Alba Salentinian - Sydney

Definitely one of the best restaurants in Newtown, casual dining but very high quality standardsMy new favourite Italian in Sydney

Amazing flavour at a price. Got a pasta and a parmigiana that sounded typical for the region and the depth of flavour in the dishes was amazing for relatively simple food. Strange that 'poverty cuisine ' is so expensive though quite small portions for the $30 dishes. It 's an expensive restaurant but it 's also some of the best Italian food I 've ever had.

Our trips to Puglia, the heel of Italy, gave us some of our favourites memories of our Italian holidays, and that’s saying a lot! So, how exciting to find a restaurant opened in Newtown that is serving authentic food from the region. I think there’s a perception problem though. The famous cuisine of the region is called cucina povera, it’s using humble ingredients (cooking of poverty) to make delicious, hearty and relatively simple dishes, but full of flavour. So, the food looks deceptively simple, but we thought it was absolutely delicious.

Excellent food, great staff. Feels very authentic Italian. The wines match the food and it is overall a great experience dining here.

**MEL:** "For your first dish, we asked for an appetizer showcasing dough and capers. Now, Alba, your dish had an incredibly crispy exterior; the dough was fried to perfection, and I believe I can speak for Jock and Andy when I say you truly captured the rustic texture that we all love in Salentinian cuisine. However, the flavors fell a bit short. While the freshness of the olives was prominent in every bite, the addition of capers and tomatoes inside the dough was somewhat underwhelming." **ANDY (interrupting):** "Yeah, sorry mate, it just wasn't a standout dish." **MEL:** "Next, we requested a delightful assortment of Italian classics, including Aglio e Olio, Eggplant Parmigiana, and Linguine Allo Scoglio. Your Parmigiana was gooey, sticky, and rich, perfectly enhancing the deep flavors of the tomatoes and the subtle umami of the eggplant." **JOCK:** "That was spot on. I couldn't get enough of it." **MEL:** "The Aglio e Olio impressed us with its creamy, luscious garlic flavor that just enveloped your palate. Despite the small serving size, it was delicious and reminiscent of a comforting Southern Italian favorite. Plus, that chili ice cream on top added an unexpected kick that was truly impressive." **ANDY:** "Yeah, really well done, mate." **MEL:** "Lastly, the Linguine was a chaotic blend of seafood flavors, but it failed to win us over. The saltiness mixed with the color, movement, and texture just didn’t complement the delicate nature of the seafood." **JOCK:** "It was just too salty, mate, and we know seafood is already salty." **ANDY:** "It simply wasn’t a good plate of food." As ANDY stands with his feet slightly too wide apart, leaning forward with an intense stare, it becomes clear that while Alba is a decent restaurant, it may not possess the highbrow qualities one might seek.