There are two things I truly love- eating out for dinner and my toddler.
Sadly, both of those things don’t always go hand-in-hand. Nothing strikes fear into the heart of someone standing behind a white table cloth as the sight of small sticky fingers.
As such, I’ve become a little bit obsessed with finding kid-friendly restaurants so that my mini-me and I can both enjoy an (early) night out.
Luckily for us, Italian Street Kitchen has migrated from Sydney to Brisbane, bringing with it ridiculously tasty food, an affordable menu, and a fun family-friendly atmosphere.
Does it really feel like a little slice of Italy in the inner-city burbs?
Let’s find out.
Sadly, both of those things don’t always go hand-in-hand. Nothing strikes fear into the heart of someone standing behind a white table cloth as the sight of small sticky fingers.
As such, I’ve become a little bit obsessed with finding kid-friendly restaurants so that my mini-me and I can both enjoy an (early) night out.
Luckily for us, Italian Street Kitchen has migrated from Sydney to Brisbane, bringing with it ridiculously tasty food, an affordable menu, and a fun family-friendly atmosphere.
Does it really feel like a little slice of Italy in the inner-city burbs?
Let’s find out.
Located in the Gasworks precinct in Newstead, you can’t help but be instantly struck by the expansive openness of Italian Street Kitchen. A whole wall opens onto Skyring Terrace, offering river-view glimpses beyond the bustling street. The restaurant itself is light and airy, with a direct view into the lively kitchen where culinary magic is made.
Not only was my small one welcomed into the restaurant, but a high chair was procured and a genuine smile was thrown her way. The warmth of the staff at this restaurant alone has meant that since our first visit here, we’ve since been back again, and again, and again…
Italian Street Kitchen somehow manages to be both sophisticated and relaxed at the same time, which is a real ambiance achievement.
There are some unique features at this restaurant including both still and sparkling water on tap which makes me more excited that it really probably should. Pizzas are also served with scissors which is much more effective than wielding a blunt pizza cutter through stringy cheese.
You can also order wine by the glass, bottle or carafe as we did here. The wine list is small but well-considered with offerings from both Italy and local regions. There is also the option to BYO.
The antipasto menu has a number of gems that instantly sets off a rumbling tummy. We opted for the Fried Gnocchi with Ricotta and Truffle. These little balls of golden deliciousness were extremely moreish and had a generous amount of earthy truffle in each. They came with a Napoli sauce that was humble and good.
Not only was my small one welcomed into the restaurant, but a high chair was procured and a genuine smile was thrown her way. The warmth of the staff at this restaurant alone has meant that since our first visit here, we’ve since been back again, and again, and again…
Italian Street Kitchen somehow manages to be both sophisticated and relaxed at the same time, which is a real ambiance achievement.
There are some unique features at this restaurant including both still and sparkling water on tap which makes me more excited that it really probably should. Pizzas are also served with scissors which is much more effective than wielding a blunt pizza cutter through stringy cheese.
You can also order wine by the glass, bottle or carafe as we did here. The wine list is small but well-considered with offerings from both Italy and local regions. There is also the option to BYO.
The antipasto menu has a number of gems that instantly sets off a rumbling tummy. We opted for the Fried Gnocchi with Ricotta and Truffle. These little balls of golden deliciousness were extremely moreish and had a generous amount of earthy truffle in each. They came with a Napoli sauce that was humble and good.
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The traditional pizza and pasta dishes at Italian Street Kitchen are simple but made with excellent ingredients.
We tried out the Gustosa Pizza with Mozzarella, Mushroom, Italian Sausage, Parmesan and Truffle Oil, as well as the good old Margherita Pizza with Mossarella, Parmesan and Basil. Both rustic pizzas were truly excellent. The light and crispy bases were cooked in a wood fired oven in the traditional Roman way, making for the perfect vehicle for these tasty toppings.
We also ordered the Rigatoni Amatriciana with Cured Pork Cheek, Pecorino Cheese, Napoili Sauce and Chilli. The sauce in this pasta dish was nice and tasty, but I’ll be honest, nothing beats the pizza base we had, which has meant that our ratio of ordering pizza to pasta here has become well-skewed in the pizzas’ favour.
Other meals that are available include spit roast meats, paninis and a range of sides.
We tried out the Gustosa Pizza with Mozzarella, Mushroom, Italian Sausage, Parmesan and Truffle Oil, as well as the good old Margherita Pizza with Mossarella, Parmesan and Basil. Both rustic pizzas were truly excellent. The light and crispy bases were cooked in a wood fired oven in the traditional Roman way, making for the perfect vehicle for these tasty toppings.
We also ordered the Rigatoni Amatriciana with Cured Pork Cheek, Pecorino Cheese, Napoili Sauce and Chilli. The sauce in this pasta dish was nice and tasty, but I’ll be honest, nothing beats the pizza base we had, which has meant that our ratio of ordering pizza to pasta here has become well-skewed in the pizzas’ favour.
Other meals that are available include spit roast meats, paninis and a range of sides.
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Nothing completes a dinner out like dessert, and the traditional range on offer here meant that my belly full of carbs suddenly found room for just a few more mouthfuls of sugar-carbs.
We tried out the Sicilian Cannoli which were tube shaped shells of fried pastry dough with a creamy ricotta filling and crushed pistachio. This was delicious, with the super crispy pastry lovingly holding the airy ricotta filling.
The Calzone Alla Nutella with a Vanilla Bean Gelato was hard to pass up, so we didn’t. This decadent calzone basically had a whole jar of Nutella tipped into it and made both toddler and parents very, very happy.
Lastly we had the Tiramisu, with Espresso Dipped Savoiardi Biscuits, Marsala and Mascarpone Cream. This dish again offered a hedonistic experience with layers of rich tastes that complimented each other perfectly. Nonnas country-wide would be proud.
We tried out the Sicilian Cannoli which were tube shaped shells of fried pastry dough with a creamy ricotta filling and crushed pistachio. This was delicious, with the super crispy pastry lovingly holding the airy ricotta filling.
The Calzone Alla Nutella with a Vanilla Bean Gelato was hard to pass up, so we didn’t. This decadent calzone basically had a whole jar of Nutella tipped into it and made both toddler and parents very, very happy.
Lastly we had the Tiramisu, with Espresso Dipped Savoiardi Biscuits, Marsala and Mascarpone Cream. This dish again offered a hedonistic experience with layers of rich tastes that complimented each other perfectly. Nonnas country-wide would be proud.
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Italian Street Kitchen’s simple, rustic dishes served up in a modern setting draws small families, big families, first dates, and groups of friends alike.
It truly brings the best of Italy to Newstead.
Buon appetito Brisbane.
It truly brings the best of Italy to Newstead.
Buon appetito Brisbane.
