Casa Ciuccio

What do you get when you pair exquisite Mediterranean cooking with an elegant décor and a homely vibe - Casa Ciuccio on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy.  Being teased by the aromas of barbequed meat the minute we walked through the door, it didnt take long for the friendly and attentive staff to offer us a drink and help us navigate the menu.

To start with we had the Oritz anchovy 'montadito' with manchego, the short beef ribs and the prosciutto and salami sliced to order.  The montadito was tasty (but not overly inspiring), the beef ribs were juicy and well cooked (but could have done with some sauce to balance out the richness of the flavours) and the salami and prosciutto were fresh, flavoursome and went beautifully with the pickled accompaniments.

Oritz anchovy 'montadito' with manchego

 

Beef ribs

 

Freshly sliced salami and prosciutto

 

To follow we had the twice cooked S.A octopus tentacle and lemon, with a side of potatoes. Whilst I am not usually the biggest octopus fan, this wasn't your every day kind of octopus. The generously plump  tentacles were  juicy on the inside and crisp on the outside from the chargrilling - absolutely delicious! 

 

Twice cooked S.A octopus tentacle and lemon

 

Side of potatoes

 

Next up was the coal pit roast lamb shoulder with yogurt and fennel, with a side of spice roasted cauliflower, sour cherries and pistachio.  The lamb, in a word (well, two) was life changing. Juicy, tender and packed full of flavour, it was without a doubt the best lamb I've had in Melbourne and would be my top recommendation if attending this restaurant. Whilst not the prettiest looking dish, the spiced cauliflower was also packed full of flavour, working perfectly with the flavours of the pistachios and cherries and complimenting the lamb beautifully.  However, unfortunately some of the larger stalks of the cauliflower were undercooked and took a bit of elbow grease to get the knife through.

 

Coal pit roast lamb shoulder with yogurt and fennel

Spiced Cauliflower with sour cherries and pistachio

Even though we were far too full to fit in another bite, we couldn't go past ordering a desert after the success of the meals thus far.  So to share, we ordered the banana tart tatin with lime and coconut labneh.  The labneh was slightly too sour for the tart underneath, but the tart itself was deliciously warm and gooey and a lovely way to finish the night.

Banana Tart Tatin

Casa Ciuccio is a venue for all occasions. The front room is styled as a formal dining area, whereas the back looks more like wine bar and the courtyard (adorned with fairy lights) would be perfect for a romantic date on a hot summer's night. Whatever the occasion, Casa Ciuccio is definitely on my list of recommendations if wanting to dine at a Mediterranean restaurant in Melbourne.

Food: 4/5
Venue: 4/5
Service: 4.5/5
Total: 12.5/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon - (and order the lamb!)