Fratelli Fresh Parlamento

Fratelli Parlamento on Macquarie Street in the CBD near (you guessed it) Parliament House is the seventh venue for the Fratelli team. The other restaurants, which includes Café Nice at Circular Quay, are great for either a quick bowl of meatballs or a lingering date over a slice of torta banoffee.

Fratelli Parlamento could be the sultriest incarnation yet. Walk down a set of steep stairs through the waiting area and into a space with plush, crimson carpet, jade leather benches and a wall of exposed brick.

The menu will be familiar to frequenters of other Café Sopra venues; the “when it ain’t broke” philosophy is clearly in place here. Creativity comes from the oft-changing specials board which is governed by the chefs. Their only brief is to keep it “fresh and Italian”. Try crisp polenta with a ragu of mushrooms and gorgonzola, Sopra’s famous stuffed zucchini flowers, a plate of pate with cornichons or a bowl of pasta. A wood-fired oven burns in one corner of the open kitchen, churning out hot pizza.

Come here for lunch and it’s quite possible you’ll overhear neighboring tables brokering deals or planning political campaigns. Best to keep your eyes on your linguine and your ears open.