian option, and it was superb. Accompanying the meals was a roquet and cashew salad, which is an interesting combination of flavours and textures which are a welcome addition to any meal.
Although very satisfied with our more than ample meal, we decided we must try the dessert. The taster plate had a small portion of tiramisu, semifreddo and panacotta, each a delicious representation of the desert and a fantastic finish to our meal. To finish the evening we ordered coffee, where we were informed Bicicletta use Nerissimo coffee, and it is becoming ever more popular with the locals around the area, particularly in the mornings.
The dining experience at Bicicletta was fantastic, with entrees from $12 – $35 for an antipasto plate and mains from $20 – $35, this restaurant offers something for every Italian food lover. With house made pizza and pasta and an extensive wine list and great coffee, I suggest you pop in and enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner, with the kitchen open till 10pm.
