Gino's Cafe
1 South Tce, Fremantle
(08) 9336 1464
www.ginoscafe.com.au
"Welcome to the family..."
The afternoon was balmy, and the city busy as people fumbled for change at the parking meters. As I grabbed my handfull of coins, a nearby conversation caught
my ear.
"So where should we tell her to meet us? She doesn't know Fremantle that well
and said it needs to be somewhere good and easy to find."
"Cool. Ok, then it has to be Gino's".
I smile as I hear this, yet I know it is typical of such a familiar and respected establishment. Gino's has, and always will be the romantic hub, the family centre and the European Mecca for dining and coffee loving West Aussies. And it's certainly easy to see why.
When you step into Gino's café, you are welcomed as part of the family, and this is in part because the cafe is itself still a family run business. Current owners Paul and Laura Saccone are the son and daughter of the great master himself, Mr Gino Saccone (1937-2001), the original creator and owner of Gino's Café. And they couldn't be prouder.
A visit today will find you not only perusing the menu, but reading up a bit on the history behind Gino Saccone's dream of "...opening a coffee shop...Gino's".
Printed on each Menu is a fantastic blurb explaining how the café came about and giving some great insight into the man who's belief and foresight allowed him to create this wonderful establishment which has been open now for over two decades and which goes through over 150 kilograms of coffee each week.
Regardless if it's been a year since your last visit, or your very first time through the door, Gino's is different from the rest. The busy atmosphere and sometimes hectic pace is at all times balanced by a tender core, a welcoming undercurrent which allows you to feel comfortable, safe and unjudged.
Already famous for the coffee, your new challenge when visiting the renowned Gino's cafe is to add, maybe a lasagne to that latte order and experience the impressive meals on offer at this classic cafe.
If you're visiting with family and friends, the best starter to your meal would be to try the delicious Antipasto Plate. Loaded up with an array of lovely cured meats, delicious eggplant, capsicum, marinated mushrooms, cheese and olives, the menu states it will serve two, but for those just wanting to pick, it may be enough for between three or four people to nibble at. However be warned - being so delicious, it might be harder than you think to share the tasty morsels. I know with me, I found it particularly difficult to part with some of the ingredients on the Antipasto plate, especially the fresh fetta cheeses and tangy marinated olives.
Once the Antipasto plate has settled, it's time for the pasta, and on this occasion I was particularly lucky to try the infamous Gino's dish - the Penne Alla Vodka. Just reading it on the menu looks so naughty and exciting, but when you taste it, it's an even better thrill. Being the true Italian professionals they are, the pasta was perfect - 'al dente'. Then completely smothered in the delicious creamy tomato vodka sauce, the tasty chunks of chicken are so tender and juicy that they almost melt in your mouth. It really is a delicious dish. So well balanced, there is no ingredient that overpowers another, however there is an underlying strength and warmth to the dish - maybe from the special ingredient? Who knows? But it's certainly one of the big hits. Yes, after enjoying this dish, the penny drops as to why it's been a regular on the Gino's Menu for over 10 years now.
Homestyle cooking features strongly on the menu here at Gino's, and as I bite into my next dish, the Cotoletta Parmigiana (crumbed veal), I can't help but envisage the generations that have come together to make this meal the outstanding plate it is today. Served with generous amounts of fries and salad and topped with a lovely light and creamy cheese bolognaise sauce, this traditional dish that most Italian families grow up with, really shines with its flavour, maturity and modesty.
For vegetarians, there are many, many delicious dishes on the menu, certainly enought to create a three-course meal. Look for the little 'heart' symbols on the menu - they dictate which dishes are vegetarian (though they could also stand for the dishes which you will no doubt fall in love with!) You'll be able to see there are so many vegetarian meals on offer you won't know where to start. My personal choice, the delicious Melanzane Parmigiana. It's an ingenius little dish - a lasagne made of eggplant layered with cheese and homemade tomato sauce. Myself only being a fan of eggplant in very small doses, I was suprised by how delicate and mild the lasagne was, and how compatible the ingredients were when created and cooked in this layered form. Very light and very tasty, it's a generous dish that is sure to satisfy.
All these main meals (generously priced between $14AUD and $30AUD) are seperate yet complimentary to the exciting array of sweets and desserts available. Whether it's the cheesecake or some icecream or Chocolate cakes, all are made fresh and served to order. And don't limit yourself to just the items on the dessert menu to finish off your meal. A visit to Gino's isn't complete without some of their "out-of-this-world" Rocky Road. Even if you can't fit it in after your declicious meal, make sure your order a couple of pieces to go. It's not too sickly, not too sweet. It's just chewy enough but creamy too and is one of my favourite sweets of all time.
The sweets are indeed as cheerful as the decor and art pieces on display throughout the cafe. Gino's showcases some of the best work from local artists in the area, and some pieces are even available for purchase. Besides the art, there are some outstanding photographs on display. Don't let any preconcieved notions of Gino's being 'just a cafe' affect the time you spend here. Amongst the coffee and meals and wines and art and atmosphere, you won't ever be short of things to enjoy and experience. It's up to you to relax and soak it all in.
Remember, make your next visit to Gino's as pleasurable as possible, and enjoy one of their amazing meals along with your coffee. As they say, when in Freo, do as the locals do. As I sit and soak up my surrounds, I notice the clientelle is made up of as many new clientelle as regulars. But regardless of whether it's their first or 500th visit to Gino's, once they step through the door there seems to be a weight that drops off their shoulders. Guests walk lighter on their feet as they breezily place their orders and chat with friends. So give your feet a welcome break, and come hang out with the family. My evening is going so wonderfully well, you may even still find me here.
