Milano Cucina

Thursday night and Italian was on the menu. Opposite the well established Boccelli's Restaurant is another offering based on the same regional cuisine. Though, a baby compared to its counter, Milano Cucina has been around for a couple years making itself an established regular Italian dining destination on Hutt street. Not hard to miss at all, the restaurant forms the ground floor of the Channel Ten building. On arrival, my anticipated excitement of seeing George and Bec was quickly extinguished by their absence. Though this was only an unrealistic expectation greeted by reality.

Provided with prompt service, we deliberated the menu in wait of a stray......Upon their arrival we were quick to order and ready to tuck in. Regretting this as I type, at the time I believed this was the smart and healthy choice I would be pleased with, but the consequences of my inadequate decision making skills was already known to my friend who voiced his concern and warning at the time. A wise man who I chose to ignore. My loss. Out came my tuna salad......fresh ingredients filled the plate. Raw spinach leaves, Spanish onion, cherry tomatoes, and an egg mixed through with olive oil and vinegar provided a simple and even salad. The tuna itself was yellow fin (none of this tinned leftovers you get from the supermarket), a steak evenly cooked through and dispersed throughout the plate. No rawness left in this piece of meat. A satisfying simple salad that lacked complexity and a character for adventure.

The dessert list was simple and not too hard to deliberate from. Three choices straight off the specials board; Panna Cotta, Chocolate Pudding, and a Banana and Caramel Calzone. A masculine decision made by two, Chocolate Pudding with chocolate gelato, ganasche and sauce was ordered. 'Two spoons please', was the request as one would have made the shared dessert an interesting experience.....the layout had design I admired. The creamy iced textures of the gelato, the thick smooth ganache, and the damp caked pudding had the added complexity of cold, tepid, and warm temperatures combined for a favourable balance. A pleasant dessert.

Milano Cucina, a dining experience of good food and good service. I leave a satisfied customer of an enjoyable evening, but still asking myself 'should I be expecting more?'.......

Alfonso's Continental

Alfonso's Continental


It was a late cold and sunny Sunday morning and my tummy was rumbling. Destination: the classy dining street of Hutt, @ Alfonso's Continental. Tucked into a corner block, the restaurants size can be deceiving with only a restricted interior, fitting a small number of tables. Though the main spectacle is the hustle and bustle of littered diners flowing out into the open....an expansive footpath equipped with marquees and thick clear plastic drapes sheltering the harsh weather effects, providing a pleasant outdoor (yet in-house) setting. Heating panels attached to the ceiling of the marquees provided extra warmth and comfort.

As a health conscious dieter (which is received with criticism from my other less healthy friends ;) ), I ordered the Muesli, Yoghurt, Fruit bowl and a Cafe Latte. The coffee was first to arrive and provided the perfect start to breaky, with nice even tones and flavour. Not too subtle or overpowering as the milk provided the sweetness and comfortable temperature for the taste buds to enjoy. So good in fact, I ordered another coffee. This time a long macchiato, created the way it should be (evenly portioned espresso shot and milk) and formed the stronger flavours to enjoy.

The muesli slightly toasted with a few sultanas and dried apple pieces was fine, but left more to be desired compared to other mueslis I've had. The yoghurt was thick and creamy, with the faint flavours of sweet honey through it. A large serve of fresh fruit (banana, pineapple, strawberry, and watermelon) chopped into bite size pieces helped keep the meal fresh. It was a simple meal, and considering the order, my tummy was satisfied.

But what happened next to the remaining bowl of fruit, left to the creative work of my friends, is something to be forgotten. A creation more sinister than Frankenstein himself! A monster was created to which I averted my eyes from. It was a sight that could only be looked at with disgust....and on that note I leave the descriptive creation of this dish to the rest of my Dinner Crew (in addition to their own expertly written reviews).

Enjoy!