While the Victoria Street restaurant strip doesn't necessarily need a new restaurant, Sydney definitely could do with more relaxed, convivial spaces like A Tavola, and why not here? With a combination of great lighting, fantastic food and the most impressive long table in town, A Tavola (meaning 'to the table') really lives up its potential.
Chef and owner Eugenio Maiale (ex-Citrus and Auge - both in Adelaide) has a short and sweet, classic Italian menu with a blackboard of changing specials and a wine list to match. The pasta is largely handmade on the premises (laid out to dry at the end of the table, it's a visual attraction as well as a culinary one); the mozzarella is buffalo; the crab hand-picked; the ragu made of finely chopped veal (not mince); and the tiramisu is soft and delectable. The food shows a deep respect for the slow-cooked dishes of Italy, including a blue eye cod served with house-made gnocchi; and a meltingly tender, falling-apart osso bucco alla Milanese. The service is flexible, with not a raised eyebrow if you opt to have salads as starters, while sharing is expected and encouraged.
The restaurant is dominated by a long, glorious marble table, which could easily seat 20 but is better occupied by a mixture of small and larger groups. Though it's not so wide that you can't converse over it, if it still seems too public, there are scattered tables further in the back and even an outdoor courtyard, which would be wonderful on a warm summer evening.
The idea of the truly personal, local pasta place, as pioneered by Surry Hills' Vini, has a new exponent in A Tavola.
Jennifer Wilson
Open
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Breakfast
Lunch
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Dinner
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Late
Fri noon-3pm Mon-Sat 6pm-10pm
Italian
Entree: $12-$18
Mains: $25-$34
Dessert: $10-$15
Payment accepted: MasterCard, Visa, American Express and EFTPOS
Licensed. Wine is available by the glass. BYO $12 corkage per bottle.
This venue accepts bookings. Group bookings are supported.
Gourmet Traveller Feature Review - "Look no further. The Holy Grail - a genuinely good plate of homemade fresh pasta - is here in this simple eating house."
All reviews and ratings are the expressed opinions of our users, and in no way reflects the opinions of yourRestaurants, its staff and its affiliates.
Posted by:
teigi_21
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25 March 2011, 1.29pm
see food, eat food
We were greeted by a charming front of house and led us to the infamous long communal table - which I did not mind, but my partner was slightly uncomfortable with. The food was amazing; entree salad, and octopus. Mains were gnocchi and mussuels spagetthi. Am not too sure about the lady serving us, she seemed to try a little hard in coming across as casual, but she looked like she should be an office worker, just a little too serious. But once again, the guy took the reigns and made up for it. We were seated next to a group of ladies whose conversations were spilling over into our personal boundaries. By the end of the night, I am not sure if I am keen on the communal table concept either. Overall, if you are planning to go with a group of friends and enjoy good food and company, sure give it a go; but if you are going with someone special or a special occasion, probably not the best ambience in that aspect.
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Visit: Tue 22 March 2011
Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by:
debbi.smith777
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30 August 2010, 12.41pm
First Timer
A refreshing change to the traditional italian. None of this fine dining stuffiness great atmosphere great staff and rabbit superb. and of course the ease of BYO allowed us to enjoy the beautiful bottle of Poltini King Valley 2008 Sangiovese that was purchased from a great new website i have recently been introduced to Wine Xpress. So all in all a great restaurant A Tavola and a great online website Wine Xpress
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Visit: Mon 30 August 2010
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Posted by:
ratherbeswimming
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28 April 2010, 3.04pm
why bother
Probably one of my worst restaurant experiences in Sydney. 8.45pm arrival entree arrive 10.15pm followed by main course at 11.05pm - my meal was luke warm with over cooked pasta(and the house specialty is pasta) that had obviously been sitting on the pass for awhile. My companion's rabbit was stone cold. The noise level was over the top. Please don't waste your money, go somewhere else!!!
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Visit: Sat 24 April 2010
Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by:
jtaylor
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12 February 2010, 4.46pm
Worst experience
Was so looking forward to dining here but so disappointed. Although we booked a few days before my friend and I, on a hot night were perched close to noisy kitchen in narrow passageway, sitting next to each other. We requested a table but were rudely told no way. I had no idea the restaurant boasted a courtyard and wonder who gets to dine there. Sitting side by side is an awful way to dine especially when you are constantly getting bumped and pushed and cannot hear or even lip read your friend. Noisy kitchen and waitresses shyness ensured a great difficulty in understanding the complexities of the specials on the blackboard requiring us to turn 180 degrees to read. We were intending wine and a couple of courses but we were both feeling uncimfrtable and sick by this time, and basically would have left but thought the food might make up for the belligerent treatment. Alas there was no saving this restaurant and after reading previous reviews I think they may have started well but are not keeping up the standard. For me there was nothing on the menu that appealed other than the stuffed zuchinis and corn fritter,and they wouldnt do a main course size so had a 1 small zuchini and 1 small corn fritter for $15.The uninteresting bowl of pasta with ragu that my friend ordered was so boring and salty that it could not be finished. Dining should appeal to all the senses and A Tavola failed miserably.
