14 Reviews:
Borsalino Ristorante
Borsalino Ristorante right in the heart of Nedlands is like no other Italian restaurant in Perth. The decor is rich with rustic jarrah floors and crisp linen. The food is simply stunning with a choice of a la carte or Borsalino’s special Gourmet Dinner. This is one genuine restaurant that features real Italian cooking. Perfect for functions with a private room available. The wine list is extensive. Fully licensed.
Open lunch Monday to Friday and dinner Monday to Saturday.
eatingWA Restaurant Reviews 14 reviews
September 2, 2009
- Food
Excellent - you could be forgiven for being nervou...
- Excellent - you could be forgiven for being nervous when you hear the words "Set Menu" but don't be. Borsalino's set menu offers a variety that will appeal to most restaurant goers. Five courses of traditional Italian fare for $69.50. Each course is medium to small in size but at the end of the meal you leave feeling pleasantly full. On the night we went the stand outs were - fresh Asparagus (cooked to perfection) lightly coated with Bechamel sauce for appetizer and a truly delicious dessert.
- Service
Very friendly and attentive. Quick heads up thoug...
- Very friendly and attentive. Quick heads up though - at the beginning of the evening we were advised that we could request alterations to the meal - meaning that an alternative dish could be provided, not change the way a dish is served. This wasn't explained well and resulted in some embarassment
- Ambience
Tables were set nicely and spaced to provide an ap...
- Tables were set nicely and spaced to provide an appropriate amount of room between guests. Rustic pictures hanging on the walls. $$$ bottles of wine displayed in weathered wooden wine racks. Background music was ok. Impressive wine list.
- Overall
The most interesting thing about this place is tha...
- The most interesting thing about this place is that it is owned and run by an Italian family. The father is the Host, the mother produces beautiful Italian food in her kitchen and their daughter provides charming service. This is the second time we have been and we will most likely return.
January 12, 2009
- Food
Food was great, well presented, tasty and good val...
- Food was great, well presented, tasty and good value.
- Service
Average; they didn't allocate a single waiter for...
- Average; they didn't allocate a single waiter for each table so, as we had the set menu, we ket getting asked if we had yet had the X course. The owner was very charming and made us very welcome.
- Ambience
Great....
- Great.
- Overall
Our only negative comment is that we were initiall...
- Our only negative comment is that we were initially placed at a small wall-hugging table near the kitchen door despite booking a fortnight ahead and beong reassured we would get a nice table as it was a special occasion. We were invited to move to a nicer table shortly after we ordered a decent ($$'s) wine!
September 9, 2008
- Food
I was dying to try Borsalino after all the reviews...
- I was dying to try Borsalino after all the reviews and decided to go there last night. Borsalino does a set menu so keep that in mind. First course was a large mushroom served with a little bit of pickled capsicum and olive oil. Tasty but it was just a mushroom and a bit much. Second dish was gnocchi served in tomato and basil sauce. Best gnocchi I have ever had, really melt in your mouth. Third dish was two spinach and ricotta cheese balls served in Bocconcini cheese sauce. Can you say overkill? Extremely rich! For main I had beef and my girlfriend had pan fried snapper. Beef was good without being great (cooked a bit well for my liking) and fish was ok. We both struggled with mains. Dessert was a light cake and vanilla ice cream. Nice!
- Service
Good service but I hated that each dish came out s...
- Good service but I hated that each dish came out straight after the previous dish. Literally a minute between meals and no time to relax at all. Our water was topped up and plates were cleared very quickly. Certainly very professional here. Some light conversation with the owner was fun too.
- Ambience
Apart from the George Michael that was playing the...
- Apart from the George Michael that was playing the ambiance is very nice and romantic. Quite a bright place but a really nice building and a great wine selection to look at. The noise of the coffee machine was a bit annoying though.
- Overall
Overall this was a positive experience but I must...
- Overall this was a positive experience but I must admit I was expecting more from Borsalino. Too much food to quickly and we left feeling over full. The service was good and the food was prepared well although I was disappointed in the mains. I prefer to have a choice when I dine but i am sure some people will like the set menu. Wine list is good but not a lot by the glass. I used the entertainment book so was happy with the price of $154. Would I go back? Not in a hurry, I like more choice.
September 1, 2008
- Food
Absolutely divine. Our 5-courses consisted of: -...
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Absolutely divine. Our 5-courses consisted of:
- Roasted field mushroom. Perfectly cooked and served wonderfully fresh and hot.
