155 Claisebrook Road, Perth
Tel: (08) 9227 7762
www.ischia.com.au
The heart of Italy
Sebi Conte is known around town for his authentic Italian food, with an earlier iteration of the Ischia Ristorante on Beaufort Street, Highgate becoming a mainstay of the Perth food scene.
Today, he welcomes you to Ischia on Claisebrook. Come on in to collect your takeout, or better still, sit and spend a moment enjoying beautifully created Italian fare while you catch up with friends.
The floor to ceiling windows of the restaurant frontage creates the welcoming ambience I love in a space. Warm sunlight streamed in across two gentlemen enjoying lunch. Their comfort spoke of the community here and as I observed their animated conversation over a beer, I felt I could be in a small Italian village.
We started our lunch with the Arancini filled with oozing mozzarella and spicy arrabiata sauce spilling out as we bit through its crispy coating; they were glorious. Rich in flavour, the combination of crispy and soft, oozy textures is always exciting. I really enjoyed how the spicy hit added a depth to the taste experience of this dish.
We enjoyed a 2022 Pasqua Pinot Grigio delle Venezie with this starter. Its floral nose with fruity notes of apple and pear offers freshness with excellent balance.
Next up was one of the restaurant’s most popular pizzas. The Tartufo is one of their Pizze Gourmet selections with toppings of cream of truffle, mozzarella, porcini mushrooms, smoked pancetta, rocket, shaved Parmigiano, and truffle oil. It sounds like a lot, but the quantity of each ingredient was just right, creating a nicely balanced pizza. It was delicious.
The Spaghetti Marinara was bursting with fresh seafood; the touch of garlic and chilli with cherry tomatoes, parsley and Napolitana sauce created a lovely base for the richness of the seafood. We paired this with a glass of Below & Above 2020 Pinot Noir, a medium bodied red creating the right balance with the strong flavours of the dish.
Another classic Italian dish was the Pappardelle Ragù; fresh egg pasta tossed with 12-hour slow-cooked beef brisket in red wine and tomato sauce, with a smattering of Parmigiana cheese sprinkled on the top to make a heartwarming and nurturing dish. We enjoyed this with a glass of the 2021 Flaminio Primitivo by Vallone, a red wine rich in deep berry notes, which perfectly balanced the richness of this dish.
The final dish of the day was also our best – The Capretto; slow-cooked baby goat with vegetables, herbs, white wine and roasted potatoes is everything a provincial Italian stew should be. The flavours worked in perfect harmony with a light and fragrant sauce infused with the flavours of each ingredient. The perfectly cooked goat fell off the bone. Again, the Vallone red wine made a wonderful match with all those flavours of Italy creating a wonderful story.
Ischia on Claisebrook is walking distance from the train station and HBF stadium, where Perth Glory and the Rugby are main fixtures making it the perfect place to drop by for a quick meal or pizza, on your way to a game. But do not make that the reason to visit. Its genuine hospitality and generous hours of operation; from midday to 10pm seven days a week, make this is a wonderful place to enjoy time with friends and family.
By Sarah Schmitt
