Cafe Sopra, Waterloo

Cafe Sopra was one of those places that I had always wanted to go to but never quite made it to. I don't really live locally and they're only open during the day which means that whilst I've pined to go for a while, it's only recently that I've made it there. I'm meeting a business associate P here, on this threateningly rainy day. Arriving at almost 2.30pm I knew that I was getting there late (they close at 3pm) but we were greeted with friendly service and a blackboard with a lot of items that had finished for the day which is somewhat comforting to know that everything is at least made fresh every day. We choose some dishes to share and without waiting very long at all, they arrive.

I start with a mixed fresh juice which is deliciously with fresh sweet oranges shining through.

The Antipasto plate arrives with 4 ice cream scoop sized mounds. The fennel is deliciously soft and lightly fragrant, the ultra thinly sliced raw mushrooms interspersed with thin slices of provolone, the caponata soft and unctuous with the only bitter tone being the braised witlof.

The mozarella with tomato salad has slices of tomato layered with thick slices of mozarella. Mozarella is not my favourite cheese, in fact I never usually eat it but my dining companion P likes this dish.

The marinated figs with proscuitto crudo and salad are richly flavoured semi dried figs, with flavours much like a thick fig paste rather than fresh figs. There is a light drizzling on balsamic on the two sheets of proscuitto. There's no trace of the featured goat's cheese which would've been fantastic, without it it feels lacking somewhat.

We finish off with a coffee, and it's good as you'd want from an Italian cafe. Despite the fact that it's almost 4pm and they close at 3pm the staff are still gracious and friendly, warning us that there may be noise from workmen but that we are fine to stay. We pass by the free cooking classes that Fratelli Fresh put on twice a week and exit now that the rain has ceased.

Cafe Sopra

Upstairs at Fratelli Fresh

7 Danks Street Waterloo

Tel: +61 (02) 9699 3174

http://www.fratellifresh.com.au/

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