Civico 47

Civico 47 is a modern Italian restaurant in Paddington, hatted in the Good Food Guide since day one, with Matteo Zamboni as Executive Chef. Zamboni trained in Michelin kitchens in Italy, including La Pergola and Cracco, and under Seiji Yamamoto in Tokyo.

The food is flavour-led: flavour first, technique second, presentation last, with a small surprise, usually in the taste, that makes food people want to eat twice. The duck with witlof and mandarin and the handmade Mafalde with prawns, tomato and bok choy are the two dishesregulars keep ordering, both consistently named among Sydney’s best in their category.

The restaurant also runs a serious wine program, with a spread of Italian, Australian, French and New Zealand labels. It’s fine dining in the Australian sense, not Euro fine-dining, not old-world trattoria, produce-driven and precise, built to be eaten and drunk, not admired. Italian is the spine here, not the ceiling.