- Gnocchi in a creamy tomato sauce. I'm not normally a fan of gnocchi but this was absolutely fabulous. Literally melt in your mouth
- "Bocconcini" cheese dumplings (made with ricotta, parmesan and spinach) cooked and served in a creamy cheese sauce. Absolutely unbelievable!
- For my main I had a beautifully thick and mouth-wateringly tender piece piece of beef in a mushroom sauce with some roasted vegetables on the side
- Dessert was "Borsalino Cake" similar to a tiramisu served with ice cream, mango sauce and melted chocolate - Service
From the moment we walked in the door until the mo...
- From the moment we walked in the door until the moment we left the service was impeccable. The owner greeted us and took us through the evening menu, recommended wine for us and continually checked on us throughout the evening. All the wait staff were also very attentive.
- Ambience
Such a fabulous setting. Lovely rich, dark wood fi...
- Such a fabulous setting. Lovely rich, dark wood finishes throughout the restaurant. There is a lot of space between tables which is great. Music that was absolutely perfect and at just the right level. A really wonderful place to enjoy a meal.
- Overall
Hands down the best dining experience I've had for...
- Hands down the best dining experience I've had for a while. Borsalino's only does a degustation menu which changes every night. Every aspect of the experience was perfect. We were 4 girls enjoying dinner on a Saturday night - there was a good mix of groups and couples dining on this night. And the overall cost of our meals and drinks was very reasonable for what we enjoyed. I will definitely be heading back.
April 29, 2008
- Food
The food was so good, delicous without being too o...
- The food was so good, delicous without being too over the top.
- Service
The Service was excellent, we asked for the owner...
- The Service was excellent, we asked for the owner Michael to recommend wine to go with each course and he looked after us perfectly.
- Ambience
We booked this restaurant for our 10th wedding ann...
- We booked this restaurant for our 10th wedding anniversary dinner. When we arrived I was a little disappointed thinking the atmosphere would be a little more romantic, it was quite brightly lit. After a few wines though it was fine.
- Overall
Will be going back and taking friends, a lovely re...
- Will be going back and taking friends, a lovely restaurant with yummy food and will be asking for Michael to do the wine thing with us again.
October 23, 2007
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Overall
For starters we thought that this restaurant had a...
- For starters we thought that this restaurant had an a la carte menu (it stated it on their website), however when we arrived we were told that the website hadn't been updated in 4 or 5 years and the 5 course degustation menu for $67.50 per head was all they had. The food I have to say was superb, however the service was a little too over the top. We weren't assigned one waiter to the table, instead we had 3 waiters come around to our table and top up our wine glasses every 5 minutes! There's such a thing as TOO MUCH service and this is what we got here. My dad ended up having to take the bottle of wine off one of the waiters to leave on the table because they kept trying to top up the empty glasses of the people that were driving.
August 23, 2007
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Overall
My husband and I chose Borsalino for a nice quiet...
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My husband and I chose Borsalino for a nice quiet evening out together, which we hadn't done in a long time. This review will be brief because all the other reviews about this place say what I'm thinking.
For the five courses we had: smoked salmon and avocado, field mushroom, cheese dumpling/ball things, aged steak and poached pears with cream and a citrus sauce. All of it was sensational. If I absolutely had to choose a stand-out dish it would be the steak - it had a beautiful flavour and was cooked to perfection. I also really appreciated the poached pear for dessert, as I was getting rather full and it was a nice light way to finish off the evening.
We washed everything down with a bottle of Henschke Keyneton Estate - exquisite.
The ambience was relaxed and quiet. It felt as if we were dining in our own dining room. Comfy chairs, decent sized table and plenty of room between us and other diners.
The service was very attentive and friendly. They obviously knew their work well and there was never any uncertainty when answering questions we had.
All up, we paid $193 for all of it and we forgot to hand over the Entertainment Card for a discount, so I guess we'll have to go again.
May 16, 2007
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Overall
Borsalino Ristorante in Nedlands on a Tuesday nigh...
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Borsalino Ristorante in Nedlands on a Tuesday night was very very good. However, if you are guided by the Entertainment Book’s descriptions (or the restaurant’s own menu presented inside the door), you may be a little misled. There really isn’t a menu as such, you are offered a 5 course set menu for $64.50, or a degustation menu (substantially the same with wine included) for $110.
The restaurant itself looks warm and inviting, with an array of polished cutlery and glassware on each table, and lots of dark timber and heavy curtains. However, the temperature inside could be raised a few degrees, we were there on admittedly a cold night, but the heating seemed to be minimal.
