Solo Pasta, Sandy Bay

Tony has been a good friend for many, many years. He's a gorgeous man, given to excesses in quite a few things in life - mostly to do with alcohol! I love him dearly, so when he nagged me about not having been to Solo Pasta since the new owners took over from Sav, what could I do but go along there with him?

To misquote slimy Rod Stewart, tonight was the night! Last time we met, Tony told me many things about Solo Pasta. He said the atmosphere there was fantastic. He said the food was fabulous. He said most of the customers were regulars who went there weekly cos they loved it too (like he does). He said he used it as his second office. He was also as pissed as I've seen anyone for a long time the night he told me all that. So I was interested to see how Tony Sober's opinions matched up to Tony Mega-off-his-face!

Most of what he told me was correct. The atmosphere IS great. The staff are there, constantly, checking and generally doing what waitstaff SHOULD be doing - looking after their customers! Very well. Most of the customers seemed to be regulars, given that the owners, Simon and Alfonso, separately, did a few circuits of the restaurant, chatting for lengthy periods at each table.

Now for the food. Naturally, given its name, it's a suburban pasta restaurant. The menu is pretty standard for an Italian pasta restaurant. The prices too are on a par with anywhere else.

We started out sharing a half garlic, half herb pizza. Didn't notice the price of it but it was fine. The garlic side was really garlicky, which I loved, but thank god no one is smelling my breath now!

I chose the Calamari, which had chilli added to the seasoning coating it. You could have it as an Entree or Main. I opted for the Main size, priced at $21. Tony had tonight's special which was pork fillet wrapped in proscuitto, stuffed with fig, and with a fig/gorgonzola sauce accompanying it, from memory. It was $26. The pork was brilliant. My calamari was OK, but too 'floury' tasting. By that, I mean that it had been dredged in too much flour.

I really enjoyed it there, and if it wasn't for the fact that I like to check out many other places and report back here on Rita's blog, would make it MY local too. I loved the boys. Simon I just met tonight, and he treated me like his best friend. Fonzie I knew from other times, and it was great to see him again and chat.

Also caught up with two other wonderful friends from 'the olden days', Ken and Di Mellors who were dining there as well - maybe for the reason that their son is one of the apprentices there?

Anyway - for enjoyment value alone - Solo Pasta is 10/10.

Wed morning - thinking back over my evening at Solo, I realised that what I REALLY liked about the place was that 'x factor' of the boys great hospitality attitude. They provide their customers with that little-demonstrated true hospitality experience: that feeling of "welcome to our home, sit down, relax, let me take your coat, what can I offer you to make you feel more at home here, have a drink while you make up your mind". It is wonderful to see and be on the receiving end of such great customer service. I had the feeling that this magnanimity and generosity of spirit was nearly gone, but the boys have now reassured me that it is indeed possible for you to eat out and still feel at home.