Assaggio means "I taste" and you'll want to taste everything in this scarlet-splashed dining room. The orange seating, white linen and chocolate carpet mixes retro-chic with contemporary style, enhanced by the up-market Stanley Rodgers cutlery and oversized stem-ware.
If the speck-wrapped tiger prawns with sweet balsamic, olive oil and dill on salsa are not your thing, try the house-made ravioli of braised goat interlaced with orange-roasted pumpkin, saffron and jellied mustard fruits. The house-made white truffle ice cream is a decadent marriage of intensity and texture all in one cool, creamy delight. The baked Roman custard melts in the mouth, with a hint of cardamom the perfect foil for caramel sauce.
Lovers of the super Tuscans will delight at the inclusion of Tignanello on the 350-strong wine list, though if your budget doesn't stretch that far, try the Isole e Olena for a taste of modern Chianti. For fashionable diners with a nose for the new, Assaggio will not only be the place to be seen, luckily it's also a great place to eat.
Damien Wilson
Open
m
t
w
t
f
s
s
Breakfast
Lunch
O
O
O
O
O
Dinner
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Late
Mon-Fri noon-late Sat-Sun 6pm-late
Gluten-Free, Italian and Vegetarian
Signature dish: Braised veal shanks with ravioli and Chianti butter bean sauce
Entree: $9-$18
Mains: $22-$36
Dessert: $11-$16
Payment accepted: MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club, American Express and EFTPOS
Licensed with bar. Wine is available by the glass. BYO $15 corkage per bottle. BYO special wines only. Conditions apply
This venue accepts bookings. It is advisable to make a reservation ahead of time. Group bookings are supported.
Seats 65
Outside dining area
Wheelchair access
and wheelchair-accessible toilets
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:
oceanmaya
|
6 September 2010, 11.46am
Great service, mediocre food
It's hard to review a restaurant when your mind is filled with so much hype and expectations due to the overwhelmingly positive reviews you've read from other people. I chose this restaurant simply because of that. But here's my true account.
First thing to notice is the decor and ambience, it is very modern for an Italian restaurant. Everything's carefully matched eg the wall, the bar, the lighting, the table cloth and the red leather chairs. Even the uniform of the staff blends well.
The service is impressive! Very high quality, they always take care to top up your water with no fail. In fact, it got so busy during the night that it was hard to get the attention of our waitress. Upon noticing that they don't fail topping up waters, we gulped our glasses, and voila, the waitress came filling them up and we can finally add things to our orders!
Now the food which is probably the most important. Due to the expectations and hype, I really expected something great. I ordered pork on skewers. The waiter brought it on an impressive decorated plate that makes you want to eat it. Three thick slabs of pork with bacon covering the outer layer on skewers. However, I have to say they fail on the taste. In fact, the taste was very bland that I'm not even sure if what I'm eating is pork. But for what the pork was missing, they made up on the quality of the sauce. Too bad, there wasn't really enough sauce to go with the pork or the mashed potato that came with it.
So I must give an honest verdict, very good service but the food failed to live to the reputation of this place and for the price we're paying, should deliver that expectation.
Food:
Visit: Sun 29 August 2010
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
Registered user - name withheld
|
23 December 2009, 3.24pm
corporates
We booked a coporate lunch for 12. As the organiser, I felt that we were completely taken advantage of. a) we were on a 3 hour time schedule; b) the bill was paid on a corporate card. The wine waiters repeatedly poured sufficient wine to do 11 glasses, not 12, and then open an entirely new bottle of wine. One bottle of chardonnay was left with barely a sip taken out of it, and when we asked if we could at least take it with us ($70/bottle of untouched wine that we'd paid for) they begrudgingly let us. 8 x 1lt bottles of spring water (12 people), the prices on the menu they sent us 2 weeks before were different to what we paid on the day (more expensive) and we just felt the service was lacking, the care was lacking, and the restaurant atmosphere was exhaustingly loud - ie. they'd stuck us right up the back next to the kitchen, so we could barely communiate accross the table. I felt embarrassed that i'd recommeneded this place for our CEO, chairman and executive group for lunch. never again.
