Puntino Trattoria, Woolloomooloo

If you're a cheese lover and you haven't tried burrata yet, you are seriously missing out. Inside this plump, knotted ball of cheese is cream and soft mozzarella that oozes out once it is cut into. It is rich, creamy and oh so delicious! The promise of burrata and wood-fired oven pizza is what drew us to Puntino Trattoria, which is hidden away on the Woolloomooloo side of Crown Street.

Cacio di cavallo - $16.90

We're being treated tonight with a multitude of cheeses and treats from the wood-fired oven, starting with the smoked provolone that is baked in the wood-fired oven with shaved black truffle. The truffle aroma hits as soon as it lands on the table, and we use the tongs to take a piece of the melty, stretchy cheese and eat it with the accompanying bread.

Calzone ai formaggi - $10 (left) and calamari in padella - $16 (right)

Other entrees that we sample also include the calzone ai formaggi - a wood-fired pizza folded over with mozzarella, parmesan and garlic - and a simple but delicious flash friend calamari with lemon and garlic. The calamari pieces are especially good as they are slightly tangy from the lemon and very tender.

Mozzarella degustazione platter - $15.50pp (min 2 ppl)

A huge platter is placed in front of us and the pile of cured meats and cheese has me swooning. Not only does this mozzarella degustation platter contain my beloved burrata, but it also has the classic creamy buffalo mozzarella, and a smoked buffalo mozzarella. The smoked mozzarella is new for me and I find it slightly springier and less creamy than the other two, with a deeper, smoky flavour.

Mozzarella degustazione platter - $15.50pp (min 2 ppl)

The platter also comes with a salumi selection of prosciutto and mortadella, sliced tomato and basil, a basil and sundried tomato pesto, a selection of salts and a ciambotta e pesti which is the cast iron pan in the centre. What is it, you ask? It a mixture of egg and potato, zucchini, onion and tomato that is very moreish and would make a great breakfast dish I reckon!

Funghi misti al forno - $19.90

The feast continues with a medley of wood-fired mushrooms baked with fresh thyme and olive oil. I spotted these mixed mushrooms in the kitchen and was eyeing them off so I was so glad to have a chance to try them. They were juicy, with the simple cooking process bringing out all the earthy mushroomy flavours.

Gnocchi sorrentino - $19.90

I heart my carbs and pasta is probably one of my all time favourites (followed closely by potatoes). This potato gnocchi was one of my favourite dishes of the night and even though I was already extremely full, I could not help going back for more. The gnocchi is light and far from stodgy, and is cooked in a light napolitana sauce and served with buffalo mozzarella and basil. I am definitely ordering this again next time!

Panuozzos - from $8-$10

We were also able to try some of their panuozzos which are available for lunch. A panuozzo is a sandwich made from Puntino's wood-fired pizza dough and stuffed with a range of fillings. Tonight we tried the lamb sausage and the porchetta. The porchetta was definitely winner for me, with wood-fired roast pork, smoked mozzarella, arugula, mayo, capsicum and onion relish.

Mr Potato Head - $18.90

I thought the onslaught of food was over but there were still pizzas to come! The Mr Potato Head pizza had thinly sliced potato, rosemary, mozzarella and grana padano, and truffle oil. I wasn't such a big fan because the potato was still slightly crunchy and undercooked which wasn't to my liking. It was a hit with the rest of the table though!

f1 - $24

\I much preferred the f1 pizza, which had a tomato base and ham, salami, buffalo mozzarella, ricotta and basil. Puntino's pizzas had thin crusts which were crispy at the edge without being too soggy in the middle.

Torta di ricotta al forna - $12

We finished off with a ricotta cheesecake that is also baked in the wood-fired oven. I can only manage one forkful of it because I was so full! The cake was a little crumblier than the ricotta cheesecakes that I'm used to having (like the one at Papa's Pasticceria) but it was fantastic with the strawberries and the ricotta cream. Even so, we all struggled to finish the dessert. I think it was safe to say that not one of us left Puntino Trattoria still hungry that night!

Penguin says Feed Me dined at Puntino Trattoria courtesy of Wasamedia

Puntino Trattoria
41 Crown St
Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
Ph: +61 2 9331 8566
Lunch: Tuesday to Friday, noon to 3.30pm
Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm to 10.30pm


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