This hidden gem is reminiscent of some of the most traditional trattorias you can find in Italy, minus the need for your passport.
Tucked away at Buddina, a meal at All’ Antica is like enjoying a meal with family.
The cosy restaurant oozes a simple charm that is hard to come by in our fast-paced world, making it the perfect place for a relaxed date night or catch-up with family and friends.
With a longstanding history of serving up authentic, delicious food in a warm and welcoming environment, owners Helen and Shane McNally are doing something right.
All’ Antica means ‘in the traditional way’ or ‘old-fashioned way’ in Italian.
Paying homage to this, Helen, Shane and the team have perfected quality homemade food to take you on a gastronomic journey through the diverse regions of Italy.
As soon as you walk through the door, you are greeted as an old friend, and the delicious smell of Italian food is not lost on you.
With its rustic interior and soft lighting, the ambience is perfect for dinner on a winter’s night.
My fiancé, Jay, and I were lucky to experience All’ Antica for ourselves recently, and we already know it’s our new favourite ‘local’.
Having been fortunate enough to visit Italy ourselves in August last year, we both love the country’s cuisine.
Sitting at our table right there in Buddina, we felt like we could have been back in Rome dining in a quaint restaurant nestled in a piazza away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city.
With a Limoncello spritz — one of our favourite drinks from our days along the Amalfi Coast — and an elderflower martini to enjoy while we browsed the menu, we settled on the tomato and bocconcini bruschetta and garlic prawns for entrée.
To say we were impressed by the bruschetta is an understatement. The perfect ratio of fresh and flavoursome tomato and onion was second to none – but for us, the star of the show was the bread.
Helen tells us it is made from a piece of 15-year-old sourdough starter. The result is the softest pillow of dough you could imagine, perfectly complementing the bruschetta ingredients.
As chronic garlic prawn lovers, we could not get enough of the juicy, local prawns sitting in the delicious sauce. What’s more, the dish comes with a side of All’ Antica’s warm, crusty sourdough (More bread? Yes, please!), which was perfect for mopping up all the sauce — or, as the Italians say, fare la scarpetta.
Moving onto the main, I enjoyed the Sicilian seafood hot pot. The rustic dish is brimming with South Australian black mussels, prawns, fresh fish and scallops, simmered in a tomato concassé with Sicilian green olives, capers, chilli, fresh herbs and an aromatic stock.
Let me start by saying that my grandfather grew up on a small island in the north of Sicily and we have a family recipe known as ‘Nonno’s sauce’.
One taste of All’ Antica’s dish and a wave of nostalgia swept over me. It’s rare I find something that tastes like ‘home’, but this delightful bowl brought me joy in every mouthful.
It was full of flavour and piping hot seafood — and that sauce, wow! The cherry on top for this dish was the serving of homemade sourdough to mop up all that delicious stock.
My carbonara-loving fiancé couldn’t go past, well, the carbonara. Creamy with a bold flavour, this classic dish had smoked bacon, egg yolk, parmesan, cracked pepper and a seasoned cream sauce served with al dente fettuccine.
Other notable menu items include the gnocchi with beef cheek ragu, seafood marinara and farmers’ pasta with broccolini, pan-seared prosciutto, sweet cherry tomatoes and baby spinach.
All’ Antica also has an extensive homemade pizza list and sides, including parmesan truffle oil roast potatoes.
Moving onto dessert and we shared the chef’s white chocolate tiramisu with layers of espresso-dipped sponge, white chocolate mascarpone and vanilla cream.
With it being traditional in Italy to finish a meal with an espresso to help digestion, tiramisu is the next best thing, and All’ Antica’s signature recipe did not disappoint.
Also vying for my attention on the dessert menu was the vanilla bean panna cotta with mixed berry compote, served with biscotti, which I will be sure to try next time I visit.
A common motif throughout the night was Helen and her team’s impeccable attention to detail and care.
Nothing was too much trouble and all the staff were friendly, helpful and professional, adding to the already enjoyable experience.
All in all, if you are looking for an authentic, hassle-free night out, then don’t overlook this Italian gem.