One For The Regulars
Consistently providing great food and friendly service is what earns a restaurant a loyal following of regular customers. Some people have been known to dine at Sandrino up to three times a week and have become part of the family! In fact, you will often see owners of other restaurants in Fremantle taking their families to Sandrino for a meal, which has to be the ultimate compliment.
On a glorious autumn day we sat at a table by the sidewalk and enjoyed a magnificent spread prepared for us by chef Eddie Kubale and his team in the kitchen, while we chatted with owners Sam & Jelena Kaddour. We started with Oysters Kilpatrick and Chilli Mussels (a classic Fremantle dish), accompanied by a glass of 2008 MadFish Sauvignon Blanc (Margaret River, WA) – a delightfully fruity white wine that sat well with the seafood. The shellfish connoisseur in the party was very impressed with the oysters, declaring them the best he's had for years. We sopped up the delicious chilli sauce, tasty but not too hot, with fresh Italian bread.
Then out came a wood-fired pizza topped with tender chicken pieces, feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and basil pesto. The crust stood out; it was the perfect thickness and texture. Next up, a typical, hearty Italian dish of triangoli pasta filled with ricotta and spinach and served with a tomato and chilli sauce. The dish had just the right amount of chilli to give it a zing without being too hot.
However, the standout dish of the day was the 'Chicken Involtini'. The tender chicken was filled with brie and sun-dried tomato pesto and rolled in prosciutto. Then it is oven roasted, sliced diagonally and stacked on a mound of scrumptious mash, served with steamed spinach and a simply sensational marsala cream sauce. This was matched perfectly with a glass of 2007 Plantagenet Cabernet Merlot (Mt Barker, WA) – a smooth velvety red that was really quite luscious and married well with the flavours of all three dishes.
After a short break to let our lunch go down, Jelena brought out a folded dessert pizza filled with apple, cinnamon and vanilla custard, with scoops of vanilla ice cream on the side. Just when we thought we couldn’t possibly eat any more, out came another dessert pizza – this one was topped with Nutella, ricotta and walnuts and more scoops of vanilla ice-cream. Chocolate Pizza - Yum!! A very nice coffee topped off the meal perfectly.
It's easy to see why Sandrino is one of Fremantle's most popular eateries. It's right in the culinary heart of Fremantle and metres from the infamous 'Cappucino Strip'. The prices are reasonable and the servings are a good size without being dauntingly large. There are plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives available too. The menu remains pretty much the same all year, but there are plenty of chef's specials to entice you to try something different. Mind you, according to Jelena, many of the regulars ask for the same dishes every time they visit – which is why the menu doesn’t change a lot.
So if you haven't tried Sandrino yet, indulge yourself one night soon, or drop in for lunch if you happen to be in Fremantle. On the weekends bookings are essential, and the place is busy all week so best to book ahead.
