The many who frequent Insieme Ristorante go there for a long and relaxing fine-dining experience.
Basically the other half of Adelaide favourite Chianti Classico, Insieme has garnered a large – mainly suited – following from the surrounding business district.
The room is smartly set with white linen; tables are evenly spaced on the hard wood floor.
There is also a very discreet area, around the corner up the stairs, for those wanting a worry-free long lunch, away from prying eyes (or the boss).
The restaurant is run by two wonderful women, who obviously have great experience in the industry. Free with advice and very attentive, they run the place like a Swiss watch.
Insieme’s wine list features some great value and some rare vintages. Although not as extensive as some and with a heavy Australian accent, the list is well worth perusing at length for something different and unique.
The menu is rustic Italian: bold flavours and hearty serves at a reasonable price. Starters are priced around $10-$20 and mains from $25-$30.
The menu is written with a lot of Italian, but it also includes a great description of the food – a practice seemingly out of fashion these days.
To start, we had the polpette in sugo on polenta, cacciatore in padella and the scallops, or capesante con pancetta.
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The cacciatore was perfectly fried, slightly crisped on the edges, adding nice texture to the salty sausage and acidic cherry tomato.
Scallops were seared with smoky pancetta, served on a long plate with deliciously seasoned cauliflower puree. Shaved fennel added a crisp freshness and hint of aniseed, and a delicate amount of truffle paste added a complex finish.
The polpette was a meal in its own right – large, soft pork and veal meatballs sat on a bed or warm polenta, the rich tomato gravy adding a tasty sweetness that had the table mopping remains with bread.
The starters were top-notch comfort food. Big serves, well presented, and bold, pleasing flavours.
With the restaurant quite full, the service remained sharp, unrushed and confident. Insieme thrives on the lunch-time peak – the 12-2 business rush is its bread and butter.
Main course was a difficult choice. The pasta selection is enticing, as is the traditional Italian veal stew.
We settled, however, on the tagliarini granchio – always a good benchmark – and a rigatoni of pepperoni and roasted capsicum ragu.
The crab pasta was a delight: soft egg tagliarini coated in a thick rose sauce with large chunks of crab flecked with fresh green basil. It was light yet bold, with a touch of chilli, and not too much cream.
The rigatoni was rich, thick and, again, comforting. Ever so slight heat from the pepperoni was soothed with the sweet capsicum and rich tomato sauce.
Insieme does a fine job in taking care of its customers who, in turn, keep coming back.
The restaurant also stands to benefit from the resurgence of Flinders and upper Pirie Street restaurants. Mylk, a diverse bar and snacks operation, has opened right next door, bringing much more traffic to the area.
In a city that loves a good lunch, it can be hard to stand out.
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Yet, from start to finish, Insieme offers experienced service which carries a surety and relaxing atmosphere that is difficult to leave.
All too often it is “just one more glass” and, before you know it, it’s time to think about dinner.
Four out of five.
Insieme Ristorante
63 Flinders Street, Adelaide
08 8223 2777
Open Monday–Tuesday: 10am – 4pm; Wednesday–Friday: 10am – 9.30pm
Cuisine: Italian
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