Given the size and diversity of the wineries in the Swan Valley there are surprising very few quality food venues - and no, fish and chips\steak sangers at the cellar door are not food.
We have always loved the wine at Pinelli, keenly priced, excellent wines and great staff.
We dined here last year in a non-lockdown gap and it was superb - so we were back today to check that it was not a fluke lunch.
As walk-ins we were "very lucky" to score a seat on the freezing veranda, luckily, we had dressed for the bleak weather.
There was a nice buzz and the inside dining room was basically one long table, fully heaving. Outside was the salvation.
The menu is true trattoria - Gnocchi, Penne, arancini and traditional antipasti offerings.
Given the weather, warming dishes would be the go. We chose the Polpette (16), what turned out to be the worlds largest garlic bread (8) and the Penne Arrabiata (25).
The wine list is all winery offerings, normally a problem, but the wine here is superb. We kicked off with the excellent Reserve Verdelho (9), estate grown and bottled.
Four massive slabs of superb garlic bread appeared, briefly, at the table followed by the soft, juicy Polpette. Delicious starters.
The mountain of Penne arrived soon after - impressive given that the place was now full. A garden salad that we did not order also arrived, fresh and welcome against the spices.
If ever there was a dish for winter, Arrabiata is it. Spicy Italian sausage, chilli, onion, garlic in a rich Napolitano sauce. A bowl licker!
A superb and surprisingly inexpensive dining experience. Highly recommended.
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