Smith Street Alimentari

Smith Street Alimentari focus on all day breakfast and lunch. This Italian inspired part deli/​food-​store and eatery make a tremendous coffee and memorable food. The breakfast menu is extensive and will cater for every appetite. If you’d rather a glass of wine and lunch don’t pass on the delectable slow-​cooked baharat rubbed lamb shoulder on potato skordalia. It’s so moreish you will be back again.

As a local, I have dined here frequently when it was two separate establishments, previously Gorski & Jones, and Smith Street Alimentari. The menu offerings are seasonal, delicious and lovingly prepared by dedicated chefs in an open kitchen. The décor is welcoming, with noise levels excessive at times. Then in early 2015, both businesses amalgamated by knocking a large opening between them. The food quality remained, but the venue popularity skyrocketed, and the standard of service nosedived. Haughty, snippy wait staff (one barista spitefully pitched my incorrectly made take-​out coffee across the bar and snarled at me) and a near impossible task to find a table mean I will take my business elsewhere.

Totally underrated. These guys do an amazing brunch and they do great proper lunch too, both takeaway and ‘dine’ in. Love the speed of service too, very impressive for an eatery at that price point.

I’m so happy I read the reviews and decided to give this place a try. Started with a breakfast of poached eggs, bacon and relish. Was a good breakfast but nothing special, coffee was lovely.
The best part was checking out the produce and salads. I could have left with everything but restrained myself to a Potato Salad and Chicken and Pistachio Terrine to takeaway. I have just finished eating them and they really were brilliant, so tasty, fresh and made with quality ingredients. There is so much to choose from and I know for sure I will be eating here for years to come.
The breakfast was a 3 – 4, but the produce was worth a 10, so it’s an easy 5 star for me.

Everything here is always made fresh and with the best ingredients. I like to come here for a quick lunch (the salami panini is my favourite) and then get one of their ready-​made meals to have for dinner later (beef or pork and fennel lasagna is another favourite). Every street should have an Alimentari.

Smith Street stalwart Alimentari and neighbours Gorski and Jones have knocked down their adjoining wall and become one to bring a fusion of Italian and Mediterranean food goodness.
Divided into two halves, a hanging blackboard poses the question of eat in or takeaway. If takeaway is your desire then nothing has changed with the old Alimentari’s selection of deli-​cross-​foodstore delights still available. However, for the immediately hungry a turn to the left takes you to a full table service café with bar and courtyard. A large tapestry along the wall, exposed brickwork, open kitchen and fixtures all add to the European feel.
The food menu is equally immersive with a range of breakfast, lunch and paninis options that each have their own creative twists on common dishes. From sweet potato latkes with baba ghannooj and poached eggs to slow cooked baharat-​rubbed lamb shoulder with skordalia, there is a dish to excite everyone.
I ordered the pan fried Tasmanian salmon with agrodolce, capers, rocket, confit cherry tomatoes and walnut purée on this visit. This is a stunning dish with the flavours of the juicy salmon with a crispy skin, sweet melt-​in-​your-​mouth tomatoes and the mix of agrodolce (traditional Italian sweet and sour sauce) and the rich walnut purée all combining in an intriguing but tasty explosion.
Quality coffee from Veneziano, with a blend and single origin espresso and filter options available, complete this Smith Street gem.
For the Alimentari lovers who can’t be bothered cooking or anyone who wants to sample some European-​inspired delights, the new and transformed Smith Street Alimentari is a must visit.

I’ve always been a fan of Parisian housewife approach:
1. Visit lovely food store
2. Buy ready made meals
3. Take home
4. Spend afternoon on couch reading
5. Heat up the meal
6. Serve
7. Pretend you spent all afternoon cooking
Smith Street Alimentari is going to make this a whole lot easier, with ready made roast dinners, salads galore and fresh pasta and sauces. Just don’t tell anyone my secret okay?