Hillarys Beach Club

RE: Bar Cicchetti - Mi sento bene
To start, I have been here a couple of times now. My first time was with an Italian friend of mine who took me out for lunch on the weekend. The experience of being met at the door was what set the mood for the rest of the afternoon. Our waitress was highly attentive to our needs, and made the experience feel intimate just through the simple act of being regularly served, checked in, and watered by the same waitress. It was a moment in one's day when I felt like I was the focus of someone else's world. As for the food, the pasta (which felt criminal not to order) was both homely and delicious. The ragu was dark, a little leaning towards the heavy side, though it was brought together by the pasta itself, which surprisingly felt light in both texture and cooked state. Some of the best moments of eating is sharing! So as such my friend and I exchanged bites to get a better picture of what other flavours the other had the pleasure of. I cannot speak for my friend as he was mostly silent throughout the experience; however, his ravioli was both beautiful to look at and full of flavour. From the design of the little indentations to the arrangement of sauces, pasta and garnish on the plate, to that refreshing buzz of the burnt butter sauce over the salty and creamy beef and cheese. Very well paired, both in terms of taste and design! As for the cost of this experience, it was well worth every dollar spent. The price itself in these current economic times was reflective of what the food is worth, the labour and skill required and the overall service. I might even argue that it could be priced a bit higher. However, this place is not trying to be pretentious or bring in a selective market. It's about making you leave with a full belly, and a smile on your face, wondering when you're next going to come back and book another table?

Awesome food and staff!