Luigi's Italian

LUIGI'S ITALIAN CLOSED ON MARCH 8 2020 tO BE REPLACED BY MAMA TACO & NINA WEST END.

Luigi’s Italian is more than a restaurant, it’s an artful wining and dining experience by a small posse of creatives, tucked away in West End's historic Rialto Theatre precinct.

Art, design, delectable food and boutique Italian and organic wines merge in a couple of old character shops with tables spilling out onto the pavement, where lucky locals and those-in-the-know gather for some of the best Italian food in Brisbane.

One cosy dining room is an ex Holloway’s designer eyewear store with stunning chandeliers made of hand-crafted glasses which in turn are made from recycled skateboards and the like, tables and chairs local artworks across the walls, black and white films projected at the rear, a knotted wood floor and upcycled tables and chairs hand-crafted in the workshop under the restaurant.

Adjacent is another more casual dining room where you’ll find an intimate bar and live musos on weekends.

Those who dine in the ex-eyewear shop can choose dishes from a traditional Italian menu with a creative twist – for Starters think Caprese salad with watermelon balls instead of tomato, or Goldband Snapper ceviche with citrus and raspberry coulis.

For mains there’s pasta such as marinara, the must try polpette (Italian meatballs) and Nonna’s spaghetti and divine light-as-a-feather pizzas including Romana, Sicilian, 4 Stagioni and calzone, followed by dessert of premise-made gelato (flavours change weekly), ambrosia or tiramisu. Meanwhile delicious accompaniments include house-baked onion, potato or anchovy bread.

In the bar dining room, cheese and charcuterie platters are also available as well as a menu of 'Chef’s Surprise’ dishes (think pig's head ravioli), according to the the daily fresh ingredients and inspiration of the chefs.

Wines at Luigi’s are a carefully curated selection of boutique Italian wines (ask the well-versed waiters for a good match for your dish) along with a smattering of Australian organic wines.

There are also luscious Italian cocktails including Apptini, Negroni, Espresso Martini and Aperol Spritz as well a non-alcoholic delights such as cacao or banana shakes, orange apple or beetroot ginger. A small selection of beers are also on offer.

Nice to know – Luigi’s Italian is family-friendly and outstanding value for the high calibre of food served.

Need to know – Nearby street parking is available.