My first thoughts upon seeing the menu at Templo online some time ago was “Now that’s a great looking menu!”. An ever changing blackboard of really interesting sounding dishes making the most of what’s in season and available to them. Making a choice of what to order was always going to be way too hard so instead we ate everything.

It’s not a big space but well thought out with a row of tables, a larger communal type table and a small bar area. Warm wood throughout and a nice casual vibe. The wine list is tiny but they’re going for quality not quantity throughout the experience and everything is available by the glass and the ones we chose most excellent and good value.

Quality bread and some impressive plateware were brought out as the lone waiter went to explain the menu and the concept. Well, he would have if we weren’t so single minded in intention of sampling everything. But to the other diners he suggested picking a few dishes to try and they just come out as ready in a casual manner. It’s all so very casual and easy here.

I commented as the first dish arrived that I had trouble getting polenta right when cooking it myself and this really slapped me in the face with how far off I was. Beautiful creamy texture inside, crispy and bold outside. I could have spent some time nibbling plates of these with a glass of wine and left happy.

The trevally was wonderfully fresh and sweet with the fennel salad a good match. Everything is seasoned so very well that I didn’t even notice until just now that they don’t provide salt or pepper at the table and they certainly have no reason to.

I’m a huge fan of Beef Carpaccio so was excited when this dish arrived and it was a very good rendition of the classic. Strong, bold and meaty yet refined.

We were fighting over the pork as soon as it arrived. Crispy fatty slices of deliciousness matched with a fresh and vibrant sauce. Another dish I could have happily nibbled all day yet it was all over far too soon.

Now this was some really good pasta! Silky smooth and full of character and the sauce a non intrusive yet perfect accompaniment. Like all the dishes a lot of love and thought went into this one and it was simple yet refined. A truly excellent course.

Crispy skinned with moist interior the fish was full of flavour and spoke for itself, needing only the simplest of sauces to compliment it.

This was another of my favourites. The gnocchetti firm yet soft and the fresh vegetables and touch of chilli made for a light and satisfying dish.

The lamb was warm and homestyle yet executed very well with contrasts of the crispy peas and mint laced throughout. An excellent end to the savoury component of the menu.

“Would you like dessert?”. Of course we did! Forks soon battled over the remarkable and richly flavoured Semi-Freddo sat in front of us. Only one dessert was on offer today sadly but like the rest the theme of quality over quantity shone through.

It was a long, lazy Sunday lunch and oh so good in many ways. The service was knowledgeable and attentive when needed yet casual and the food even exceeded my lofty expectations. I’ll be raving about this place for some time, perhaps the best Italian in Tasmania. As further testament the room was full of various groups of hospitality professionals dining out, industry knowledge brought us all here to check out the exciting new kid in town and everyone was smiling.

Templo is open Thursday-Monday 11am til late

98 Patrick Street, Hobart

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