The restaurateur assumed (with everyone, not just ourselves) that we were going for the ‘non-wine’ dinner, and proceeded to advise us what they would be serving. We were offered a pre-dinner drink, but we headed straight for the (quite comprehensive) wine list instead. A Picardy Chardonnay at $56 was the ‘go’.
The five courses were:
Char grilled field mushroom for appetiser,
Gnocchi in tomato and basil sauce for entree,
Ricotta and spinach dumplings in a mascarpone cream cheese sauce (quite rich), and
Choice of main course: beef (with a porcini mushroom sauce) or Atlantic salmon (both served with about 5 vegetables)
Dessert was a sort of vanilla/almond and choc/coffee semi-freddo with lemon and strawberry sauces
Every dish was delightful, superbly presented and well-sized (i.e. not too much). We were served in a moderately formal but friendly fashion by the owner and his daughter that evening, and had no complaints about the service, everything ran like clockwork (and was obviously designed to do so). The owner’s wife is the head chef, while their son (also a qualified chef) helps out on busy nights.
A comment on the wines. While the restaurant is fully licensed, and the wine list is quite extensive and reasonably priced (i.e. a reasonable mark-up on mostly quality wines), there is a shortage of wine by the glass (one white and two reds, if I remember rightly). However, when we ordered a glass of unwooded white and a glass of red to accompany the main courses, there was a discussion between the owner and his daughter about which wine to open. They ended up opening a bottle of 2003 Wyndham Estate Show Reserve Shiraz, offering me a taste, then pouring the glass after it met my approval (it matched the beef very well). Apparently the driver for which bottle to open was, which wine would the staff like to drink tonight! Obviously on a busier night (there were about 10 people in this night), this would not be a problem, but it was good that they considered a wine that matched the food well (as well as their taste buds!), and not just pulled out ‘any red’.
With $30 off (E-card), the bill came to $182 for the two of us, so not an 'everyday' dining experience (unless the Lotto numbers come up), but not the most expensive we've had, either. And they didn't mark off the E-card, making a point of suggesting we use it again soon. We probably will, but with the next E-book.
All in all, very highly recommended.
April 29, 2007
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Overall
The previous 6 reviews are on the money. This rest...
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The previous 6 reviews are on the money. This restaurant is dynamite. It's a whole package experience.
We went here on Saturday night after making a 7.30 reservation. We decided on the Wine Banquet menu as we settled in for a big night.
Starting with the smoked salmon and avocado, then the portabello field mushroom, the famous soufflings, the salmon for me and the beef for my partner and finish off with pears and cream. I won't go into too much detail as all I have to say is it was all sensational, delicious and sensational.
The staff, were attentive, friendly and actually interested in our thoughts on the meal. They stopped by for a chat when my partner went to the bathroom which I thought was lovely. Certainly something I have never experienced before.
For the drinks we also started off with the champagne cocktail and Urquell pilsner. Then with our meal we had the Stoneleigh sauvingon blanc, a cabernet merlot and a Killerby shiraz. Replenished often and enjoyed immensely.
The breaks in between receiving each course was perfect in that we weren't too full or overwhelmed after eating 5 courses. We left rosie cheeked with big smiles on our faces, this is one dining experience which we will be talking about for a while to come and will be hard to top.
Smiles all round. :)
April 16, 2007
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Overall
I apologise in advance for what I think will be a...
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I apologise in advance for what I think will be a detailed, lengthy review!
It’s hard to believe there are places like this in Perth. A place that makes you feel like you are so far removed from everyday life, transported to another world, where the passion for good service, simple and elegant food and an appreciation of fine wine comes together to create not just a meal, but a highly-prized experience.
The first thing my husband and I noticed when walking through the door was the instant feeling of warmth. The décor is slightly old-world and traditional, something you would see in a gorgeous restaurant in Europe. We knew we were in for a treat when we were escorted to our table by a smiling and professional young man, who offered to take our jackets and then promptly asked us if we would care for a pre-dinner drink. It was our first anniversary, so we thought, “why not go all out tonight?” and asked what was on offer. “For the lady, we are making fresh strawberry champagne cocktails and they seem to be popular tonight. For you, sir, perhaps a beer?” (husband nods head) “A Pilsner?”
The drinks came back, and my cocktail was fresh and delicious. Not too sweet, not too dry, and just oozing with freshness. We were told someone would be at our table soon to explain the menu. We were also given a bottle of water, although it was bubbly mineral water, which I have a lot of trouble drinking. I eventually asked if the waiter would mind also giving us some still water, a request which was attended to immediately and nicely.
