I had not been to Scopri, not heard of it, nor seen it, until I was looking for a place in Carlton to take my friend for her birthday last week. This little Italian eatery is big on fresh produce, much of it grown at their own farm, and traditional Italian, hand-made recipe with modern twists.
It is fine dining, white table cloths, older clientele, Italian wine and mostly male staff dressed very neatly.
The meal began with their home-made bread. It was a country style loaf with white, dense but soft dough in the middle and a thick, strong crust. This was served with green, bitter olive oil, which was the most flavoursome olive oil I have had in a long time. Both the bread and the oil can also be bought to take home.
There are a few vegetarian options on the menu. The ravioli alla norma was made with very fresh pasta, filled with light, fresh ricotta. The actual pasta was flavoured very simply, just pasta and ricotta. This allowed the flavours of the sauce to excel. On top was smoked eggplant from the Scopri farm, San Mazano tomatoes, and finely grated (and not too plentiful) salted ricotta, which had melted into the sauce. It was presented in a long line, which looked very attractive.
My friend had the risotto of the day which was with a pumpkin puree, goats’ cheese and pine mushrooms. Hers was also delicious. The risotto was really light with each grain of rice separated by the puree (think opposite to gluggy and sticking together). It was severed with beautifully cooked fresh mushrooms. She really enjoyed it.
We also shared hand cut chips, which were lightly seasoned. And a side of silverbeet, which had been reduced in parmesan for a creamy flavour. It was rich.
To finish we had coffee. And cannoli. The latter was absolutely delicious. You could smell the pastry as soon as it was put in front of you. The casing was filled with fresh ricotta with small chunks of chocolate and dipped in crushed pistachios at each end, before being stuck to the plate with more of the ricotta-chocolate-mix.
Overall, it was a wonderful meal and we vowed to return with more people and big appetites. There was a lot of meat on the menu but enough to keep vegetarians interested. They served an array of Italian wines too. The staff were very eager when we first arrived but allowed us to relax as we got into our meal. It was obvious that this place is a regular hang-out for many of the diners there that Thursday afternoon. Best to book in advance.
It is fine dining, white table cloths, older clientele, Italian wine and mostly male staff dressed very neatly.
The meal began with their home-made bread. It was a country style loaf with white, dense but soft dough in the middle and a thick, strong crust. This was served with green, bitter olive oil, which was the most flavoursome olive oil I have had in a long time. Both the bread and the oil can also be bought to take home.
There are a few vegetarian options on the menu. The ravioli alla norma was made with very fresh pasta, filled with light, fresh ricotta. The actual pasta was flavoured very simply, just pasta and ricotta. This allowed the flavours of the sauce to excel. On top was smoked eggplant from the Scopri farm, San Mazano tomatoes, and finely grated (and not too plentiful) salted ricotta, which had melted into the sauce. It was presented in a long line, which looked very attractive.
 |
| Ravioli alla norma |
My friend had the risotto of the day which was with a pumpkin puree, goats’ cheese and pine mushrooms. Hers was also delicious. The risotto was really light with each grain of rice separated by the puree (think opposite to gluggy and sticking together). It was severed with beautifully cooked fresh mushrooms. She really enjoyed it.
 |
| Pumpkin risotto |
We also shared hand cut chips, which were lightly seasoned. And a side of silverbeet, which had been reduced in parmesan for a creamy flavour. It was rich.
 |
| Parmesan silverbeet |
To finish we had coffee. And cannoli. The latter was absolutely delicious. You could smell the pastry as soon as it was put in front of you. The casing was filled with fresh ricotta with small chunks of chocolate and dipped in crushed pistachios at each end, before being stuck to the plate with more of the ricotta-chocolate-mix.
 |
| Cannoli |
Overall, it was a wonderful meal and we vowed to return with more people and big appetites. There was a lot of meat on the menu but enough to keep vegetarians interested. They served an array of Italian wines too. The staff were very eager when we first arrived but allowed us to relax as we got into our meal. It was obvious that this place is a regular hang-out for many of the diners there that Thursday afternoon. Best to book in advance.
Scopri
191 Nicholson Street
Carlton 3053
03 9347 8252
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 12:00pm to 10:00pm
Saturday 5:30pm to 10:00pm