Contessa
371b Darling St
Balmain NSW
Along the bustling Darling Street in Balmain is a not so hidden gem, but one that has been shining bright for over a decade under Marco’s ownership. From the moment you walk in, you can instantly tell you're in for a treat. The cool and unpretentious New York-esque decor is striking and stylish and the openness of Contessa gives it a really relaxed vibe.
The menu comprises of some family recipes that have become patron favourites over the years, many of which have been on the menu since Marco took ownership of Contessa in 2013. The menu also includes a number of items Marco has tweaked and added over the years which uses locally sourced ingredients. Overall, Marco aims to have a trendy and modern menu that focuses on good food without being too fancy.
We ordered coffees while we were left to have a look through the menu and realised it would be a tough feat to choose between all of the options. The Viscountess also ordered her favourite, a green smoothie, which was fresh, creamy and a great start to the meal.
The Viscount decided on the ‘Contessa Chicken Parmy’, and everything about this was delicious. The fresh homemade Neapolitan sauce was packed full of flavour, the beer battered chips were crispy, and the chicken was succulent and crumbed perfectly. The potion size almost had the Viscount thinking he had accidentally ordered a food challenge.
The Viscountess ordered the Contessa Salad, which was light and fresh, but was substantial enough that she wasn’t left hungry. The creamy herb mayo and the garlic bread took this dish to another level, and the chicken was cooked perfectly. Paired with eggplant, avocado, tomato, roast capsicum, it was an excellent lunch choice.
Feeling extremely satisfied with our choices and after a brief chat with Marco he convinced us to try the ‘Nutella French Toast’. We didn't expect that we would be finishing the dish, but not a scrap was left. It was indulgent and decadent, and everything you’d expect from Nutella French Toast however, the strawberries, almonds, pumpkin seeds, roasted coconut and oats ensured it wasn’t too much. We would definitely recommend this to share.
The Viscount and Viscountess are already planning their next visit. A big thank you to Marco and the team at Contessa for hosting us. Thank you to April at CPM Marketing Solutions for arranging our visit.