Nobody came to our table straight away to do the menu, but we didn’t mind, a small basket of freshly made delicious bread helped keep the hunger pangs at bay and soak up some of the effects that alcohol can have on an empty stomach. We were offered the extensive wine menu to peruse as well, and enjoyed taking our time looking our options over. So much choice and variety! Obviously someone at this place knows their wine.
After a small passage of time, another young gentleman came to get our drink order. We explained that we were unsure whether to start with a bottle of white or red wine as we didn’t know what we would be eating. He then apologised and went through the set menu. Five dishes for about $70, great value. He could offer wine matched with each course for $99, but we opted to start with white and chose a 2006 Pierro LTC Semillon Sauvignon Blanc.
The young man who originally seated us brought us our wine and apologised for the time it took in having someone explain the menu to us. We were quite fine with the wait, and amazed he had noticed and was saying something about it!
First course was perfectly-cooked salmon wrapped around leaves of different lettuces with a slightly tangy lemon drizzle that brought out the flavours of the fish. It was also accompanied by a generous amount of sliced avocado, which blended nicely with the dish. The salmon was almost melt-in-your mouth and the way salmon should be.
Second course was fresh, crisp blanched asparagus stalks that had a parmesan cheese/breadcrumb/herb bake over the middle of it served with some sort of light sauce on the plate. This was delicious, and the quality of ingredients impeccable.
Third course was Bocconcini served in a bowl with a rich, creamy sauce. It was a perfect size, any more and you would feel slightly sick. The owner, Michael, said to us that many people try to ask for that as their main and he keeps having to explain that no, the customer will not want it like that as it is too rich, have it as one of the courses instead. On our first bite we thought we would be happy to have a lot of this as main, but as we went on through the two pieces we realised it would just be too much.
When choosing on a red to go with our main course (details further down), we were deciding between a 2000 Vasse Felix Heytesbury and a Cape Mentelle blend. We asked our waiter for advice, but before my husband even had a chance to ask the question he explained he wasn’t the best person to help and went and immediately brought a girl to us. We really appreciated the fact that he was happy to say straight up he didn’t know, as many waiters like to think they do and bluff their way through it. The girl went to the cellar to see if they had an older Heytesbury, and we knew the answer to this when the drinks waiter brought us up the 2000 and said that, ‘Michael says this will be fine to drink now, we’ve had run out of the older vintages’. He then opened and decanted it for us. During our third course, Michael came by and poured the red into our glasses to open it up further. This is a man who knows and loves his wine.
He explained to us that he used to have quite the range of Heytesbury vintages in the cellar and couldn’t understand why everyone would come and drink them, until he realised that his prices were lower than the bottle shops. He then put the price up!
Fourth course was a choice between salmon, beef, veal or lamb. My husband opted for the veal, whilst I settled (after much deliberation) on the lamb cutlets. By this time we were quite full, but I was determined to get through my meat, even if not the vegetables. The meat is cooked quite medium-rare, so if you like yours well done its best to make this clear when they take your order. I saw a lady at another table send hers back, but it seemed to me that they attended to her promptly and in the end she was happy.
The meat was perfectly tender, with a basic mix of herbs lightly done on top but not overpowering. The vegetables consisted of a piece of potato, piece of sweet potato and a piece of steamed broccoli. I only managed a bite of each vegetable to see what it tasted like as I was getting incredibly full. They were cooked so well, the potato was crisp on the outside and lovely on the inside. The quality and freshness of the ingredients make such a difference to the meal. It was so simple, but highly effective.
Dessert was a citrus mousse, with hints of passionfruit coming through. It was surrounded by a berry sauce and a citrus sauce. I don’t like fruit in general, particularly citrus, but I quite enjoyed the few bites I was able to fit in. My husband just managed to polish his off and take a couple of bites of mine.
It can get a little noisy with all the chatter in the rooms, but after a while you don’t notice it at all. The wait staff do their job with a smile on their face and are so professional, they look like they enjoy working there and are intent on making sure you have a good experience. They are unobtrusive, yet keep an eye on your wine and water glasses ensuring you are never wanting for either. The owner checks in on you and makes sure you are alright, and is happy to chat if you would like or leave you alone after a greeting and a smile. It is a family establishment, with his future daughter-in-law, his son, his wife and his brother all working there. As you can tell, I highly recommend this restaurant - for both groups of people and a romantic dinner.
