affogato $3.8
King Street south is generally known for traffic jams, Bollywood, used furniture and junk “antiques” shops. Oh, and that brothel that has three small mounds of rock salt on the footpath outside the entrance. On the food-side of things it almost appears to be a culinary wasteland. Ordinary Thai places, African, faux Mexican and Middle Eastern etc etc … Until you scratch the surface or, in my case, happen to be a local and know where the good stuff is. A combination of not having a car and being utterly lazy, the words “There’s nowhere decent to eat around here” are often thrown around in our household in reference to anything south of, say, Newtown Station. When you don’t want to work up a sweat walking from King St south beyond Newtown Station just for a meal, the pickings are slim. Well, for fuss-pots like us, anyway.
fettucine margarita (vodka pink sauce with bacon or sausage) $ 15
One of these slim-pickings is the popular Pastizzi Cafe. Popular with people on the run and popular with people willing to wait for a table to chow down on a crispy and flaky pastizzi, strong coffee, kanolli, home-style pasta or even baked rabbit.
fettucine pollo pesto (chicken, pinenuts in pesto cream sauce) $ 16
The pasta here is delicious and generous. Fettucini, ravioli, penne, gnocchi … all come with a variety of tasty sauces from your traditional carbonara to Italian sausage to orgasmic and artery-clogging four cheeses.
salmon, dill & ricotta pastizzi & beef curry pastizzi $ 1.8 each
Business is going so well here, in fact, that expansion is underway. Apparently they’re working on more floor space out the back. Great idea, but will the kitchen cope? Time will tell. Personally I think they should put tables out in the little park next door on the corner of King and Alice: candle light, fairy lights in the trees. Lovely.
Pastizzi Cafe
523 King Street
Newtown 2042
02 9519 1063
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Many, many, MANY years ago, we used to get fresh pastizzi in Surry Hills, but that place has long since closed. Having regretably consumed some supermarket varieties which have been found at “bring a plate” gatherings, I’ve been desperately salivating for the seriously good fresh stuff. Will definitely have to pay this place a visit – thanks for the tip.
If you had started this post with the sauces description, I would have been able to say “you had me at orgasmic four cheeses”!
Hi John, I have heard that after the dramas a few months ago with management that the originals are back. Have you heard anything about this? I love this place but haven’t been since I heard about the staff being thrown out etc. If this is true it would be good to give it another rap, I’m thinking of going there tonight so I will try and find out. I just have to have some of their pasta, and the fresh tomato sauce is brilliant with a pastizzi or 2.
Hi Philliz, you’re right, the old crew is back after some apparent legal procedings. I’ve been back a couple of times now