Home-made pasta, an Italian chef to greet you and delicious tiramisu: Thulisa Martins reviews a classy Hyde Park classic.

The food

The menu at this classy Italian restaurant changes every six months. All the pasta are made in-house, from the ravioli to the tagliatelle and cannelloni, and the choices are endless.

The menu boast authentic Italian dishes from different regions in Italy. If classics tickle your fancy, go for the Osso buco di manzo alla Milanese; the saffron scented risotto served with this dish beautifully compliments the aromatic wine broth that the shanks are cooked in.

If ice cream stirs your soul, I suggest ending the meal with a Tiramisu ice cream, which is sometimes part of the specials – Tiramisu on ice! Otherwise, opt for the equally delicious traditional tiramisu on offer.

Il Tartufo. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

The wines

The selection ranges from affordable local blends to some very expensive imported wines; the bottles are displayed in the restaurant.

The service

Service is up to speed, you won’t be left hanging or wondering. To top it off, the Italian chef comes out to greet every table to find out if all is well – a nice touch.

The ambience

Classy, warm and authentic, il Tartufo hosts smaller table settings of about four, yet they are also happy to merge tables for bigger families or parties. This is undoubtedly a child-friendly restaurant, with its dark wooden tables, white table cloths and comfortable dining chairs. Elements of chalkboard paint on some of the walls adds a contemporary twist.

Il Tartufo. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

And …

Keep an eye on the blackboard for the specials of the day, there are always some interesting options to choose from.