Food:
Visit: Wed 23 December 2009
Mealtime: lunch
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
foodsnob
|
7 December 2009, 1.54pm
Assagio. Hyde Park
At our recent trip from Melbourne to Adelaide for the cricket etc, we decided to come here for dinner along with Auge and Bridgewater Mill( ratings to come). After seeing the byo option (special bottles only) i was keen to use a couple of top end Barolos on this place. I had organised during the booking to do this but was quite rudely told that it was only 1 bottle per table, this was annoying enough but i had pre decanted both bottles prior and was not going to take one home. Our rude waitress called the person i had organised this with and he couldnt or wouldnt remember it, great. So we decided to walk to the absolute horror of the staff. To the managers credit, im not sure where he was for the first 20 minutes he recalled us and explained that he would let us do it this time. Mind you we bought a $400 bottle of bubbles and a $300 bottle of desert wine. Obviously we were his best friend after that but the night was very akward in the beginning and our waitress for the night basically hated us for the rest of the evening and didnt give us a smile when we begrudgingly tipped her #30. despite our initial problems the service was about average and not the best in Adelaide as previously suggested(try Auge). Overall a very good night and i would come back if i was in Adelaide for two or so weeks. The food ranged from superb to average which is normal for a place of this stature.
Food:
Visit: Fri 4 December 2009
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
David & Lorena
|
18 November 2009, 5.17pm
something special
We tend to modify the chef's menu to our own taste Well - very refreshing for a waiter to say that the customer is the priority and not the chef.
A very enjoyable dining experience.
Food:
Visit: Sat 7 November 2009
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
discerning
|
31 March 2009, 12.42pm
Outstanding
I had high expectations after all the hype surrounding this restaurant and my expectations were exceeded! Food and service were excellent. A separate menu for gluten free was provided and the waiter was very attentive to my allergy requirements. Food flavour combinations creative and interesting and intelligently thought through. Service was there when needed as well as giving us space when we needed. Well done Assaggio. Can't wait to return!
Food:
Visit: Tue 31 March 2009
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
starl1ght
|
29 November 2008, 8.07pm
Excellent
This is a top class restaurant for Adelaide. Loved the decor which was friendly but not overbearing. Food nicely presented, beautifully cooked. Service is the best in an Adelaide restaurant. Prices bit steep but good value. Liked the variety from good quality for the budget concious to expensive and fantastic for the odd splurge and that was just the wine list. All in all one of the best in town.
Food:
Visit: Fri 21 November 2008
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
moonstar14
|
22 October 2008, 5.47pm
my new favourite
I decided to book Assaggio for my partner and I's 5th anniversary dinner.I never heard anything about it, but I remember driving past it once and wanted to try it out. Let's just say my partner and I were far from disappointed..
The food was an absolute delight, everything we wanted, yet didn't expect for the night. You could taste their pride and passion in the food, it was just amazing.
The pricing was very good for a nice dinner away from your average cafe. The entrees and mains were scrumptious, but the dessert... i felt like i died and floated right up to heaven.. it was their choc hazelnut cake with the cherries and aniseed icecream.. at first i thought it would be rich and maybe i should have tried something a bit lighter... but for what was meant to be shared between 2, ended up being hogged by 1!
The service definitely made you feel cared for and very welcome and the atmosphere was casual, chic yet intimate. Definitely going back again and again, worth a try for those who haven't!
Food:
Visit: Wed 22 October 2008
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
vents
|
21 August 2007, 1.34pm
Italiano puro
With the gaping void left by the departure of Cibo, there was cause for concern among Adelaideans looking for some upmarket Italian fare that we would be left to endure countless bland remakes of crab pasta or lazy penne in cream sauce concoctions.
Then came Assaggio.
As an Italo-Australian who regularly gets the real stuff at home, it warms the cockles of my heart to see authentic dishes, cooked properly, that taste like real nonna-cooked food. The seafood risotto is a standout dish, as are the risotto balls. The coffee was better than coffee I have had in Italy - creamy, strong, perfect. The wine list doesn't pfaff about with cheap but popular wines so only the knowledgeable should attempt.
In a word, beautiful.
Food:
Visit: Tue 21 August 2007
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
Trudi
|
18 May 2006, 9.31am
Bellisimo!!
I may not be Italian but I am truly inspired to go to Italy if that is how good the food is!!
Food:
Visit: Thu 18 May 2006
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
Unregistered user
|
4 January 2006, 4.36pm
A special night, magic had been hoped for.....and this restaurant delivered on all fronts. Look out Adelaide, we now have a magnificent Italian restaurant to enjoy.
Food:
Visit: Wed 4 January 2006
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
Posted by:
Unregistered user
|
29 November 2005, 9.54am
Fantastic restaurant - Adelaide has come ALIVE. I will recommend to anyone wanting great food and wine.
Food:
Visit: Mon 28 November 2005
Mealtime: dinner
Service:
Atmosphere:
Write a review about Assaggio
Email a friend
Email this page to a friend and start planning your night out:
Feedback
If you have found something incorrect, missing or would like to add some information, let us know!
You're not a registered user. If you would like a response, please include your email address in the feedback description or register/login to your account.
Community
66 Favourites
64 Wishlists
