Upstairs and downstairs – sampling the ground floor pleasures of Lunetta Trattoria

Now not one, but two, new restaurants have opened perched high on Red Hill above the nation’s capital, we managed to visit and try both. First the fine-dining restaurant, Lunetta and then the more casual space, Lunetta Trattoria. Both are well-designed and well-presented venues, worthy of their lofty status above the city.

After our recent triumphant evening enjoying the offerings of Lunetta, perched high above the nation’s capital on Red Hill, we returned to sample the trattoria downstairs at the historic round Red Hill pavilion and we weren't disappointed. 

One is never enough, and two is far too many
It’s important to start and finish a night out with a fine drink. In this case, I began with a dry martini – only one, because as the saying goes, ‘one is never enough and two is always far too many, or as the great Dorothy Parker observed ‘I like to have a martini/Two at the very most/After three I'm under the table/After four I'm under my host.’ My version was made with Prohibition gin, maidenii dry Vermouth and huge (and excellent) Sicilian green olives.

Perched on Red Hill - fine dining above the lights of the capital

The top of Red Hill in Canberra is a prime location. Over the years there have been a series of restaurants and cafes, but late last year a new player appeared and not one, but two, restaurants opened in the iconic heritage building perched above Canberra. All in all, Lunetta marks a welcome addition to Canberra dining and finally a return of a fine restaurant to the premium Red Hill location.

Having recently moved to the Southside of Canberra, we were very excited when Lunetta opened its doors atop Red Hill late last year. In fact what opened was both a fine dining restaurant and below it a trattoria, so we were spoiled for choice. We’d last eaten there what seemed a lifetime ago, when it had been On Red restaurant, set up by the chef who previously ran a fabulous kitchen at Grazing at Gundaroo (a restaurant still going strong). This week we finally went to the upstairs restaurant for a special occasion. 

Ravioli with roasted garlic honey butter, potato, pecorino and ricotta