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<docID>333833</docID>
<postdate>2024-12-12 04:15:14</postdate>
<headline>Where the beef ragu was divine and the service so-so</headline>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/slow-cooked-beef-ragu-img_7847-1-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="606"> <meta itemprop="height" content="404"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="333822" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Slow-cooked-beef-ragu-IMG_7847-1-resized-e1732335915407.jpg" data-orig-size="900,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.5","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1730557001","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.7","iso":"80","shutter_speed":"0.014285714285714","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Slow cooked beef ragu IMG_7847 (1)-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Slow-cooked-beef-ragu-IMG_7847-1-resized-e1732335915407-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Slow-cooked-beef-ragu-IMG_7847-1-resized-e1732335915407.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Slow-cooked-beef-ragu-IMG_7847-1-resized-e1732335915407.jpg?w=606&h=404&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Slow-cooked-beef-ragu-IMG_7847-1-resized-e1732335915407.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Slow-cooked-beef-ragu-IMG_7847-1-resized-e1732335915407-600x400.jpg 600w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Slow-cooked-beef-ragu-IMG_7847-1-resized-e1732335915407-800x533.jpg 800w" width="606" height="404" loading="lazy" data-original-width="606" data-original-height="404" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Slow cooked beef ragu IMG_7847 (1)-resized" alt="Slow-cooked beef ragu with Mafaldine (ribbon-shaped pasta). Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 606px; height: 404px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> Slow-cooked beef ragu with Mafaldine (ribbon-shaped pasta). Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/broccolini-garlic-chilli-mg_7848-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="266"> <meta itemprop="height" content="200"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="333823" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Broccolini-garlic-chilli-MG_7848-resized.jpg" data-orig-size="900,675" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1730558681","copyright":"","focal_length":"1.57","iso":"320","shutter_speed":"0.021739130434783","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Broccolini garlic chilli MG_7848-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Broccolini-garlic-chilli-MG_7848-resized-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Broccolini-garlic-chilli-MG_7848-resized.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Broccolini-garlic-chilli-MG_7848-resized.jpg?w=266&h=200&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Broccolini-garlic-chilli-MG_7848-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Broccolini-garlic-chilli-MG_7848-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Broccolini-garlic-chilli-MG_7848-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" width="266" height="200" loading="lazy" data-original-width="266" data-original-height="200" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Broccolini garlic chilli MG_7848-resized" alt="Broccolini served with chilli and garlic. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 266px; height: 200px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> Broccolini served with chilli and garlic. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/roast-peppers-with-anchovy-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="266"> <meta itemprop="height" content="200"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="333826" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Roast-peppers-with-anchovy-resized.jpg" data-orig-size="900,675" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1730555145","copyright":"","focal_length":"1.57","iso":"160","shutter_speed":"0.021739130434783","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Roast peppers with anchovy-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Roast-peppers-with-anchovy-resized-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Roast-peppers-with-anchovy-resized.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Roast-peppers-with-anchovy-resized.jpg?w=266&h=200&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Roast-peppers-with-anchovy-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Roast-peppers-with-anchovy-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Roast-peppers-with-anchovy-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" width="266" height="200" loading="lazy" data-original-width="266" data-original-height="200" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Roast peppers with anchovy-resized" alt="Red roast peppers… served with Cantabrian anchovies. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 266px; height: 200px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> Red roast peppers… served with Cantabrian anchovies. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/whipped-ricotta-and-herb-oil-img_7843-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="290"> <meta itemprop="height" content="217"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="333828" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Whipped-ricotta-and-herb-oil-IMG_7843-resized.jpg" data-orig-size="900,675" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1730553758","copyright":"","focal_length":"1.57","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.014285714285714","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Whipped ricotta and herb oil IMG_7843-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Whipped-ricotta-and-herb-oil-IMG_7843-resized-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Whipped-ricotta-and-herb-oil-IMG_7843-resized.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Whipped-ricotta-and-herb-oil-IMG_7843-resized.jpg?w=290&h=217&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Whipped-ricotta-and-herb-oil-IMG_7843-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Whipped-ricotta-and-herb-oil-IMG_7843-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Whipped-ricotta-and-herb-oil-IMG_7843-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" width="290" height="217" loading="lazy" data-original-width="290" data-original-height="217" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Whipped ricotta and herb oil IMG_7843-resized" alt="Whipped ricotta, chilli and herb oil. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 290px; height: 217px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> Whipped ricotta, chilli and herb oil. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/prosciutto-and-buffalo-mozzarella-img_7844-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="289"> <meta itemprop="height" content="217"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="333825" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Prosciutto-and-Buffalo-mozzarella-IMG_7844-resized.jpg" data-orig-size="900,675" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.5","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1730554916","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.7","iso":"80","shutter_speed":"0.014285714285714","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Prosciutto and Buffalo mozzarella IMG_7844-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Prosciutto-and-Buffalo-mozzarella-IMG_7844-resized-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Prosciutto-and-Buffalo-mozzarella-IMG_7844-resized.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Prosciutto-and-Buffalo-mozzarella-IMG_7844-resized.jpg?w=289&h=217&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Prosciutto-and-Buffalo-mozzarella-IMG_7844-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Prosciutto-and-Buffalo-mozzarella-IMG_7844-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Prosciutto-and-Buffalo-mozzarella-IMG_7844-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" width="289" height="217" loading="lazy" data-original-width="289" data-original-height="217" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Prosciutto and Buffalo mozzarella IMG_7844-resized" alt="Thinly sliced Prosciutto di San Daniele… with fresh buffalo mozzarella sourced from Italy. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 289px; height: 217px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> Thinly sliced Prosciutto di San Daniele… with fresh buffalo mozzarella sourced from Italy. