One of the finest ways to start a meal, Burrata is a faction of the cheese world having a real moment in Melbourne. The Italian cheese variety really swung onto the scene and has taken the mantle from the Buffalo Mozzarella shared plates that once took up residency on menus all over town. Developed in the Puglia region of Italy, Burrata is a softer hand-woven cheese made with cow's milk, its multi-textured layers, depth of flavour and versatility have quickly won the hearts of chefs and diners alike.
Here’s where to find the best burrata in Melbourne:
Park Street Pasta
SOUTH MELBOURNE
The South Melbourne Osteria, Park Street Pasta, keeps things classic with their Burrata dish, fusing it with the timeless Caprese-style salad. The perfectly top-knotted Burrata is served resting on a bed of chopped heirloom tomatoes, torn basil and doused in a generous splashing of extra-virgin olive oil
Nomad
CBD
Taking cues from Southern Europe and Middle-eastern flavours, Nomad's culinary style presents their Burrata with a more complex tasting profile. The rich creamy and cheese is served up resting upon a salty-sweet fennel jam, which when paired with their house-made flatbread is an absolute trifecta of flavour and texture.
Agostino
CARLTON
The moody Carlton wine bar and pasta haunt on Lygon Street contains one of the best burrata plates in town. Agostino's staple is served up alongside the classical Italian fire-roasted peppers the combination of tangy red and yellow capsicum cuts through the creamy burrata in a bidding war of flavours; what’s even more special is the remaining sauce, mopped up excellently with a slice of bread.
D.O.C
CARLTON
Unsurprisingly you’ll find one of the best Burrata dishes in Melbourne at D.O.C’s Carlton stronghold on Drummond Street. The proud representative of Italian cuisine, D.O.C’s approach to the ‘Antipizza’ dish is to serve it alongside a rainbow cluster of cherry tomatoes with olive oil and generous shreds of basil.
MoVida
CBD
A dining institution, MoVida has been a powerful force in the development of Melbourne's culinary prowess over the decades. Their hearty Spanish-inspired Burrata dish, ‘Matrimonio’ or marriage in English combines the familiar the strong salty flavours of Cantabrian pickled anchovies with a buffalo-based Burrata and Pan De Cristal (crusted bread).
Capitano
CARLTON
The friendly-neighbourhood Italian diner, Capitano, is always one to be on the pulse. They’ve got an absolute dream menu of starters and primi piatti but few match the Burrata here, its doused in a tomato-infused olive oil and served up with a mixture of dried olives and fresh basil leaves.
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Image credit: Parker Blain (Agostino)