O a tomato
En fruit finds itself in a starring role, s new lunch sets.
with olive oil and good-quality balsamic.
Each choice of main comes with a plate of linguine, spaghetti or tagliatelle, done aglio olio style.
The Stufato di Frutti di Mare (RM36) seems the lightest choice, a melange of lightly-cooked squid, prawns and clams in tangy tomato sauce with a generous amount of garlic and basil.
The zinginess of the tomatoes and capers was the perfect complement to the seafood.
The tomato base took on sweetly herbal tones in the Barramundi alla Griglia con Pesto (RM34), with generous chunks of barramundi topped with basil pesto, sitting on a bed of caponata. Great flavour and fresh fish with a hint of cumin, but the icing on the cake had to be the barramundi skin, fried so crisp that there was an audible crunch with each bite.
Even sweeter and richer, the rustic Cacciatore (RM29) was a large portion for one, a whole chicken leg braised with tomatoes, capers, carrots and capsicum.
While the Dorper Spalla D’Agnello con Giambotta (RM38) featured tender chunks of lamb shoulder, the gaminess of the meat was a little overwhelming.
A mixture of tomatoes, olives, eggplant, potatoes, carrot and zucchini lent both flavour and heft, but couldn’t quite balance that gaminess.
For an extra RM9.90, you can also have a dessert of the day. Our sweet du jour was Mario’s playful version of a banana split: a fluffy, house-made banana marshmallow with a scoop of creamy peanut butter ice cream on the side, topped with a crisp, spiced cookie.
Mario & Luigi
15 & 15A, Taman Weng Lock, Lorong Kurau, Bangsar, KL. Tel: 03-2282 3571
Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 12pm to 3pm and 7pm to 11pm.