The cost of our meal without drinks would have been, as I mentioned before, about $70 each. However, as we didn’t stick to the cheapest wines (over $90 for the Heytesbury), the total of our evening came to about $290 including a $30 Entertainment Card discount (and they didn’t rub their number off, saying they’d love to have us back again!). It was worth every cent. Five-star service, food, and ambiance.
April 5, 2007
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- Overall
We booked a table for 15 at Borsalino for a big ni...
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We booked a table for 15 at Borsalino for a big night out. Not sure what to expect, we were a bit surprised when once seated we were told there was no menu and that we would be having the degustation. We weren’t too fussed as the meal sounded wonderful. Whilst waiting for other people to arrive, someone asked for some bread as we were hungry. The owner kindly explained to us that there would be bread, but we would have to wait. He said the homemade bread was so delicious that we would eat too much and not get through our meal. It was a bit of an odd start to the evening, being told there was no menu and we could not have any bread.
However, we all ordered drinks (beers for the boys and champagne and fresh strawberry cocktails for the ladies) and settled in admiring the fine wines decorating the wall shelves. When the others finally arrived, we got our bread (and it was divine!) and allowed the owner to choose some appropriate red and whites for the table.
Our meal consisted of Smoked Salmon with asparagus and capers (asparagus still crisp and the salmon was so fresh), then a huge grilled field mushroom brushed with olive oil and served with roasted red peppers (this was awesome – every mouthful was amazing), then a bocconcini dish, which was rich but still yum! And a choice of beef fillet with porcini sauce or smoked salmon for our main meal. I had the salmon and it was so lovely and crisp on the outside and melt in your mouth on the inside!
Some of our table who did not eat mushrooms or salmon were given some lovely fresh homemade gnocchi as an alternative and it passed everyone’s taste test.
Dessert was poached pears and cream and a perfect ending to the meal.
All of this wonderful food and copious amounts of beer, cocktails and wine came to about $90 per person. We all left feeling very full (he was right about that bread!) and very satisfied. We spent the rest of the weekend telling all of our friends about the fantastic meal we had experienced (and how the owner let me buy a lamp off him that he had on display that had taken my eye!) A wonderful experience!
May 27, 2006
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We went to Borsalino's last night for dinner, this...
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We went to Borsalino's last night for dinner, this charming rustic but elegant restaurant has a lot to offer.
We started off by ordering some Treehouse Pinot Noir and after deliberating over the set menu decided the set degustation menu was the way to go. Started with a grilled field mushroom, then a prawn and scallop dish, boccicinni then our mains which was a choice between salmon and steak, I had the salmon an it was mouth watering.
The dessert was a baked lemon cheesecake.
All in all the meal was perfectly balanced, the ingredients fresh, the service well above average. A great restaurant to go to on a special occassion.
April 18, 2006
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- Overall
We went to this restaurant because a friend recomm...
- We went to this restaurant because a friend recommended it. He'd been raving about the special set course they do here. After toying with the idea of being boring and selecting something a-la-carte we did elect to get the days special - we were not disappointed. It was basically 5 courses of delicious yummies, where you elect which main course you'd like. There is also emphasis on your own tastes so if you dont like a particular course or ingredient they will adapt it to your personal tastes - which is a very good service. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to go for a special treat with friends or the other half. Ambience is very elegant so you can choose to go fancy if you like. You wont look out of place if you do not.
March 9, 2006
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We have visited Borsalino three times now. On...
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We have visited Borsalino three times now.
On our first visit, we were blown away by the ambience, service and value for money. Although you may order a la carte, you are strongly encouraged to indulge in the mini degustation menu. First you are served delicious crusty bread with olive oil and balsamic. The next course was a grilled field mushroom, followed by seafood ravioli, then a bocconcini cheese dish (very rich) and then a choise of meat or fish with vegetables, and finally marscapone with berry sauce. Not bad for around $50 (using an Entertainment Card discount).
Subsequently, we have always had a pleasant experience, but it does look like the selection of dishes is limited... we've had many repeat dishes. Also, beware if you should wish to change dishes (e.g. if you don't like cheese)... you will be strongly prevailed upon to at least try the intended dish, and weaker mortals may crumble, to their eventual dissatisfaction!
The ambience is lovely, decor is tasteful, and the wine list is extensive.
Contact Information (08) 9389 8141
- Borsalino Ristorante 35 Hampden Road, Nedlands 6009
- (08) 9389 8141
- Visit Website
- View Map
- Italian
- Fine Dining
- Licensed
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