Tucked under Rialto, it's a bit tricky to get to with all of the renovations, but don't let that stop you if you're in the mood for an Italian feed. The venue itself has as much character as the food - with graffiti on the walls, an eclectic array of colours, and an open kitchen on display, it's hipster cool, but not so much that you feel like you have to be raised in Fitzroy to feel at home at this place.
Luckily on this occassion I went with a large group of people, which meant the chance to try a variety of items off the menu. To start with we shared the marinated olives, the Pavaron (roasted capsicum with ricotta), the saffron arancini and a selection of cured meats. The arancini was delectably light and fluffy, although in my opinion could have done with a sauce. And the marinated capsicum went beautifully with the fresh basil - but would have been paired better with a stronger cheese (such as goats) as the ricotta was lost in the strength of the capsicum's rich flavour.
For the main I shared the gorgonzola and walnut gnocchi, and the wild boar ragu. The gnocchi was the dish of the day for me - surprisingly, it wasn't too heavy of a dish with a sauce that was just bursting with flavour. The boar in the wagu, however, was a touch on the tough side, but otherwise a flavoursome dish.
For desert I had the trio of ice-cream - salted caramel, passionfruit and strawberry. Smooth, fresh and refreshing, it was the perfect way to end a rich meal.
Whilst missing from the list for awhile, Merchant is back amongst my recommendations for an excellent long lunch spot up in the legal district of the CBD.
Food: 3.5/5
Venue: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 11.5/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon.
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