Vizio Caffè e Cucina, Sydney CBD

It's a nice Friday night which means it's date night with Matt and I. This time we head to Vizio, an authentic Italian restaurant which is a small stroll from Hyde Park or Darlinghurst.  

It's a dimly lit venue which is normally buzzing with local business workers but on Friday nights and Saturday nights, it's the perfect place for a quiet dinner where you can talk to your date or friends.

Matt orders a Vizio beer ($8) which is their own brew and is a refreshing Italian beer to accompany the meal ahead. I am a bit cheeky and order a cocktail which is intended for dessert time but I break the rules and order it anyway. It's called the Amedeo ($19) which has Iridium rum, mancino secco, smoked truffle honey and lemon thyme. The cocktail is accompanied with small portions of cheese with goji berries. The staff suggest that I eat some of the cheese and sip on the cocktail. The smooth cheese with the truffled honey is delightful to eat and the cocktail is quite potent in comparison.

To start off, Matt and I order the Anti Pasto Tradizionale (for 2, $44) which has a number of cured meats and cheeses with condiments. While the menu indicates the platter is for two, I think this could easily be shared among 3 or 4 friends. Matt and I are in awe of this board with flat bread, bread sticks, thicker panini which is accompanied with two cheeses (which may change on rotation, the truffle pecorino and the burrata cheese), three types of cured meats, honey, mushrooms and onions in olive oil. I munch away and experiment with some honey on the burrata cheese on the flat bread. It's delicious and I snack on the prosciutto along with the truffle pecorino. I highly recommend ordering this. It's a great way to open up your taste buds.

When you're ready for mains, let the staff know as you probably won't be able to finish the board.

Let the staff know whether you want to share dishes which they will bring out one at a time or if you want all the mains at once.

I order the Calamarata al Gamberi ($28) which is made from calamarta pasta (thin tubes), king prawns, heritage cherry tomato and basil. This pasta dish is absolutely moreish and flavoursome.  It's simple in concept and very well executed. I enjoy the heritage cherry tomatoes and the prawns.

Matt devours the Maialino ($35) which is a twice cooked pork belly with celeriac puree and herbed mushrooms. The pork belly sits on the soft celeriac puree which makes for textural contrast and Matt comments specifically on the mushrooms which compliment the pork belly.

Summary: Overall, I really enjoyed the dinner at Vizio. The food is authentic and delicious. I love how moreish Italian food is and that anti pasto board was amazing. The mains were also great.

The best part was that it was a quiet restaurant where you can actually hear one another talk. So why not check out this venue if you are looking to catch up with friends or a nice romantic date?  

Price: Mains are approx $25-35

Location: Shop 1, 1/52-58 William St, Woolloomooloo

Opening Hours: 
Monday 7am to 11am, 12pm to 2:45pm
Tuesday to Friday 
7am to 11am, 12pm to 2:45pm, 5:30pm to 11pm
Saturday 8:30am to 2:30pm and 5:30pm to 11pm

Weekend Food Escapes dined as guests of the venue or their representatives. All photos, opinions and words are my own.