Andre’s Cucina

In the average Italian family, dinner means all-you-can-eat – an approach no decent restaurant caters for. But Andre’s Cucina & Polenta Bar is a bit different.

Order the ‘menu fisso’ and owner (and former MasterChef star) Andre Ursini guarantees you won’t go home hungry. Leaning heavily on the shared plate experience, the bustling yet intimate atmosphere at Andre’s is a throwback to Ursini’s upbringing – big family meals of nibbles, pasta and a protein to round it all out.

Being one of the few Adelaide establishments to make fresh gnocchi on site, you’ll have to get in early – it’s always a sell-out. Luckily other menu items, including burrata (soft cream-filled mozzarella), a variety of polenta dishes and the famed iron steak will keep you satisfied.

While the á la carte style ‘consigli’ menu should keep fussy non-sharers happy, the kitchen loves a challenge. So, whether your diet often gives chefs headaches or your palate pines for goat, they want to help, so call ahead.

Ingredients steer local, but not exclusively so, with homegrown wines sitting beside Italian counterparts. For Ursini, it's not about cost or provenance; it’s all about quality.