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Visit: Fri 12 February 2010
Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by:
Vasily
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20 April 2009, 11.22am
A VERY ORDINARY TABLE
We had the misfortune to dine at this establishment last week. We had been looking forward to it because we had read how marvellous the hand-made pasta was. What they don't tell you is that they don't know how to cook the pasta ! I suggest that the chef finds his way to Milano where they cook the pasta 'al dente' and not the pap that was served up here at an exorbitant $35 a plate. The communal table might be the centrepiece of this restaurant but we had to shout at each other above the din. And if you are thinking of bringing your own wine, I suggest you re-consider because they slug you $15 per bottle for corkage. In short,less than average food, at above average prices.
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Visit: Mon 20 April 2009
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Posted by:
Tinky Winks
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7 June 2008, 8.20pm
OMG
My husband and I planned a very special night of going to see Sex and the City then trying A Tavola we have to say, we were NOT disappointed at all. Our expectations were high to begin with as we had tried to get in spontaneously for a few weeks but was repeadtly told that the restaurant was fully booked. Make sure you book ahead to avoid disappointment. I ordered the triangular shaped pasta that was filled with pheasant, duck and ricotta and was in an amazing creamy sauce over the top of spinach, oh my goodness it was delicious. My husband had the Tagliatelle with lamb ragout and didn t really want to share it with me because it was so good. But I did get a taste and it was amazingly flavorsome. The service was great, i have nothing bad to say about this place Try it, make sure you book, enjoy, try something different and have a great night out!
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Visit: Fri 6 June 2008
Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by:
srprod
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14 February 2008, 4.40am
Delicious
Well I finally got into A Tavola and was not disappointed. Sat with a friend at one of the small tables for two along the side wall and was perfect for conversation. The atmosphere was wonderful, just the right level of dim lighting, a great music selection at perfect volume and a convivial atmosphere that exuded warmth. The food was exquisite. The salami on creamy polenta starter was superb, but the house-made pasta took me back to my travels through Italy and was something special indeed. My fettucine with pine mushrooms with pecorino and smoked mozzarella was a flavour explosion. The pasta was silky and divine, perhaps the best I've had in Sydney. Sadly though, I notice the prices have risen in the short space of time this restaurant has been open. All of the famed house-made pasta specials are $34 now. I couldn't help but feel that this is now just a little steep for a restaurant that is so hot right now and filled to the rafters with several sittings on most nights. Perhaps just a little greedy - the pasta may be divine, but it's hard in this non formal space to come by paying over $30 for pasta. All in all though, a wonderful experience across the board and highly recommended.
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Visit: Wed 13 February 2008
Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by:
cvrsyd
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4 December 2007, 9.17am
So good
Spontaneous Friday lunch turned into an incredible and delicious surprise on Victoria Street. One of the best pastas I've had in ages - first time I tried rabbit and it was amazing. Quality of ingredients is outstanding and the service is geniunely exceptional. Don't know why I'm raving about it - don't really want anyone else to find it. Could be tricky for parties of more than two because of the restaurant size, but really fantastic nonetheless.
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Visit: Fri 30 November 2007
Mealtime: lunch
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Posted by:
SallyS
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10 November 2007, 11.41am
Simply superb
Some seriously good pasta done simply with efficient and bubbly service to match. Well done! My new favourite local restaurant.
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Visit: Sat 27 October 2007
Mealtime: dinner
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Posted by:
lisa hawky
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9 October 2007, 9.30am
The real deal
If you are looking for an amazing night out with food to die for then A Tavola is your place. Sydney has been hanging out for a restaurant which can provide the perfect balance of atmosphere and great food. The staff are friendly without being too pushy and the chef Eugenio Maiale has designed a menu which offers a whole lot of authenticity. We love his hand-made pastas which are so creative yet simple and full of flavour. Also leave room for dessert as he has some killer options which change almost daily. It's my third visit and I will be coming back time and again. This could turn into the next Sydney institution - my only worry is that I might not be able to get a seat. Bravo!
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Visit: Thu 4 October 2007
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Posted by:
truffle
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5 September 2007, 9.51pm
A quick trip to Italy
The problem with travelling to Italy is on your return it is rather difficut to find food that lives up to your expectations and experience. An evening at A Tavola is a transforming experience, where you could actually believe that the truffles have been freshly picked from the Tuscan region and the rabbit was hunted that day.
We will definitely become regulars of this stylish establishment.
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Visit: Sat 1 September 2007
Mealtime: dinner
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