Choosing your fave meal of the day is like choosing a favourite child — it’s fraught with danger. Hello Neighbour, Artusi by Night lets you embrace it all.
When you can’t decide between two equally delicious things, I like to take Old El Paso’s advice… “Why don’t we have both!” We regularly thank the heavens that owners of Hyde Park’s Hello Neighbour, Artusi by Night think the same way. Our go-to is not only fail-proof for an all-day brunch, but at night it switches to a mouth-watering gnoccheria. They’ve been winning loyal fans since opening in early 2020, and an experience there continues to wow with the launch of their new menu.
Image credit :: Wayne Pearson
So, how did this unique concept come about?
When local hospo icons Fillippo Ludovici, Alisha Myers and Laura Edmunds decided to plate up food that makes them tick, they came up with this deliciousness! For Alisha and Laura, brunch is where it’s at — and it made sense to switch to Fil’s passion for housemade gnocchi at night.
“Everything came together when we found this spot on King William Road. There’s a lot of pizza and pasta out there, so we decided to hero things differently. Our brunch options are generous and exciting; and for dinner, every piece of gnocchi is handmade fresh by our chefs each day. We combine this with our small plates, which are perfect to share, and nothing’s overly complicated — it’s good quality food, made really well,” Laura says.
It’s impossible to sum up the droolworthy menu on a page, so we asked the masters for their top picks…
Just a taste
Fil’s hot tip – “For brunch, I can’t go past the brioche French toast, burnt citrus curd, almond crumb, chocolate mousse and Pashmak (a fluffy, pink Persian fairy floss). Come dinner time, I’ll tuck into the cauliflower gnocchi, with leek, guanciale and chilli!”
Alisha’s pick – “My favourite treat is the buttermilk fried chicken served on waffles, with maple syrup and sriracha mayo for a delicious brunch. It’s hard to choose between the gnocchi dishes, but I’m a big fan of the beef cheek ragu, topped with fresh rosemary and pancetta.”
Laura’s order – “There’s plenty of refreshing brekky options, like the watermelon salad, served with halloumi, puffed rice, labna and herbs. And I’ll never say no to a big bowl of basil pesto gnocchi, topped with confit garlic, chilli and stracciatella!”
The menu is mostly vegetarian based, and everything can be made gluten-free or vegan, too. “Pop it with one of our hearty Bloody Marys, an Italian or local beer, an SA wine, fresh juice or coffee, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a good time!” Laura says.