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/insalata-di-cavoloimg_7852-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="289"> <meta itemprop="height" content="217"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="333829" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Insalata-di-cavoloIMG_7852-resized.jpg" data-orig-size="900,675" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1730558724","copyright":"","focal_length":"1.57","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.010526315789474","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Insalata di cavoloIMG_7852-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Insalata-di-cavoloIMG_7852-resized-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Insalata-di-cavoloIMG_7852-resized.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Insalata-di-cavoloIMG_7852-resized.jpg?w=289&h=217&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Insalata-di-cavoloIMG_7852-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Insalata-di-cavoloIMG_7852-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Insalata-di-cavoloIMG_7852-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" width="289" height="217" loading="lazy" data-original-width="289" data-original-height="217" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Insalata di cavoloIMG_7852-resized" alt="The coleslaw of cabbage and peas beneath a mound of shredded pecorino. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 289px; height: 217px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> The coleslaw of cabbage and peas beneath a mound of shredded pecorino. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/chicken-alla-griglia-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="436"> <meta itemprop="height" content="327"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="333824" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Chicken-alla-griglia-resized.jpg" data-orig-size="900,675" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.5","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1730558705","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.7","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.021739130434783","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Chicken alla griglia-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Chicken-alla-griglia-resized-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Chicken-alla-griglia-resized.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Chicken-alla-griglia-resized.jpg?w=436&h=327&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Chicken-alla-griglia-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Chicken-alla-griglia-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Chicken-alla-griglia-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" width="436" height="327" loading="lazy" data-original-width="436" data-original-height="327" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Chicken alla griglia-resized" alt="Grilled chicken… with aromas of garlic, anchovy and lemon. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 436px; height: 327px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> Grilled chicken… with aromas of garlic, anchovy and lemon. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/tiramisu-for-two_7854-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="436"> <meta itemprop="height" content="327"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="333827" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tiramisu-for-two_7854-resized.jpg" data-orig-size="900,675" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.5","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1730561303","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.7","iso":"125","shutter_speed":"0.018518518518519","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Tiramisu for two_7854-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tiramisu-for-two_7854-resized-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tiramisu-for-two_7854-resized.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tiramisu-for-two_7854-resized.jpg?w=436&h=327&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tiramisu-for-two_7854-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tiramisu-for-two_7854-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tiramisu-for-two_7854-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" width="436" height="327" loading="lazy" data-original-width="436" data-original-height="327" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Tiramisu for two_7854-resized" alt="The decadent Tiramisu Carlotta for two. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 436px; height: 327px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> The decadent Tiramisu Carlotta for two. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<p><span class="kicker-line" style="font-weight: 400;">"Carlotta has established relations with local producers and growers, but also sources high-quality ingredients from afar, including Italy and Spain," writes dining reviewer <strong>WENDY JOHNSON</strong>. </span></p>
<p><b>Scotts Crossing, Civic, is the home of new Mediterranean restaurant Carlotta, opened by Chris Lucas, the Australian restaurateur behind Chin Chin in Sydney and Melbourne.</b></p>
<p><img class=" wp-image-234855" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Wendy-Johnson-207x300-1.jpeg" alt="" width="241" height="349" /></p>
<caption>Wendy Johnson.</caption>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lucas says he has "witnessed from afar how exciting and energetic the Canberra food scene has become", making it time for him to venture to the capital. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carlotta has established relations with local producers and growers, but also sources high-quality ingredients from afar, including Italy and Spain. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was lunchtime and we settled on Carlotta’s banquet ($88 a head). The wine list is a whopping 34 pages and even has its own index, so be prepared to invest time to truly explore. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before weaving through the banquet, we ordered drinks to accompany gorgeous oysters (Moonlight Flat Clair De Lune, Batemans Bay, $7.50 each, and Rockefeller, $8.50 each). We waited a </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">l-o-o-ong</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> time before they arrived, so much so that staff had already started to serve our banquet items.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The freshly baked rosemary and sea-salt focaccia was soft and inviting. We enjoyed it with whipped ricotta, chilli and a vibrant herb oil (a couple of us would have loved more chilli, but that’s personal preference). </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A winning dish was the vibrant red roast peppers with just the right texture, served with Cantabrian anchovies that did a fine job of elevating the dish. This was followed by Prosciutto di San Daniele, sliced every so thinly and wonderful with fresh buffalo mozzarella sourced from Italy. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We agreed the beef ragu was divine and one of the best we’ve had. The beef was slow cooked and full of flavour, and the Mafaldine (ribbon-shaped pasta) was superbly cooked. It arrived with a crown of intricately shaved parmesan that we mixed through before we divvied up the pasta. This more-ish dish was heart-warming and enveloped us with a big hug. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When one orders the banquet at Carlotta, one doesn't go home hungry. Next, it was time for grilled chicken, super juicy and joyful to eat. The chicken smelled wonderful, with aromas of garlic, anchovy and lemon. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Broccolini had a lovely crunch and the right level of chilli and garlic. The coleslaw of cabbage and peas had great balance even though, at first glance, we were distracted by the mound of shredded pecorino that hid the other ingredients.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Get ready for a huge serve of Tiramisu Carlotta, a truly decadent dessert – rich, creamy and loaded with character. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Service at Carlotta needs to be refined. There was confusion over our seating and our preference next time would be to avoid the tables in the busy "corridor" of the restaurant. We’d prefer window seating and will be back to dine outside. Heaps of staff were on deck with the right intentions, but the service was, in some instances, sporadic. </span></p>
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