Another Lunch at Bar Centrale

BAR CENTRALE

Cuisine: Italian 

Address: 51 Willow St, Tauranga

Phone: 07 574 8200

Website

Drinks: Extensive cocktail list, wines, craft beers

Reservations: probably for dinner 

 

It was a sunny day, we were at a loose end, so Cohen and I headed back to Bar Centrale for some Italian snacks and a drink. There were a number of things on the menu that I'd been eyeing last time were there and I wanted to check them out.

 

Also, as Cohen is a sucker for a Negroni and as it's not a drink that's ever been high on my list he promised to guide me through them. That's because Bar Centrale have a couple of pages of their drinks list dedicated to the Negroni...

 

So we started with Negronis from their list:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cohen had a Classic Negroni (Gin Campari, sweet Vermouth, orange $18) while I opted for a White Negroni (Gin, Italicus, Lillet Blanc, Dry Port, Lemon  $18). Both were refreshing and excellent, perfectly made as their cocktails tend to be - the bartenders at Bar Centrale are serious specialists. I really like the idea of a bar exploring a particular drink at some length like this. To be presented with a bit of history and a road map to discovering the evolution and variations of a classic combo is a classy concept

 

OK, food. We we hit their sharing plates menu.

 

POLIPO Octopus, Oven Baked Fennel, Preserved Lemon, Olive Oil   $19

OX TONGUE SPIEDINO Shallot, Lardo, Salsa Verde                            $10
FISH BALLS SPIEDINO Fennel, Lemon, Caper Butter                         $10

FRITTATINA DI PASTA Croquette, Pasta, Carbonara                          $6 each

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we were very very happy. I love tongue. I know others don't but I bloody love it. And their tongue is not only delicious but remarkably inexpensive. Great stuff. Meanwhile, the croquettes are essentially the Italian version of Mac & Cheese bites which have recently been popping up on a lot of snack menus. The only difference is that the "mac" here is spaghetti.

 

The fish balls aren't balls but are otherwise extremely tasty and the octopus was tender (it's a cold dish). I'm not sure sure about eating octopus in general. It was Cohen's choice and certainly well-prepared but I think in deference to the creature's intelligence and character I'll be giving up munching on our eight-tentacled friends in future.

 

All in all - excellent lunch. Great service. Great spot. Great food and drinks. One of those sunny afternoons sitting on the terrace when you feel happy and lucky to live in Tauranga.