Now Open: neighbourhood Italian restaurants
One of the best things about living in a big city is the abundance of good neighbourhood Italian restaurants where families and friends can meet up at all times of day and night to feast on delicious simple fare. Right now in Jervis Bay, there’s a mini-boom in Italian dining – there’s really something for everyone. Here’s what we’ve tried recently.
Peter & Eva
This is the place to go for wood fired pizza and al fresco dining that transports you to a little piazza somewhere in Italy. Seating options are indoors, in the atmospheric laneway or outside along the paved main street when the weather is great (which is most of the time here in JB), and you’ll be treated like part of the family.
Chef Eva’s passion shines through her pizza dough, a testament to her training as a pastry chef in Italy, and in every dish.
It’s not unusual to see a high stack of pizza boxes headed out the door to hungry families around the neighbourhood and many locals make the 15-minute drive from our ‘outer’ suburbs just for the takeaways.
The husband-and-wife team attracted a local following before they landed in the restaurant, with a pizza food truck that served the same high-quality fare.
Wood fired pizza is the local favourite at Peter & Eva’s restaurant on Owen Street Huskisson. Photo: Peter & Eva
The move into Owen Street has been a great development, providing a permanent home with more space and accessibility for many more people to enjoy Peter and Eva’s culinary delights.
Make a booking to experience Eva’s nonna’s secret recipes, especially the tasty meatballs, local Jervis Bay mussels, classic salads and delectable desserts.
We tried
Shared Entrée: Mozzarella de bufala e prosciutto di Parma – creamy mozzarella with a plentiful serve of prosciutto
Mains: Gamberi al guazzetto – garlic prawns with gluten free penne and salad
Spaghetti alle vongole – spaghetti pasta, cherry tomatoes, parsley, garlic and clams
Dessert: Tiramisu made fresh – it’s a generous portion and one of the most popular desserts, especially for takeaways
There is a separate menu for vegetarians, and one for gluten free, which makes ordering simple. Eva sources a gf penne from Italy, after sampling many options before choosing the one she thought was best.
The fully licensed bar includes a selection of Italian wines, beers and spirits for an authentic accompaniment to your meal. It’s so popular it’s best to book in advance, as the restaurant is often at full capacity.
2/52 Owen Street Huskisson, Monday to Saturday 5-9pm
Pasta Buoy
As the name suggests, this is a pasta bar by the sea. But oh boy, let’s talk pasta!
On the main street in Huskisson, Pasta Buoy’s shopfront is a feast for the eyes, with delicate piles of fresh pasta in a glass-front counter.
Made on the premises by an Italian chef using an Italian machine that extrudes shapely forms and cuts ribbons of pasta made from Italian flour and semolina, Pasta Buoy can hardly keep up with demand.
The concept is all takeaway – order and collect at the counter, then find a seat in the courtyard or wander down to the foreshore and picnic on the grass. Even the cocktails are takeaway, packaged in a custom-made glass jar. Order from the window inside the courtyard.
Vegetarians are catered for in the sauce department and the arancini balls with porcini mushrooms receive rave reviews.
The nine-hour beef cheek ragu is the local favourite at Pasta Buoy on Owen Street Huskisson. Photo: Pasta Buoy
There’s kid-size pasta options, and for our gluten-free, Pasta Buoy sources a fresh GF linguini from Pastabilities in Sydney’s Marrickville.
Take home your choice of pasta and sauce to finish up in your own kitchen, and don’t forget dessert.
We Tried
Buoy Ragu lumache, 9-hour beef cheek ragu
Alla Trapanese ravioli, spinach and ricotta ravioli, sun dried pesto stracciatella cheese, pangrattato
Arancini porcini mushroom with truffle oil
Owners Steve and Jess have successfully created a slice of the Mediterranean right here in Huskisson with a Santorini-inspired vibe and it feels and tastes just right.
Pasta Buoy is more than a pasta bar; it’s a culinary journey with rich authentic flavours and dedication to quality.
60 Owen Street Huskisson, 11am-9pm daily, online orders available
La Vespa
Located in the former Three Gringos Mexican venue next to Coles in Vincentia’s Burton Street shopping village, La Vespa feels like a classic cosy neighbourhood Italian restaurant. The ambiance is spacious and light, with nods to its heritage such as the Tuscan-style fresco in the main dining room. There is ample seating inside and outside under the arcade roof, which is a great option for those warm yet rainy summer evenings.
The restaurant offers weekly specials and seasonal menu changes to keep locals coming back. The portions are generous and many ingredients are locally sourced and always fresh.
The star of the show is the hand-made gnocchi.
These potato pilllows are skilfully prepared on-site by their new arrival, Italian chef Simone Carelli, who hails from Torino in the Piedmont region. If you love gnocchi, try their four-cheese sauce. Chef Simone has also introduced a new risotto, vino rossa risotto and salsiccia, arborio rice cooked with a special red wine and onion sauce with pork sausage broken up, rosemary and parmigiana cheese.
The beetroot pasta topped with mozzarella is a colourful addition, showcasing the restaurant’s creativity. Locals love the antipasti, fresh salads, and their Italian-style local Jervis Bay mussels, and of course, nonna’s meatballs.
La Vespa feels like an authentic, cosy neighbourhood Italian restaurant, in Vincentia shopping village. Photo: La Vespa
They offer a selection of kids’ meals and there’s a dessert card on the tables.
We Tried
Starters: Burrata mozzarella with a generous helping of Parma prosciutto with fresh basil and italian olive oil. We love that the prosciutto is freshly sliced to order.
Alici Marinate, Marinated anchovies, garlic, parsley on three slices of toasted bread .
Mains: Pork Arrosto, roasted pork, carrots, celery, red onion, special Vespa sauce which is crafted by blending the succulent pork juice and vegetables in a blender until perfetto, comes with a baked potato and mixed salad.
Spaghetti Marinara, Jervis Bay mussels, squid, prawns, clams, cherry tomatoes tossed in al dente spaghetti, super fresh and a good serve of mussels.
Dessert: Hand made Cannoli (ricotta and cream) 2 per serve, Tiramisu, all made on premises.
There are vegetarian, vegan and dairy free options, and gluten-free penne pasta. For those with specific dietary requirements, talk to the wait staff who will advise on the best options for your individual needs.
La Vespa is a charming new addition to Vincentia, offering a warm atmosphere, a thoughtfully curated menu, and a commitment to supporting local producers.
Shop 2 Burton Street Vincentia, Open from Tuesday-Sunday between 5-9pm BYO wine only, corkage fee $2.50 per glass, pets allowed at outside tables
