il fornaio panetteria and pasticceria - 2 acland street st kilda victoria 3182 9534 2922

i really can't find anything bad to say about il fornaio. by day, a panetteria and pasticceria (breads and cakes). by night, a low key, italian-inspired restaurant. and it's all good.

hold the phone! now that doesn't sound right! we tell it like it is and take no prisoners. fuck the establishment food-critics and all that. so whatup? well there are two main reasons for the previous sentence.

first - the food was bloody good. the waiters actually waited. we got fresh bread and water without having to ask. they left us alone to enjoy each other ('s company, i mean) but were ready with another glass of wine or more bread. and i didn't need a sling and a crutch to walk out after paying the bill. all sounds good so far?

secondly - free fucking bread to take away! it's a bit sad that a loaf of bread that costs a dollar fifty to make gets me so excited. but it doesn't take a genius to work out the formula - 'we have lots of bread we didn't sell today that will get thrown out. give it to the customers when they pay their bill. they will come back again with their friends.' if only more restaurants put in a little more thought like these guys.

i have nothing but praise for il fornaio. it rocks for a whole lot of other reasons. it's perfect as a quiet dinner for two but there were also some larger, rowdier tables that didn't seem to be having too bad a time.

i'm going to have to go just for dessert the next time coz we filled up on tasty rack of lamb and unpronouncable but delicious pasta with a hint of chilli. from the day job they should know a thing or two about those yummy, desserty, i-really-shouldn't, choclatey things i love. maybe i'll go back tomorrow...

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