Osteria Mucca — Restaurant in Sydney

Also see update from second visit at bottom of review.

A few nights ago we walked the length of Australia Street, from Annandale to Newtown, to dine at a fabulous new restaurant, Osteria Mucca, that we discovered almost by accident. Australia Street is very long – given the width of the continent, it's probably well named. When you no longer live in Sydney and visits are several months apart, it’s hard to keep up with all the new places that open. It’s also difficult to get too excited by many restaurants nowadays as rising costs shrink the experience of eating out or make it much more expensive.

The restaurant is not cheap – is anything in inner-city Sydney cheap – but as I’ve said before, it's better to make an occasion of it and eat out less frequently and enjoy it when you do. So many good restaurants have closed lately, due to the costs involved, that we have to make the most of those that are terrific and still with us. In the heart of Sydney I should imagine that rents alone must be pretty crippling.

On a recent regional road trip, a few weeks back we had dinner at renowned Melbourne restaurant Cutler. Both the space and the food were great, but to my mind Osteria Mucca was more exciting. The restaurant is in a former butchers shop – and it’s a pretty spectacular venue. It’s all white napkins, hand-made lace doilies and glorious tiles – very Italian – and the staff making it all work were great.

We started with a couple of traditional dry martinis to celebrate having got there and then had raw South Australia kingfish with lemon and rosemary. After that we had impeccable hand-made pasta, one spaghetti with prawns, lemon and bottarga and one gnocchi filled with a mix of potato and their own home-made ricotta, coated with a Gorgonzola sauce. It could have been too rich, but it was spot on.

It brought home two culinary truths – if a sauce is worth making, it's worth eating, and you can’t get away from the importance of salad – it's not just an accompaniment. The side salad of mixed leaves we had was superb – that’s what radicchio was made for. I could have eaten it on its own. The wines we drank to accompany the meals were mainly Italian and very enjoyable as well. All in all it was an excellent night and I’d happily visit again. We’ve recommended it to all our Sydney friends.

A quick update on our earlier visit: We were in Sydney again so we, of course, went back to the glorious Osteria Mucca in Australia Street, Newtown to catch up with a friend over dinner. We were staying in Surry Hills , so we took the trains and trams all the way. It was just like our last visit to Paris – criss-crossing the city on the rails, public transport rules ok.

On this second visit, it was all great and I was reminded how much I like the space. The restaurant often has Italian dishes I don't usually see elsewhere and, given how many terrific Italian restaurants there are in Australia, that's saying something. We were there on a Tuesday night, but the place was buzzing overtime.

The small introductory dishes were excellent - a simple dish of green asparagus, egg, herbs and capers was sublime. We had to have the gnudi again, gnocchi with their own house-made ricotta filling in a brown butter and sage sauce - so simple but so perfect.

Above all, I was impressed by the pappardelle with duck. I have always loved this pasta, but all too often it is served with lamb, which makes it far too rich - this was perfect. To round it off once again, the mixed leaf salad was unbroken leaves of lettuce and radicchio, slightly bitter and crunchy with a subtle dressing. The desserts looked great, but who could fit them in after all that. The service matched the food, so it was another...

I recently discovered this fabulous new restaurant (3 months old) on Australia Street in Newtown while taking a walk and I decided to reserve a table for four for last night.

First of all the staff is very welcoming and warm and upon entering the premises we immediately felt at home. Osteria Mucca is in a former butcher shop. The decor is immaculate with the original tiles.

We were looked after by professional staff and Joey was looking after us most of the night. He was courteous and provided excellent service. In fact, the whole team was great.

Let’s talk about the food! OMG, each dish was sublime and different. It was a bit like old-world Italy emphasising on fresh seasonal ingredients. We shared three entrees and each one was delicious. We had the Parmigiano E. Finocchi, the Baccalá Mantecato and Coppa Di Testa and for main we had crab, chilli, lemon & parsley spaghetti, spinach, ricotta and short rib ragú ravioli, chicken liver and mushrooms pappardelle. Everything was excellent, especially the ravioli dish. We ended our meal with gorgonzola with honey and walnuts and as well as a sorbetto.

The wine list is well curated.

At the end of the evening I asked if we could meet the chef Janina Allende and she came to say hello which was a really nice touch because we know how busy she was. It was already 10pm and Janina had to spend more time in the kitchen with her crew. We are locals from Erskineville, we will definitively be back soon. It was a great...

We recently dined at Osteria Mucca to celebrate my birthday, and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish.

Nestled inside a beautifully restored butcher’s shop on Australia Street, this intimate trattoria immediately charms you with its old-world atmosphere and thoughtful design. Think vintage tiling, white tablecloths, and an inviting warmth that sets the tone for a special experience.

The handmade pasta was the absolute standout - expertly prepared and full of soul - (you must try the tortellini). Every dish we tried reflected a deep respect for traditional Italian technique, elevated by bold, elegant flavours and exceptional produce.

What made the afternoon even more memorable was getting to meet Head Chef Janina Allende, who we’d sought out specifically after dining at Pellegrino 2000, where she previously worked. Her reputation precedes her - and rightly so. The dishes at Osteria Mucca carry her signature flair, blending rustic heartiness with modern precision.

The service was impeccable; warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the food and wine - (Lucy was lovely). You can feel the love and craft that has gone into every element, from the kitchen to the table.

Whether you’re a pasta lover, a fan of Italian heritage dining, or simply looking for one of Sydney’s most exciting new openings, Osteria Mucca is more than worthy of a visit. We already can’t...