Ecco Restaurant

Leave It To The Italians

The Tuscan courtyard at Ecco Restaurant on Toorak Road in South Yarra will sweep you off your feet. Of course that’s only after you swoon while ambling by the charming bar, cosy dining room and inviting wood-fired pizza oven. This down-to-earth, friendly Italian restaurant has that stay-awhile vibe that makes you want to linger over just one more glass of wine. And why not? Ecco is a friendly neighbourhood gem that’s made for intimate gatherings, special occasions or just the everyday. The menu showcases classic Italian fare at its finest. Start with some bruschetta or an antipasto platter to share before moving on to the baked fish or free- range roasted chicken. The gnocchi, which is baked in the wood-fire oven with cheese and a creamy Napoli sauce, is a local fave, as is the wood-fired duck risotto. And then of course there’s the pizza. It’s hard to pass up as the smell of freshly baked pizza made perfectly crisp in the wood-fire oven wafts toward your table. Next time you’re strolling through stylish South Yarra, pop into Ecco for a bite. It’s everything Italian should be.

Best dish: Gnocchi baked in the wood-fire pizza oven