Try to walk past II Bacaro when it's in full swing without feeling just a little pang of envy. The simple, stylish dining room is one of the city's most intimate and alluring.
The Age - Good Food Guide 2010
It was a wise person who once commented that good taste never goes out of style and so it is with Il Bacaro, a modern Italian restaurant and bar located in Little Collins Street, Melbourne. After more than a decade of charming diners and reviewers alike with its fine Italian fare, and attracting a cult status among devoted locals, Il Bacaro is now considered an institution, a quintessentially Melbourne dining experience.
With its combination of exceptional food and wine, sophisticated Venetian-inspired good looks and old-style professional service, it is no surprise that Il Bacaro is regarded as one of Melbourne’s premier Italian establishments.
Antipasti
fiori di zucca del giorno
Zucchini flowers of the day $9 eachbrodo al pomodoro, formaggio di capra, cetriolo, olive e zucchini
Tomato consomme with goats cheese filled tomato, gin compressed cucumber, candied olive and zucchini $24calamari st. andrea
Shallow fried calamari with rocket and a balsamic dressing $27crudo di kingfish e ocean trout con uva, bottarga, cetriolo e pepe rosa
Kingfish and ocean trout crudo with bottarga mayonnaise, grapes, pickled cucumber and pink peppercorns $26carpaccio di manzo con barbabietola, caprino, pistacchio e wasabi
Wagyu beef carpaccio with baby beetroots, goats curd, pistachio and wasabi $26quaglia con fichi, gelato al gorgonzola, pinoli e vincotto
Seared quail with caramelised figs, blue cheese ice cream, pine nuts and vincotto $26
Pasta e Risotto
spaghettini con cicale di mare, aglio, “olio visadi” e rucola
Spaghettini with Moreton Bay bugs “olio visadi”, garlic, chilli and rocketsml $29 lge $39
cres tasa di polenta con coniglio, cavoletti e pecorino
Polenta pasta with braised rabbit, sprout leaves and pecorinosml $29 lge $37
ravioli di zucca e mozzarella di bufala, con puree di zucca e mostarda di frutta
Pumpkin and buffalo mozzarella ravioli with pumpkin puree and mustard fruitssml $27 lge $35
pappardelle con ragu d’agnello, piselli, tartufo e pecorino
Hand cut pappardelle with lamb ragu, truffle paste, peas and pecorinosml $29 lge $37
risotto al zafferano con scampi e broccolini
Baked saffron risotto with scampi, bisque, broccolini, salmon roe, tarragon and scampi oilsml $29 lge $39
Secondi
capretto brasato con pomodoro, fagiolini, patate e pecorino al tartufo
Roman-style braised goat with tomato, green beans, potato and truffled pecorino $39anatra al forno con puree di pastinaca, mirtillo e coco
Roasted duck breast and baked duck leg with parsnip puree, blueberry and coco beans $44maiale arrosto con cavolfiore, mostarda di frutta e sanguinaccia
Western Plains suckling pork rotolo with cauliflower puree, mustard fruits, blood pudding and pink pepper $45bistecca con cipolle, senape e blu marte
350g Wagyu rump with glazed wild onions, seeded mustard and blu marte $45pesce del giorno
Fish of the day — market priceContorni
patate al forno
Roasted potatoes with marjoram, pecorino and garlic $10spinaci in padella con parmigiano
Sautéed spinach with garlic and parmesan $14Insalate
insalata di lattuga e radicchio con ricotta, noce e pera
Cos lettuce and radicchio salad with ricotta, walnut and pear $14insalata di rucola e finocchio con filetti d’arancia
Rocket and shaved fennel salad with orange and a chardonnay vinaigrette $14
Dolci
panna cotta allo yogurt di pecora con frutti di bosco e meringa
Sheeps yoghurt panna cotta with mixed berries and meringue $19torta di formaggio e nettare agave con miele, gelato al violetto e zucchero filato
Agave nectar cheesecake with honeycomb, chocolate pop rocks, violet ice cream and fairy floss $20bomba al cioccolato e nocciolina con caramello salato e gelato al banana
Peanut butter and marshmallow chocolate bomb with salted caramel, aerated chocolate and banana ice cream $22semifreddo di cocco e limetta
Lime and coconut semifreddo with liquorice, and passion fruit and coco bean sorbet $20Formaggi
capra ubriaco al traminer
This specialty of Veneto made from goats milk is steeped in traminer grape must for 10 days. It is of semi-hard consistency with grape due clinging to the rind. $16blu marte
This cheese is made in small quantities, using a select mixture of curd from morning and evening cows milk. With a thick, dense and creamy texture, this is a mildly spiced cheese for blue cheese lovers. $16taleggio di bufala
A version of Taleggio made from buffalo milk, this cheese is matured in damp caves for 30 days. The cheese slowly develops a thin orange rind and inside, a slightly sweet, dense creamy paste. $16We look forward to welcoming you to Il Bacaro. For bookings or more information, please contact us.
168-170 Little Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
T 03 9654 6778 (for reservations)
E info@ilbacaro.com.au
