cicciolina - 130 acland street st kilda 3182 9525 3333

you may think you know the italian restaurant on acland street known as cicciolina (pronounced chi-chi-o-leena). and that reminds me. it's pronounced brusketta not brushetta. try to remember that when you order it next. anyway, cicciolina is not just a well known italian restaurant. duck down the alley beside it and you find a back door to a little bar called - cicciolinas. crazy. now, while you might pay $25 for a main in the restaurant, nibbles in the bar start at just $6.50. and that's fucking cheap.

i loved the warm olives and spicy meatballs. and they have a great wine list, obviously influenced by the restaurant up front. if you're after a nice glass of shiraz or chardy with some nibbles, it's just the place. there are a few booths that fit four close friends and some stools at the bar. a sign that says 'don't smoke near the bar' - but there are always assholes who don't give a shit. we got out of there with four glasses of wine, a coffee and the olives and meatballs for $44 including the tip. bonus.

the problem about their business card is the words 'no bookings', front and centre, capitalised. just a hint. writing in caps makes you look like you are yelling and writing 'no bookings' in caps on the front of a business card just seems to say to me 'fuck off'. it doesn't really scream 'we want you to come here for food and drink'. then again, the place sells itself once you've actually been there so maybe this sort of advertising keeps the riff-raff away. riff-raff, you know who you are. highly recommended, i'm here 'til thursday, try the meatballs.

shit, i can't believe how low-key that was.