Bar Rocco

Prepare to ‘buon appetito’ your way through the heart of Coorparoo with the arrival of Chef Ashley-Maree Kent’s latest creation, Bar Rocco. This lively Italian osteria is the younger, more laid-back sibling to Ramona Trattoria just next door and brings even more European charm to the neighbourhood—which was already becoming a mecca for Italian food thanks to Kent’s talents in the hand-shaped pasta department.

While Ramona Trattoria is all about the pizza and pasta, Bar Rocco is a bit more of a choose-your-own-adventure type spot. Having taken over the space where Paella y Pa’mi used to reside, the venue itself is mostly openair, with a handful of indoor tables too. The casual, greenery-adorned dining area lends itself well to sipping through a bottle of wine over endless plates of antipasti and other snacks, but you can also dig into some pretty substantial share plates from the woodfired grill.

Start off with bites like cheese and potato croquettes, burrata loaded with fresh tomato, wood-roasted peach and basil, and doughy pizzettas topped with mortadella and stracciatella, then dig into grilled prawns with capers and lemon and a juicy Wagyu steak served with a rocket salad. If you’ve got room, finish off with dessert or something from the cocktail list—there’s a panettone-inspired negroni calling your name. 

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Image credit: Supplied