Totti’s Lorne

Sydney hospitality giant Merivale bought the Lorne Hotel in 2021, adding to its stable of more than 80 pubs, restaurants and bars in NSW. While cold beer and hot parmas are still on the menu upstairs, ground floor restaurant Totti’s adds antipasti, wood-fired bread, top-tier seafood and other share-friendly Italian to the mix.

It’s the first interstate outpost for the brand, which started in Bondi. While good food has always been part of the Totti’s equation, good times are what’s made it such a roaring success in Sydney, where there are now multiple locations. There’s an ample selection of champagne, prosecco and spumante on the list here, plus new-wave wines from top Italian and Australian labels such as Radikon, Frank Cornelissen, Quealy, Patrick Sullivan and Gentle Folk.

But it’s Totti’s bright, fresh, drinkable spritzes and cocktails that feel readymade for lively long lunches overlooking the beach. The signature Margarita with lime, watermelon, basil and geranium has been carried over; as has a fruity spritz with rosé, blood orange, rhubarb and passionfruit.

Those who’ve been to the original Totti’s will recognise the signature pizza oven, perfect for blistering the crusts of that showstopping puffy bread. It’s best paired with some antipasti. There are 20 different options, from marinated vegetables to smoky albacore tuna to pickled mussels and wild kingfish crudo.

For mains, try garlicky bucatini vongole, crumbed King George whiting and lamb ragu pappardelle. There’s also tiramisu and an ever-changing array of gelato and sorbet in flavours such as liquorice, pistachio, mandarin and strawberry.