Craft Italian Restaurant & Bar

In Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast, Craft Italian Restaurant and Bar brings a polished, down-to-earth take on Italian comfort. The kitchen leans into time-honoured flavours, letting good ingredients, classic techniques and a little flair do the talking.

The opening notes are familiar and inviting: calamari, lightly dusted and crisp, with aioli and lemon; bruschetta on toasted Turkish bread layered with tomato, onion, basil, a balsamic reduction and soft bocconcini. Risotto is in fine voice, whether a prawns and chicken risotto layered with king prawns, fresh chilli, garlic cream and Napoli, or a mushroom risotto perfumed with porcini, white wine, truffle oil and parmesan.

Hearty plates follow with rump or porterhouse, teamed with seasonal greens, potato mash and sauces from mushroom cream to green peppercorn. There is grilled chicken scallopini with garlic potatoes and a scatter of crispy prosciutto, while pasta fans can twirl king prawns fettuccine bright with cherry tomatoes, basil and white wine, or a velvety carbonara fettuccine with smoked bacon, egg and parmesan. Sides keep things convivial, from seasonal greens tossed in garlic and olive oil to a classic chicken Caesar. The mood is relaxed and sociable, made for lingering and savouring.

Gather your favourites, bring an appetite, and settle in for an easy-going Italian escape; book a table and let the good times twirl.