Fail to plan. Plan to fail!
Except we didn’t. Fail that is. The complete opposite in fact! A lunch at Hobart’s newest Italian restaurant, Capital, was not on the agenda, but with unexpected Christmas closures to both Chulo and Crumb Street Kitchen we thought we’d go for a wander through North Hobart and see what we could see.
To be honest, Berta was on our minds, but one look at the Capital menu was enough to convince us to try something fresh and new!
Welcome to Capital!
Great ambience at Capital
As you can see from the menu posted up on their Facebook page here, the antipasti selection is fantastic. Needing to save room for a pizza, we decided to limit ourselves to a couple of dishes; a pumpkin, goat’s cheese, cherry tomato and baby spinach frittata ($8.5) and the marinated baby calamari with chilli, lemon, garlic and parsley ($9.5).
Frittata and marinated calamari
Marinated calamari
Both were an absolute pleasure, but the frittata was the standout. Clouds of eggy, tomatoey bliss…it was the lightest and most incredible frittata I think I’ve ever eaten!
After a massive night out, we both had a craving for that miracle food known colloquially as…pizza!!
Capital offer a great variety, segregating them by the sauce used for the base; red or white.
For a tiny little fish, anchovies sure know how to cause serious divisiveness amongst the dining public! Fortunately we both love them, so there were no arguments over our selection…
Anchovy pizza
This was authentic pizza at its best! Thin cheese understory, quality anchovies (not overly salty), judicious use of herbs and a crusty base.
As much as I love a pizza from Da Angelos, they’ve deviated from the simplicity of tradition. Fantastic flavours, but as is so often the case when it comes to food, less is more. It’s why Anton’s pizzas out at Richmond are so incredible, and it’s why we couldn’t wipe the smiles from our faces at Capital. Simply sublime.
Artsy fartsy shot…
Overall?
Capital are nothing like their forebear, Marti Zucco’s Restaurant. Where Marti revelled in the dark, chequered tablecloth pasta house vibe of 80s Italiano, the lads behind Burger Haus (just around the corner) have totally transformed the site into a modern, yet inviting restaurant with equal appeal to both romantics and families alike.
I’ve never really understood why Hobart’s broad population of Italian restaurants has never appealed to me, but after such an authentic and carefully crafted meal I now realise what’s been missing. Maldinis may be flashier, Don Camillo may have tradition, but the food at Capital has soul.
Buon appetito!!
You can find Capital at 364 Elizabeth Street, or drop by their Facebook page – Capital Italian Restaurant
Flavours – 9/10
Menu – 9/10
Ambience – 9/10
Service – 9/10
Value – 9/10
Overall – 9/10
If you prefer a more traditional approach to Italian food, then perhaps Don Camillo would be better suited. You can find my review here – Don Camillo Italian Restaurant