With an enoteca-style wine store and bold seasonal flavours, Lalla Rookh highlights the best of Italian cuisine, no matter the occasion.
The steep descent from St Georges Terrace to Lalla Rookh has become a familiar trek for crowds far and beyond the CBD; in the tree-lined al fresco area by the entrance and on the way to the dining hall, it’s not uncommon to find loosened ties and sneakers mingling with the likes of tailored blazers.
The six course “il Capo” menu keeps things spontaneous and follows the kitchen’s lead.
They might flow into the restaurant proper, where the à la carte menu celebrates the diversity of Italian eating culture backed by WA produce. Familiar staples like gnocchi and pasta run up against dishes with big flavours, such as venison carpaccio, topped with a cloud of shallot and parsnip. Smoky Fremantle octopus is paired with punchy ’nduja, while radicchio risotto comes blushing pink, with jewels of cranberries and hazelnuts on top – proving flavour can be picture perfect.
The six course “il Capo” menu keeps things spontaneous and follows the kitchen’s lead. The attached wine store, though, is where Lalla Rookh really shines. A true reflection of the spirit of an enoteca-style bar, it allows guests to choose from more than 300 wines from a diverse list led by Italy in an intimate setting, plus pick food from the restaurant menu and grab take-away bottles from the shelves. A destination before, after or for dinner, and in its own right, too.
