Busta

The crew behind northern beaches favourites ChicaBonita and Sunset Sabi are behind this intimate pasta joint. And whether you visit for lunch or dinner, you can be sure the house speciality has been hand-rolled fresh that morning.

A rotating roster of pasta shapes wind up in dishes such as a spaghetti tossed with kale pesto, walnuts, a soft cured yolk and truffle pecorino; and a stracci (torn pasta) that comes with duck ragu, currants and lemon thyme. (There’s usually one gluten-free pasta option on the menu, too.)

But to kick things off, you’ll want to order some focaccia with a couple of plates from the antipasti selection, which might include kingfish crudo, gnocchi fritto and milky coil of burrata served with vincotto, persimmon and pistachio.

Busta echoes nearby bottle shop Winona Wine‘s organic approach to curating a wine list, but there’s also a smattering of more traditional Italian varietals in the mix.

The space is bathed in warm light and when you step through the door, you’re greeted like an old friend. Inside, things are modern, with a terrazzo-tiled floor leading to the sleek curved bar in the centre of the room. On the other side of the bar is the open kitchen, making it easy for the floor staff to banter with the people working the pans.