Fugazzi Bar & Dining Room
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March 2024: Masterchef alum Laura Sharrad’s restaurant has become quite the celebrity hotspot, with stars like Henry Winkler (the Fonz himself!) visiting as well as a slew of touring musicians including Jimmy Barnes and Axl Rose. Earlier this week food writer, cook and media personality Nigella Lawson visited the restaurant while in town for her An Evening with Nigella Lawson tour. Lawson shared an image of her Fugazzi dinner with her three million Instagram followers, saying, “It was just wonderful to be able to nip back into Fugazzi last night for this fortifying feast.” She ordered “a perfectly cooked tomahawk steak, anchovy hollandaise and chips plus salad on the side.” It’s not Lawson’s first visit to the Leigh Street restaurant, with Sharrad commenting on the same post, “We loved having you back.”
Fugazzi is a striking New York-style Italian restaurant by Laura and Max Sharrad (who also run Hyde Park pasta favourite, Nido). The menu here is personal, drawing on the Sharrad’s travels through Italy.
For snacks, one highlight is the “Roman Vegemite” finger: a trinity of anchovy, whipped butter and lemon on toast that packs just as much umami as the classic spread. Other snacks include golden potato cakes served with salmon roe, creme fraiche and chives, plus raw tuna with smoked mayo and chives on a thin crisp, and pillowy fried gnocco fritto with whipped ricotta, honey, black pepper and sea salt.
One must-try dish, when it’s on the menu, is the “lasagne pizza” – ragu (meat or mushroom) and bechamel on a crisp, wood-fired pizza. Elsewhere, the menu draws on northern Italian cuisine, including a comforting potato-filled ravioli with pork ragu. Another pasta dish, the “Fugazzi Carbonara” – maccheroni, Kampot pepper, guanciale and pecorino – is a highlight.
The decor blends the comfortable and familiar with luxe touches: the interior has been decked out with intimate booths, timber and brass accents, and a striking marble bar. The result is a lavish spin on the storied Italian institutions found throughout New York City.
For drinks, there’s extensive wine list of local and international drops. Unsurprisingly, there’s a big contingent of Italian vino on the menu, but there’s a sizeable contingent of French wines, too.
Contact Details
Phone: (08) 7089 0350
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