Si Paradiso

Brilliant Italian flavours delivered with skill, panache and the option of post dinner partying.

A three-pronged approach – nightclub, courtyard/amphitheatre, restaurant – might have the uninitiated concerned about the commitment to the food side of the party. Rest assured. The flavours being delivered in Si’s darkly handsome dining room with its booth and banquette seating, terrazzo details and mood-setting parquetry floor display the same level of passion and knowledge being applied to the impressive DJ roster. A beef tartare, a little messy to eat, is fully redeemed by the seasoning of the hand-chopped meat and the genius inclusion of green tonnato sauce that turns the two-bite snack into a multi-dimensional flavour bomb. A perfectly grilled pork collar spiedini is made ovation-worthy with the accompanying kimchi butter and pickled beak chillies. A marinara pizza from the short, sharp list is a masterclass in puffy, charred-crust correctness, further elevated by the lobster oil that finishes the plate-sized pie. Even more low-key dishes, perhaps skilfully cooked risotto with burrata and Torbay Asparagus, display the kitchen’s keen knowledge of Italian cuisine’s sublime simplicity. The drinks list is impressive too, starting with theme-appropriate aperitivo (the Italicus, pineapple soda and tarragon number is a refreshing gem) and leading to a Euro-leaning wine list that features both classic styles and newer players, delivered by enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. A good time on every level.