Calamari fritti, mixed bread and prosciutto with buffalo mozzarella
Pomodoro Sardo, formerly Pomodoro Rosso in the CBD is another restaurant that is close to my heart. It is one of only a handful of Sardinian restaurants in Melbourne, and being half Sardinian I always feel a little closer to my heritage after each visit. Before my departure from Melbourne this was a restaurant I visited every few months, so I knew the menu well. On my most recent visit back to Melbourne I had a meeting there and the restaurant seemed busier than ever and the food we’d ordered just as delicious.
Located near the Greek quarter of the CBD, Pomodoro Sardo is housed in a large’ish, open restaurant space. Its façade has ceiling to floor windows and when you walk inside it has the feeling of a bistro or tavern: rustic, practical and the opposite of the heavily designed and architected breed of restaurants to seep out of Melbourne’s belly of late.
Always a great starter – buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto
Spinach and ricotta ravioli
Pomodoro Sardo has a very extensive Italian food menu serving all the classic pasta and pizza dishes, salumi and cheeses, as well as desserts and they cater to vegetarians very well. What I like about their offerings is the emphasis on quality ingredients and size, if you have a small appetite I’ll be honest it would be a waste for you to come here, unless you are sharing with hungry friends and they can share the load. I will say that some meals aren’t cheap – pastas are priced between $22 – $32, and mains between $28-39 however you are paying for quantity (you will not leave hungry) and quality, as well as plenty of flavour.
Risotto (changes daily)
A classic Sardinian dish – fregola
If you’re also interested in sampling Sardinian fare, then apart from Da Noi in South Yarra which is much pricier but excellent; Pomodoro Sardo offer the classics like fregola, malloreddus and one of my favourite desserts Seadas! For those that love suckling pig, this is a traditional Sardinian dish and Pomodoro Sardo make an excellent one. This is not on the menu, so to organise it, it is best to call a week in advance and chat to them about how much you will need to feed your guests and of course the price (I once made the mistake of ordering far too little and had some very disappointed friends).
All in all, Pomodoro Sardo is a great spot for group lunches or dinners with friends or family, especially during an outing in the City or post a show at the theatre. If the food is really to your liking, they also have a private dining area.
JC x
Trading hrs: Monday-Friday 11am-3pm, 5pm-late; Saturday and Sunday 5pm-late
Menu link: http://www.pomodorosardo.com/our-menu/
Bookings: Available
Address: 118 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Ph: (03) 9348 2957
Website: http://www.pomodorosardo.com
Facebook: Pomodoro Sardo
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Please note that prices, menu items, management or trading hours may have varied since time of review. Our thoughts and opinions are based on our experience only.
