No matter where you go these days, it’s fairly standard for pizza to feature on the menu. It came as a big surprise then that the synonymously Italian dish doesn’t feature once on the menu at La Scala, who were recently recognised by the Italian Embassy for authentic and traditional Italian cuisine.
Nestled away on Garema Place in Civic, it’s easy to miss La Scala’s somewhat hidden entrance, but once you open the door there’s no hiding the tantalizing aromas coming from the kitchen.
The A La Carte menu is steeped in traditional Italian fare, some dating back centuries, but features many with a modern and innovative twist. Seafood fans in particular are well looked after, with an extensive selection.
Dining with two friends, we were greeted promptly and seated in the intimate venue, with just the right amount of rustic Italian charm.
To start off we chose to share two entrees, with the knowledgeable staff quick to offer suggestions. The Carpaccio di Manzo was wafer-thin slices of raw Eye Fillet drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, capers, lemon juice, parmesan cheese shavings and rocket. The beef fillet melted in my mouth, and the touch of lemon gave the dish a real zing.
We also tried the Cape Sante Con Pure di Carote – fresh seared scallops, served rare, on carrot puree with pan tossed spring onions, oyster mushrooms and baby English spinach, lightly dressed with a pinch of garlic and a sweet aged balsamic reduction. The creamy carrot puree was delicious, and perfectly accompanied by the rocket and balsamic combination.
For mains, we tried the Risotto con Pollo e Funghi Porcini alla Crema, Agnello alla Griglia and a veal dish from the specials menu.
The grilled veal cutlet was tender and delicious, and served on garlic wilted baby spinach, semi dried tomato and parmesan cheese polenta wedges, then topped with Café de Paris butter.
The Agnello alla Griglia – grilled lamb rump – was served with pan fried Enoki, button mushrooms and English spinach on a beetroot and desire potato puree, then topped with parsley, lemon and lime butter. The colourful dish was a unique and tasty combination of flavours, with the lamb cooked medium rare to perfection
The chicken and porcini mushroom risotto dish had a white wine, garlic and chilli sauce, finished with a splash of cream. The menu informed us that time and care had to be taken to prepare the dish and to allow 20 minutes. Every one of those minutes was worth the wait and I had to restrain myself not to lick the plate.
The dessert menu features an intriguing list of dishes, and the three that we chose did not disappoint. The Secret Pear Garden was saffron and honey poached pears, nestled on strawberries and rhubarb compote with silky vanilla bean ice cream and delicate mint oil and sweet pear chip, and was the perfect combination of flavours.
The Casino Citrus was a delightful dish of Grand Marnier-flavoured ice cream topped with pistachio nuts and served with an orange and Grand Marnier sauce.
The lusciously titled Strawberry Princess Delight was by far the most impressive dish to grace our table, with fresh strawberries and Frangelico cream, layered between delicate pastry, dressed with a strawberry and sugar reduction with hazelnuts. While it’s one of the most decadent-looking desserts served in a large martini glass, it was surprisingly one of the lightest, and it didn’t take much encouragement to get to the bottom.
La Scala offers a refreshing twist on traditional Italian fare, and is certain to impress. Open lunch and dinner, it’s the perfect combination of fine dining, indulgent food and relaxed atmosphere.
Photography by Chris Whitfield.
