The New Valentino
Valentino is one of Northbridge's most famous landmarks, thanks to its vibrant blue exterior towering over the corner of James and Lake Street. And we have exciting news - it's recently had a makeover.
While Valentino's unmissable outer appearance is still there, its team has worked hard to bring their much-loved Mediterranean restaurant to a whole new level by completely redesigning its interior.
Valentino's owner Bob told me they want to reflect the changing environment of Northbridge, which is also getting a major facelift. So it seems Valentino is leading the way with an entirely new look. They have done away with the traditional Mediterranean style décor, and introduced a more Cosmopolitan, modern and funky look, with black and white chairs, crisp white tables to match and a fantastic new bar serving cocktails.
They still have those wonderful French doors leading out to the heart of Northbridge and if you have a large booking, function, or want a more intimate meal, ascend the grand spiral staircase in the middle of the restaurant to Valentino's elegant upstairs area. Alternatively, if you want to be right in the thick of it, dine al fresco, and watch the world go by.
The day Scott and I visited Valentino, it was sweltering hot. With the doors opening directly onto James Street, we were able to relax with the afternoon breeze gently gliding through.
Valentino is a large restaurant, especially thanks to its second storey. Although it can seat 350 guests (al fresco included), it isn't crammed, which makes for a stylishly comfortable experience.
We were treated to a range of their favourite dishes, and first up was the Bruschetta - the traditional Italian entrée of toasted garlic bread, topped with fresh tomatoes, red onion and a slight drizzle of the finest quality olive oil. A simple and elegant dish, the Bruschetta was moist and fresh, and the thickness of the toast was divine - a perfect entrée, for a warm day.
Next up was the Tiger Prawn Brochette with garlic and lime. I have to say, Valentino's prawns are amazing - you'll have to taste them to believe me. Gently sprinkled with parsley, the prawns are juicy and crunchy, and fabulously refreshing. The lime brings out the herbs on the prawns, and the wine we tried - Lenton Brae's 2007 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc - enhanced this even more. Again, another excellent entrée for a hot day.
If you aren't overly hungry and feel like sharing something, I would suggest the Tapas, and for the perfect wine you can't go past Clown Fish's 2007 Chardonnay. Mirroring Valentino's new look, the Tapas dish looks great with all the different colours of the fresh vegetables, Turkish bread, dips, a teaser of coleslaw and spicy sausage to which the wine complemented perfectly. Make sure you try the pesto style dip with olives on the Turkish bread, so you too can experience the zesty flavour. I really liked the variety of tastes on the Tapas dish - it goes from the crispness of raw carrots to the flavour sensation of the sausages and Parma ham.
Following this was my favourite - the Spaghetti Misto Mare, which is a feast of their delicious prawns, mussels, scallops and squid mixed in with a hint of garlic, fresh Roma tomatoes and parsley. Seafood fans will be delighted at this dish - I've never seen a meal packed so generously with beautiful, fresh seafood. The flavours aren't overpowering or rich, and you can add the lemon for some extra bite, which I really enjoyed. Goundry's Unwooded Chardonnay was a match made in heaven for this delicate dish, as it enhanced the subtle flavours and really brought out the zing of the added lemon.
Finally, it was time for Scott's favourite - the Peppered Steak with Diane Sauce. I was still indulging in the Spaghetti Misto Mare, but knew the steak must be a winner with Scott, as he kept saying "I haven't had steak like this in ages". The steak is hearty enough for the carnivore within, but not too much for those who don't want something ridiculously massive. Served with hand-peeled potatoes, the Peppered Steak was cooked to perfection, incredibly tender and had many different flavours. The Diane sauce was an ideal partner, and as we were wrapping up and asking our final questions about Valentino, I heard Scott mutter to himself as he reached across the table "it's so good, I'm going to have some more, even though I'm full".
While we didn't have time, make sure you head over to Valentino's brand new dessert cabinet, and chose from their daily changing treats, to keep your sweet tooth happy.
If you aren't in the mood for a proper, sit-down meal, Valentino will fire up their wood pizza oven for you, and make one of their mouth-watering pizzas, fresh to go.
Turning their backs on the 'expected' style of Mediterranean restaurants, Valentino stands out from the crowd, not only because of their prime location in the heart of Perth's entertainment district, but also because of their vibrant atmosphere, and of course - the irresistible menu options. Now with a more Cosmopolitan bar atmosphere, Valentino is set to skyrocket through the roof in popularity, as it attracts a younger crowd as well as regulars and business people. With well over 100 restaurants in Northbridge it isn't hard to see why Valentino is still one of the most popular restaurants for top quality Mediterranean food. To the team at Valentino - I take my hat off to you.
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