This is one of the most anticipated food spots for us this year, having seen their new pasta of the week on IG and missing out on a reservation every time because they were always booked out. And rightly so, as every dish we tried tonight was incredible.
Casoni is a small Italian restaurant in Darlinghurst, Sydney. They only do á la carte, and set menus for $72 pp for groups of 6+ people. We spent $125 on food, $150 on wine 🤭.
Casoni is a small Italian restaurant in Darlinghurst, Sydney. They only do á la carte, and set menus for $72 pp for groups of 6+ people. We spent $125 on food, $150 on wine 🤭.
Food
I had burrata a week ago at Ragazzi (LINK) but THIS was da bomb 😍. This burrata for $15 was paired with fig, hazelnut and rosemary. The burrata was so light, creamy and milky, elevated by the most refreshingly sweet purée. And for balance, the specks of hazelnut came through at random times during the bite as the perfect amount of salt, contrasting beautifully with the fig.
You already know this signature croquette was a favourite because ~ p o t a t o ❤️ ~. This was salmon roe, mascarpone and potato for $25. We’ve never had a croquette like this before. The filling was sooo creamy and milky, like eating the perfect mash or a fancy shepherd pie (minus the pastry). Coating it was a crispy, moderate layer of batter, followed by the smooth and light mascarpone. The pops of fish roe added this appetisingly delayed burst of salt, balancing the bite just right.
The yellow fin tuna was $22, with corn, tarragon, and wagyu fat vinaigrette. Bro….. like BRUHHHH. Wagyu fat is our new hype 😍👌🏻❤️ The fatty oil coated our lips and inner mouth caressingly without feeling heavy at all, thanks to the light and refreshing texture of the sashimi. The corn pieces were deliciously sweet and crunchy accents.
Our first pasta was the bucatini, a Moreton bay bug, nduja, bisque, chives and lime for $33. This was an in-your-face savoury and umami flavour bomb. Everything went together so harmoniously while still having its own individual distinct personalities. The pasta was cooked soft, melting away with the tender crustacean. A gentle chilli burn, like a warm candle, lingered through the entire bite.
The other pasta we got was the mafaldine, an octopus, kalamata olives, parsley, shallot crumb for $30. This was another savoury and umami dish, although not as strong as the previous dish. The sauce coated the pasta perfectly without drenching the carbs. The octopus was chewy and soft 👌🏻. The olives were powerful sour accents.
There was something reminiscent about this dish. A homey feeling was emitted after every bite. And throughout each chew, there were small pockets of salt that were strategically and deliciously placed. We both loved this one more.
There was something reminiscent about this dish. A homey feeling was emitted after every bite. And throughout each chew, there were small pockets of salt that were strategically and deliciously placed. We both loved this one more.
We asked them for a wine recommendation, ordering this from Italy. It had a moderate amount of grape flavour and a faint tartiness. It was also very light and enjoyable with the pastas. After 3 sips, I was tipsy 🥴.
Service
The service was spectacular. The restaurant is located in the LGBT district and I don’t know if it’s the extra flare, but we loved our servers hehe.
Review
We love finding places that are a huge success for our tastebuds. And now Casoni will be a regular spot for us and a name we will continue to shout to our family/friends when a pasta recommendation is requested.
Thanks for reading. Happy eating! Ciao!
Thanks for reading. Happy eating! Ciao!
