Cicciolina

Rock up to the modest shop front that is Cicciolina, with your Bose docking station for the I-Pod that’s got Celebration” ready to be dropped and the Billecart Salmon cooling in the “You’ll Love” Coles chiller bag, because if you get a seat at one of the coolest places in M-town, you’re going to want to party like the artist formerly known as.

So if you’re allowed inside the type of ristorante that Henry Hill would have happily frequented, you’re in for a treat. It’s as if Cicciolina has put the place in the De Lorean, set it to 1970 and left it stranded. No one seems to mind. In fact the gorgeous jet black leather bucket chairs that mould to your rear along with the retro red that divide the wall bench is extremely charming against the darkly stained wooden table tops and skirtings. The big f-u coffee machine screams “this is Italy”.

Expecting as much charm from the food as your surrounds? You won’t be disappointed. The thin slices of Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio is a must to start off, drizzled in a lime infused olive oil, providing a fresh tartness, balanced with salty capers and some charred sourdough. Yum.

A fine example of simplicity is found in the linguine, cooked el dente, made slippery by olive oil, made into a main meal with generous chucks of sealed Atlantic salmon, sautéed leek, spinach and capers. Mr Wolf’s lasagne may have an equal with Cicciolina’s version. Sheets of pasta, layered with a rich tomato ragu, prosciutto, mushrooms and basil. I don’t need Jimmy Conway to point a gun at my head to tell you it’s got all the things that a McCain’s home baked lasagne lacks. Oh, it’s damn good too.

Whilst there might be no access to a De Lorean to relive the meal, least there’s Kylie to remind one of the good times, come on.
3.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? 130 Acland St, St Kilda, VIC
What? Average Price $20





Left to Right : Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio, Salmon Linguine, Lasanga