EAT: 38 CHAIRS, SOUTH YARRA
There's something quite romantic about sharing a bowl of spaghetti. Perhaps I'm thinking about that scene from Lady and the Tramp. Or an upcoming scene from Thirty Eight Chairs this Valentine's Day.
Particularly renown for their house-made pastas among other delicious Italiano goodies, the South Yarra and Carlton North Thirty Eight Chairs eateries have put together a special three course menu for Valentine's Day. Priced at $80 per person, the menus feature several options per course, and many of these are signature dishes that are popular with diners. Further adding to the Valentine's Day spirit, meals will also be accompanied by a rose at the door and a special V Day cocktail. To book (you'll need to do so soon to avoid the disappointment of missing out), head over to their website or give them a call (see below).
2 x 2 salumi and formaggi board - selection of 2 cheeses and 2 salami.
Reginette Ricce al Ragu di Anatra - house made curly pasta with slow cooked duck ragu, porcini and shaved pecorino.
Linguini ai Frutti di Mare - linguine, tomato based seafood vellutata, crab meat, prawns, orange zest, bread crumb sauce, garlic, chilli.
During our recent visit to Thirty Eight Chairs, we received a taste of what the restaurant has to offer. We kicked off lunch by grazing on a delicious selection of cheeses and cured meats. We were very pleased with our selection of the wagyu bresaola (an air dried cured beef) and a Calabrian style spicy salami piccante, both of which oozed plenty of flavour. Fans of a hot experience will be pleased to note that the salami was not shy on the spicy front. The buffalo mozzarella had great creamy texture but it was the truffle pecorino that truly wowed. Every bite translated into truffle heaven and you'd easily get your money's worth on that truffle aroma alone...
The quality of their pasta was evident in the silky texture of their pastas. The flavour combinations we had picked out were sensationally flavoursome and hearty. Definitely comfort food that would hit the spot on a cooler day but something that we struggled to finish on a 35 degree plus day. The crab meat linguine is one of their signature pasta dishes and can be ordered as part of their Valentine's Day menu.
If pasta doesn't float your boat, there are plenty of other main options to get your taste buds going! But I suppose there'll be no reenactment of that spaghetti scene...
Thirty Eight Chairs
4A Bond St,
South Yarra, Victoria, 3141.
(03) 9827 5553
http://www.thirtyeightchairs.com.au/
Disclosure: I dined as a guest of Thirty Eight Chairs. All opinions expressed in this post are based entirely on my experience and observations made during the time of my visit.