La Favola - Authentic Italian Newtown — Restaurant in Sydney

La Favola eats better than it looks; but that’s not to say the space is unattractive. The King Street restaurant, which opened in February 2018, is clean and welcoming - brightly lit in warm, white tones. White painted bricks, tiles and minimal decorations help the small room - densely packed with pale tables and little wood and metal stools - not seem too poky. A blonde wood frame and hanging leafy ferns also help create a sense of spaciousness, distracting your eye from the exposed building fixtures, while still keeping height.

At the front of the room, a brick counter is backed by a row of wine bottles and a menu board that explains the steps to designing your own pasta creation. It was this menu format, along with sitting on a stool in a cafeteria-style arrangement, that had me fooled into thinking La Favola was going to be a fast and convenient pasta eatery, something like Newtown’s ever-popular The Italian Bowl. So when our Carpaccio ($20) lands I’m a bit taken aback. With wafer-thin slices of raw beef dressed with truffle oil, crisp kale leaves, capers, rocket, Parmesan cheese and blobs of truffle mayo. it is round and particularly satisfying if you manage to get everything in your mouth at once.

By the time our second entrée, a special of Calamari, Rocket and Cherry Tomatoes ($25), arrives, it’s becoming clear that everything that comes out of Chef Fabio Stefanelli’s kitchen is as attractively presented as it is simple and flavoursome. The delicately cooked calamari is tender with a big coal-cooked punch. It’s presented in a cast iron skillet with garlic oil that’s still sizzling, adding to the wonderful smellscape emanating from the open kitchen. Scooped onto Sardinian flatbread – pane carasau – with lightly wilted rocket and bright cherry tomatoes, it is fresh and summery.

Spying a typical Italian drink shelf in one corner - Bacardi, Smirnoff, Aperol, Disaronno and Campari - I imagined the list of Italian cocktails that could be made with that selection. I didn’t think of the Caprese Cocktail ($15) based on the tomato and basil salad by the same name, though it’s what I ended up drinking. Think of it as a white Bloody Mary – fresh and summery with a white rum kick – perfect for a blustery hot evening.

My dining companion kept it simple with a 2016 Collefrisio Vignaquadra Pecorino ($15) – floral, lemony, and great with seafood, which worked out well, because our chosen pasta was a house-made Gnocchi Seafood Ragu ($35). Topped with a perfectly cooked Balmain bug presented in the half-shell, the bisque-like sauce was great. While I found the gnocchi itself a little soft for my personal preference, it’s less about overcooking then it is about it being freshly made (two hours earlier) with ninety percent potato and ten percent flour.

We contrast it with a design-your-own pasta selection from the regular menu. Casarecce Tucker Dal Bush ($22) takes the restaurant’s authentic Italian brief, and situates it here in Australia by using lean kangaroo mince and bush spices in a bright, acidic Mutti Pomodoro San Marzano sauce. It’s nice to be eating a sustainable, environmentally friendly meat in a convivial environment, that’s filled up around us with diners of all ages and nationalities, from students to people on their way...

This little gem sure has a wonderful tale to tell - through its Nonna inspired dishes, handmade, perfectly cooked al dente pastas, sauces that let the ingredients shine, buzzy atmosphere & attentive service. Before you even walk in, there is a buzz coming from inside and a large tray of handmade pasta on display. As soon as you walk in you are made to feel welcome by the staff. Then the action from the open kitchenette with chefs expertly tossing pans & the enticing smells make you salivate. The menu is concise yet hard to decide on as everything sounds delicious. The housemade foccacia is super fluffy & spongy, served warm. A chosen accompaniment of mortadella was delicious. Cant go wrong with creamy decadent burrata & this time it was served with ribbons of grilled zucchini & cherry tomatoes. Fresh and tasty. Then there are the pastas. Carbonara was so good & the Amalfitana was superb, espectially with the addition of the half marron. Paccheri pasta was the perfect vehicle to scoop up juicy blistered cherry tomatoes, sweet prawn meat & that delicious bisque. The pasta has a really good bite to it, the sauces full of flavour without being overly salty or oily. I loved every bite & over indulged for sure! The tiramisu is one of my favourite desserts here with its perfect balance of coffee soaked sponge & light creamy layers. But the special dessert of chocolate caramel tart was a highlight! Perfect crisp pastry, decadent gooey caramel & a rich velvety chocolate ganache. It tasted better then it looked. The cocktails are also wonderful here as well as a few delicious Italian wines including the Montepulciano & Primitivo....

I had the pleasure of experiencing Daniella's exceptional service at La Favola last night, and I must say it was nothing short of outstanding. From the moment we stepped into the restaurant, Daniella greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel incredibly welcome.

Her knowledge of the menu was impressive, and she took the time to explain each dish in detail, making recommendations based on our preferences. Her attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was perfect was truly commendable.

Throughout the evening, Daniella was attentive without being intrusive, ensuring our glasses were always filled and ensuring we had everything we needed. She anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, creating a seamless and enjoyable dining experience.

Not only was Daniella professional and knowledgeable, but she also had a delightful personality that added to the overall ambiance of the evening. Her genuine enthusiasm for the food and the restaurant was contagious, making us feel even more excited about our meal.

The service we received from Daniella truly enhanced our dining experience at La Favola. Her dedication to providing exceptional service and creating a memorable evening for her patrons is evident in everything she does. I would highly recommend Daniella to anyone visiting La Favola, as her service is truly top-notch.

Thank you, Daniella, for making our evening at La Favola truly special. You are a true asset to the restaurant, and we look forward to returning soon to experience your exceptional...