Lunch Hour: Nano Cafe
In the first iteration of “Lunch Hour” – highlighting the best CBD lunch spots to hit up on your break – our reporter tries the trusty East End café, Nano.
Welcome dear reader to the first iteration of Lunch Hour: where I, Claudia Dichiera – CityMag’s resident food and hospitality reporter – find the best places to eat around the city during your one-hour lunch break. Because let’s face it, if you’re only going out for lunch once a week, you don’t want it to suck.
I’m sure you’ll learn more about me in the coming months as I share different food opinions through this column, but let me tell you the first metric I use to judge a Lunch Hour meal (or any meal for that matter): I love a hearty portion size.
Can you blame me? I grew up in a large Italian family and have had food essentially forced down my throat because I “haven’t eaten enough” (inverted commas because I’ve never eaten enough according to my Zia Fulvia).
So, when I recommend something, you should be leaving full.
Nano, located on Ebenezer Place, is known for its quick service, coffee (it’s my personal favourite, but let’s not open up that can of worms), and cheap eats. Their pre-made goods don’t always fill me up due to their size (they’re still delicious, however), but their plates of pasta are top-notch (and that’s coming from a self-proclaimed pasta connoisseur!).
The penne all’arrabbiata (strictly no chilli) is my current go-to. Oozing in a red tomato-based sauce with bacon and olives speckled throughout – it just hits the spot.
My personal eating rec: when ordering the pasta at Nano, a piece of toast and Western Star butter portion pack will arrive at your table before the pasta comes. Butter your bread (Italians, leave me alone!) before the pasta arrives so the butter melts. Leave it there until you finish your pasta, then scoop any leftover sauce up with the bread – it’s the perfect way to end a meal.
A special shout-out must be paid to Nano’s pasta verde, but I haven’t been able to look at you the same ever since you changed your pasta shape from orecchiette to casarecce. In an orecchiette–verde world, the garlic and oil would fill up the orecchiette pasta like a cup, giving maximum flavour.
Miss Verde. This picture: Claudia Dichiera.
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Especially as we head into the cooler months, you could do far worse than a plate of penne all’arrabbiata at Nano. This is the type of meal when you just want something you can trust (and if you can’t trust olives, then simply grow up). It’s got heart, flavour and punch.
Nano Cafe is located at 23 Ebenezer Place, Adelaide and is open from Monday to Friday from 7am until 3pm, then Saturday from 8am until 2pm.
Connect with the business on Instagram for more.
What’s your favourite CBD Lunch Hour spot? Let me know.