Short Black Cafe | Camberwell | A Chronicle of Gastronomy

01 Aug Short Black Cafe, Camberwell

Posted at 19:00h in Camberwell, Food, Italian, Restaurants, Short Black Cafe by A Chronicle of Gastronomy 0 Comments

Not to be confused with Short Black Cafe in Richmond, this Italian cafe and restaurant sits near the craziness that it Camberwell junction. Veneziano coffee is available all day long, and thank goodness because the coffee is very good. The kitchen features a slicer and rotating wood fired pizza oven, and pasta is handmade daily.

Chilli mussels w beans and chorizo sausage ($12)

We start with some chilli mussels, the shellfish coming with a stew-like mix of beans and chorizo. It’s hearty and substantial dish that’s full of flavour, and also a generous serve for the price.

Pork Belly – roast pork belly w caramelised apple served on potato mash ($15)

Short Black Cafe Camberwell - Lobster Fettuccini - lobster tail pan tossed w olive oil, onion, garlic and cherry tomato served w home-made fettuccine with walnut, rocket, parmesan and pear salad ($38)

Lobster Fettuccini – lobster tail pan tossed w olive oil, onion, garlic and cherry tomato served w home-made fettuccine with walnut, rocket, parmesan and pear salad ($38)

The pork belly entree utilises the classic combination of pork and apples, each piece perched on top of a base of mashed potato, with a slice of caramelised apple sitting over the crackling. Lobster fettuccini arrives, the pasta cooked with garlic, onion, olive oil and cherry tomatoes. The half a lobster tail is quite the looker, unfortunately a bit overdone, but the smaller pieces of lobster mixed through the fettuccini are much better. The accompanying salad of rocket, pear, walnut and parmesan is a welcome addition of punchy flavour and texture.

Pear and Pancetta – Gorgonzola, parmesan, mozzarella topped w juicy pear and pancetta ($25)

With the rotating wood-fire oven in action, we decide that leaving without trying pizza is not an option. The pear and pancetta is an unusual but popular choice. Coming with gorgonzola, parmesan and mozzarella, and topped with thinly sliced pear and pancetta, the cheese flavour is strong with this one. The base is thicker and denser than in neapolitan-style pizza, but still delicious.

Gnocchi with garlic prawns, capsicum, creamy sauce ($28)

One of our favourites is the gnocchi with garlic prawns, capsicum with a creamy base. No stodgy parcels of flour and potato here. Oven baked for extra flavour, the gnocchi almost melts in the mouth.

With many good ideas on the menu and beautifully done pasta, Short Black Cafe is a decent option for family friendly Italian.