Luigi Delicatessen - Pay this man a visit!

Luigi Delicatessen  - 151 Flinders St, Adelaide

Luigi Delicatessen is the lunch bar version of Cheers with Luigi as Adelaide's lunchtime version of Sam Malone. He'll welcome you with a handshake, remember your name, and tell you what you want to eat. Something that is rare in Adelaide. The deli is located on Flinders St, just near the Pultney St corner. They serve a range of breakfasts, snacks and lunches, and as you'll read below, the pastas are great.

You will see that this review covers a number of different dishes and this is for a few reasons. 1) Luigi has a limited pasta menu which he often changes with some dishes remaining as staples, and 2) I (Mirko) work very close to Luigi's so its a good, safe lunchtime venue to visit.

Being open for breakfast, Luigi also has a number of breakfast options, pastries and fresh juices for people to choose from. Nathan has tried a few breakfasts (to be reviewed in another post) and reports the same quality and taste as the pastas.

OK, now to the pasta!

Crab pasta

When I saw the crab pasta on the menu and for the price advertised (approximately $15) I was skeptical questioning both the size of the dish and the amount of crab there would be. When the dish came out, my skepticism was quashed. The spaghetti was cooked al-dente, there was an abundance of crab and there were strong flavours in the overall dish.

Gnocchi Pesto

On our next visit, I opted for the gnocchi pesto. Again, the pesto was flavourful and the gnocchi was not overcooked as it still retained its shape and texture. One of my pet peeves with gnocchi is when its overcooked and becomes soft and stodgy - this was not the case here.

Off the cuff - trio of meats

Third visit - and not knowing what to order, Luigi offered to whip up something off the cuff. A trio of meats (chorizo, salami and pancetta) in a rose sauce with olives. Again, pasta was cooked al-dente and the different meats added texture and a nice saltiness to the dish. This should be one of the standard dishes that he offers on his menu - so good (and the other diners with me agreed).

Mushroom Risotto

Next on the menu was the Mushroom Risotto. An abundance of mushroom in a creamy risotto. Not much to say here!

Ravioli

The last pasta item that I tried was the ravioli. Out of all the dishes that I have tried, this has to be my least favourite. Whilst the ravioli was cooked well, there was nothing in the sauce nor the ravioli which made me want more. If this was on the menu again, it would not be something that I would go for.

With all pastas and risotto's being priced around the $15 mark, this is a decently priced pasta option in the city. And trust us, you will not leave hungry! The only thing that I would suggest, which has been echoed by a number of people that I have eaten here with, is getting a nice crusty bread - something to mop up all that delicious sauce.

Pasta is a great dish when done well. You'll also gather from our reviews of Jamies Italian here and here, that it can be very annoying when it's not done well. Luigi is making the kind of pastas we would have expected Jamies to deliver, and if you're looking for a pasta at lunch time, we'd suggest heading in to see Luigi - but with limited seating just be aware of this. 

Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly:  Multiple vegan and vegetarian options.

Child Friendly: The high tables inside don't suit children, but the tables outside, if the weather is nice, would be fine. The menu has ample smaller options for the kids, but we are sure Lui would whip something up if asked. 

Ambiance: 4/5 - Open, inviting, modern décor with some outdoor tables to sit at also - again, limited seating so just be aware of this. 

Service: 4/5 - Great service with a smile. 

Food: 8.5/10 - The pastas are delicious, filling and fresh. 

In total OTCB gives Luigi Delicatessen 16.5/20 chops on The Chopping Board.