Fratelli Paradiso

In 1991, three Italian boys headed north of the border to bring a little slice of Melbourne dining to Sydney. Fratelli Paradiso opened its doors in 2001 in Potts Point’s leafy Paris quarter and has since become an inner-city institution.

To this day, brothers Giovanni and Enrico Paradiso (also of 10 William Street) remain committed to the original vision they and former business partner Marco Ambrosino set out to achieve from day one. They cut their teeth as waiters, and their attention to service shines through front-of-house. Ask any Potts Point local and they’ll tell you the same thing: you come here for the vibrant ambiance and service as much for the well-dressed Italian fare.

While you could certainly make that visit a lunch-time thing, Frat Paz is absolutely the kind of place you want to bunker down for an evening. Request one of the coveted street-facing seats and treat yourself to an alfresco feast of calamari Sant’ Andrea (floured rings, lightly fried and served with rocket and lemon); chitarra cacio e pepe (thin, eggy pasta served with cheese, pepper and Tasmanian truffle); and the renowned lasagnetta Bolognese. Round it all off with a plate of boozy tiramisu.

Of all the legacies this place will surely leave behind, it’ll be as one of the city’s first truly ground-breaking wine venues. The extensive list is updated weekly, catering to almost every taste – from crowd-pleasing sangioveses and pinot noirs, to a more daring selection of both local and Italian orange wines.

A recipe from Fratelli Paradiso is featured in The Broadsheet Italian Cookbook. Buy your copy at shop.broadsheet.com.au.