The Italian Plate

The Italian Plate is a convivial restaurant on Racecourse Road in Hamilton, offering authentic contemporary Italian cuisine that the Godfather himself would approve of. ​​​

To start, there's a selection of breads - fresh ciabatta with olive oil and balsamic, grilled ciabatta with garlic oil and fresh parsley, and Bruschetta Con Pomodoro (ciabatta topped with fresh tomato, basil and olive oil) - as well as antipasti including classic Arancini filled with ragu, peas and mozzarella, Noenata (traditional Sicilian white bait fritters), Calamari Fritti, and Carpaccio Di Manzo (wafer-thin sliced prime beef, seasoned and served with rocket, shaved parmesan, lemon juntiice and olive oil).

Classic pasta dishes range from Spaghetti Bolognese and Seafood Linguine to Lasagne (layers of pasta, ragu, bechamel, eggplant, peas and parmesan) and Gnocci Quattro Formaggi (gorgonzola, provola, mozzarella and parmesan). 

Plus there's wood-fired pizzas with either a tomato base (rosse) or cheese base (bianche): Margherita, Napoli, Gamberetti (prawns), Funghi Al Tartufo (mushroom truffle) and Salsiccia (Italian sausage). 

Alternatively, Mains include traditional parmesan crusted veal schnitzel, free-range chicken cooked with garlic, rosemary and white wine, grilled octopus with salmoriglio dressing, and veal saltimbocca - pan-fried tender veal topped with smoked ham, mozzarella and Napoletana sauce.  

For something sweet, there's traditional Tiramisu and Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with berry compote and meringue, or enjoy an after-dinner Affogato (vanilla gelato served with a shot of espresso and amaretto). 

The Italian Plate is licensed with a carefully curated wine list (a mix of Australian and international wines), beer and classic cocktails like Aperol Spritz, Campari Spritz and French Martini. 

By Deb Lidster with images by Jodi Stewart 

Still hungry for more suggestions on where to eat out in Brisbane, head to our comprehensive Eat & Drink section HERE! Happy grazing!