Amaretto Trattoria - Fitzroy

Under new ownership, this restaurant has been transformed into a Nepalese eatery. Unfortunately, the hotel where I was staying still had the old menu in their information booklet. I ended up walking a long distance for no reason.

16 mates have been meeting at the restaurant each grand final eve for the last 23 years.We left a small amount of money as a tontine with the owner and now it would seem that he has done a runner.If you happen to read this Des you can contact me on 0439032658 and maybe return the money we left with you for safe keeping Regards Russell

We have had lunch here several times, always excellent food & service. This time was for dinner & celebrating our wedding anniversary. Des had saved us a table by the window but lass assisting had seated someone there. However after some 5 mins they were finished & left. Des reset the table & moved us there. What to say about the menu, there is a wonderful selection in the menu & in addition Des has a specials board which is also very extensive. Choosing is very difficult. Des prepares everything fresh & service is excellent . Good wine selection but would have liked some Chianti, not important though. We will return.

Give it a try! It's not worth just talking about how great it is... words can't truly convey the flavors. Taste the food for yourself and you'll understand why we enjoyed it. No matter what you choose to order, your experience will be just as wonderful.

Over the past 5 years Amaretto Trattoria has become our ‘local’ and we’ve gotten to know owner and Chef Des Elouth very well indeed. What we love about Des is his incredible passion for really good ingredients and preparing dishes in a provincial Italian style (think home cooked by papa, not futzy nouveau cuisine). This is not your usual Italian fare with way too much garlic and oil. This is provincial – a lighter style. And there’s no pre-packaged Italian fare here – it’s all made from scratch. In fact when we first met Des he made a warming vegetable soup from scratch for us on a cold Winter’s night because we didn’t feel like minestrone. Des is also passionate about giving value for money and making his clients so happy that they keep coming back for more. So it’s understandable that his portion sizes tend to be on the large size and perfect for big appetites (go hungry and if you’re a light eater order an entree size).The menu is very extensive (think hearty pastas and risottos in all flavours, styles and sizes) and a really decent selection of mains (chicken, steaks, seafood, veal and more). The specials board changes regularly and lists additional items (whatever has looked good at the market) which ensures there’s something for everyone. Accommodating dietary requirements and menu changes are no issue for Des and we regularly mix things up for him with a new ‘take’ on a dish (I love a chef who likes a challenge!) Centrally located on the corner of Smith and Victoria streets (yes that place with the big pink kinda garish neon sign), the ambience is pleasant with linen table cloths, subdued lighting (on request) and Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra playing in the background.We’ve had most things on the menu and the specials board over the years (it’s where we eat when I don’t want to cook dinner) - home marinated olives, great bruschetta, hearty lamb shanks, delicate involtini, really good lamb rack, exceptional seafood risotto, tender succulent veal limone and perfect Pollo Amaretto just to name a few. The best thing you can do before you meander through the menu (and it’s quite a journey) is to ask Des what’s good tonight and see if anything strikes a chord with you.We’ve taken lots of friends to Amaretto and each one of them has raved about the classic, simple, delicious and hearty food that they’ve enjoyed. Des rarely advertises – he relies on word of mouth and the repeat business of local residents, businessmen and hospital staff – testament to the loyalty of his regulars and the quality of his food. However you can find a voucher in the Entertainment Guide if you need an incentive to go.The service can be a bit hit and miss, particularly on busy nights, due to the ever-changing wait staff (usually travellers from all corners of the globe). If you get lucky you may be able to converse with one of them in Italian, French or German, or listen to the melody of a delightful Irish accent. And if you do find service is lacking – let Des know and he’ll sort it out.Amaretto Trattoria is BYO (wine only, corkage applies) but also has a pretty good wine list with varying selection of good finds at reasonable prices. There’s generally a good Sauvignon Blanc by the glass but the wine does focuses on Shiraz and Cabernets which match well with the steaks and hearty food on offer.And if you do manage to make it through your main and have even a tiny bit of room left for dessert I highly recommend the home made tiramisu or warm apple pie (share if you need to and see if Des can whip up the apple and apricot version for you). A range of really good ice creams and home-made cassata are also on offer along with a lighter style home-made (gelatine-free) chocolate mousse.If you’ve never been to Amaretto Trattoria and are looking for a good hearty meal at a reasonable price then you can’t go wrong. But be warned - once you visit Fitzroy’s best kept secret you may just find you’ll be seduced by ol’ blue eyes and, like Dean Martin, you’ll be singing “That’s Amore” too!My Rating: 83/100