Saturday, January 9, 2016

Trattoria Emilia, Gills Alley, Melbourne



A lifetime ago, I posted about Gills Diner in Gills Alley, Melbourne.  Since that time, I had the pleasure of dining at Gills Diner a number of times.

In September last year, there was a changing of the guard, and Gills Diner morphed into Trattoria Emilia.  Instead of a European menu, Trattoria Emilia has narrowed its range to an exclusively Italian one.  Trattoria Emilia is not named after a beautiful girl, as you may think on first glance, but rather, after the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

The updated interior is lighter and brighter than Gills Diner, and the walls are laden with Italian prints, keeping in with the theme of the establishment:


The menu at Trattoria Emilia focusses on a small selection of quality Italian dishes from various regions of Italy:


I have dined at Trattoria Emilia twice - once for lunch and once for dinner.  I have also been there once for a pre-Christmas coffee, where we ate the most beautiful melt-in-your-mouth fruit mince pies ($3.50 each) from their bakery section.  On all occasions, the service has been hospitable and prompt.  As Trattoria Emilia is popular, I recommend booking to ensure that you have a table.

On my second visit to Trattoria Emilia, I shared two dishes with my colleague, Justine.  The first dish was the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese ($19), with a pork and veal ragu:


The second dish, which I had also had on my previous visit for dinner, was the gnocchi di patate ($23), with rocket pesto, broad beans, bitter greens and pecorino:


Both dishes were superb - simple, tasty, perfection.  There is nothing else to add.  I have noticed on the Trattoria Emilia website that the gnocchi now has a seafood sauce. This is perhaps great news for seafood lovers, but sad for vegetarians, as this was a perfect vegetarian dish.

If you love Italian food, do try Trattoria Emilia when you are in town - or drop in for a coffee from their shiny espresso machine and a pastry.

360 Little Collins St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: (03) 9670 7214

3 comments:

Hotly Spiced said...

I do love Italian cuisine! This restaurant sounds excellent and the prices seem quite reasonable. It's always a joy to have a faultless night out xx

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Simple tasty perfection is how I'd really like all my meals to be! Looks like a total winner! :D

Kayte said...

Trattoria Emilia is my kind of place...and the dishes you show are ones I would love to eat!