500 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth
Ph: 0447 006 921
www.lamortazza.com.au
A true taste of Italy in North Perth
If you love authentic Italian flavours you must visit this delightful café on Fitzgerald Street. The first thing you notice as you approach the café is the quirky colourful booths on the verge outside, each shaped like half of a giant coffee cup. The coffee they use is blended specially for the café and is an unique blend of 90% Arabica – strong, smooth and delicious. It was a hot day, so I started with a Crema Caffe, a different take on iced coffee served in a tiny espresso cup. A shot of strong coffee with cream made in an icy frappe style; I am fussy about my coffee and I loved it.
We sampled a few of the choices on the menu starting with a Panini Cotoletta, a rustic dish consisting of slices of fried crumbed chicken cutlet with provolone cheese, tomato, lettuce and mayonnaise in a crusty Italian roll, accompanied by a refreshing Aperol Spritz.
Next came a bowl of Orecchiette (a daily special) – delicate pasta shells with sausage and truffle, along with a glass of the distinctive red wine from the Abruzzo region of central Italy, the 2022 Nero Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
We tried the Prosciutto Croissant, a round bun shaped from flaky pastry and filled with prosciutto, cheese and tomato which was a perfect match with the wine, as its smooth, dark plum and berry tones complemented the savoury croissant nicely.
Another nice touch harking from the traditions of the Abruzzo region is that when a customer orders an alcoholic drink, they are served with a complimentary small plate of finger food such as, olives or chicken strips to go with the drink, a bit like the Spanish tradition of tapas.
One of the specialties at La Mortazza is the Pistachio Cannoli, so of course we had to try one. The sweet crunchy cannoli tube is coated in dark chocolate and rolled in crushed pistachios, freshly filled with whipped cream and jam, and garnished with chopped, candied orange peel, making a delightful treat to finish your meal, or to accompany some of their delicious coffee.
La Mortazza is a family business run by the grandchildren of the original owners. We spoke with Raffaella D’Alonzo, who told us she came out from Italy eleven years ago to run the café which is on the ground floor of the apartment building, built by her uncle and aunt in Fitzgerald Street, North Perth. Raffaella told us that everything they serve in the café is made in-house.
There are Italian products on display that you can buy to take home, and take-away containers in the fridge contain many of the popular dishes on the menu, as well as authentic Italian sweets such as, the cannoli. The atmosphere is casual and friendly, with tables both indoors and outside under shady umbrellas; where you can sit with your well-behaved dog if you fancy. Open from 7am, it is a great place for breakfast, lunch, coffee and cake, or just a drink and some nibbles with friends. Open for dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 9pm.
A little bit of Italy right here in North Perth.
By Georgina Goss
