The inner west has a plant-based restaurant showcasing Italian flavours, Winsor Dobbin reports.
Don Fred is a recent arrival on King Street, Newtown, that offers dishes designed for vegans and vegetarians.
Don Fred’s owners says it offers a 100% plant-based menu, while still showcasing authentic Italian flavours.
The design is based on a classic 1970s Paninoteca Bar in New York with design choices including burnt yellow walls, authentic Italian tiles and brown timber tables.
The fit out pays tribute to executive chef Lorenzo Petrachi’s uncle Alfredo, who moved from Italy to New York in the early 60’s and opened his own panino outlet in the Bronx.
Petrachi will be a familiar face to locals: he is the former restaurant manager at Gigi Pizzeria.
All ingredients on the menu are ethically sourced and fresh with Petrachi embracing ingredients used as staples in his mother country such as the Sugo Di Pomodoro sauce, made with San Marzano tomatoes.
The best seller on the menu is don Fred’s Polpetz focaccia – a plant-based spin-off of the classic Italian meatball sub made with roasted black olive “meatballs” served with home-made Napoletana sauce, dairy-free parmesan and basil on fresh focaccia.
The menu features a selection of share plates, along with specially made frozen negroni granita, lemon mint with gin and orange granita with Aperol, perfect for a hot summer’s day.
Don Fred is at 28 King Street, Newtown and is open Wednesday-Sunday noon-9pm. See https://www.donfred.com.au/
