Forte-style Italian: AQUA Forte
Paolo Gavioli, Ian Fernández and Roberto Vicario first came to Sri Lanka a decade ago and watched the country transform as they returned over the years, spellbound by the island and its many diverse charms. Of these charms the Galle Fort captured their imagination the most - wandering through its cobbled streets they were strongly reminded of small Italian villages or ‘borghi’ back home, where classic architecture sets the stage for incredible Italian cuisine. Inspired, the trio opened their first Sri Lankan venture in May - AQUA Forte is serving up authentic Italian food paired with the finest of wines from Galle Fort’s residential Leyn Baan Street. A reading of the menu at AQUA Forte reminds guests that everything is handmade on site and to order. Even the bread at AQUA Forte is baked daily, including classics like crispy olive studded focaccia. The pasta is rolled fresh -also daily- for classic tagliatelle and deliciously unctuous ravioli or tortellini. All ingredients are sourced fresh when available locally or flown in from Italy.
Guests may begin their dining experience with refined antipasti selections such as Carpaccio di Zucchine (zucchini carpaccio with truffle oil, pistachio crumble and ricotta cheese mousse) or Baccala Mantecato alla Veneziana (Venetian style cod with extra virgin olive oil on grilled polenta). The classic notes of Italian cuisine ring true in the pasta (‘Primi’) section, paired with the finest quality premium ingredients - Ravioli alla Norma (ravioli stuffed with eggplants, ricotta and pecorino cheese with fresh cherry tomato sauce) and Tagliatelle al Ragu di Coniglio (tagliatelle with rabbit ragu), for example. Guests can eschew the traditional carbs in favour of main courses like Polpo alla Barese (octopus sous vide with smoked potato puree, parsley powder and dry black olives) or Porchetta e Peperoni (rolled pork belly with herbs served with roast bell pepper salad and crispy crackling). For ‘dolci’ (dessert) go classic - tiramisu, panna cotta, Trio di Cioccolato e ricotta, and a fun selection of gelatos and sorbets await.
Each dish could be paired with wine from AQUA Forte’s impressive wine cellar housing a curated collection of exclusive labels from Italy’s diverse wine regions. Guests will be appreciative of the restaurant’s commitment to ensuring that they can pair each course or dish with the perfect wine- the large selection including the premium labels can be ordered by the glass or bottle. Non-alcoholic options include premium Italian waters, soft drinks, a selection of freshly pressed fruit juices, and Illy coffee.
The restaurant’s ambience (designed by Team Architrave led by Principal Architect Madhura Prematilleke) is perfect for intimate, sophisticated meals to match the Galle Fort’s own charm of timeless elegance. The dress code remains casual- so guests can take a long wander through the fort’s many pathways before making their way to the restaurant. “Our guests are here to experience a real Italian dining experience and that means they should be relaxed and comfortable. We strongly believe in this philosophy when it comes to the food we serve as well. After all, Italian cuisine is so charming because it can be both sophisticated and hearty at once”, says
Chef Roberto. Ian added: “We built this restaurant to blend effortlessly into the Galle Fort as if it has been here foreverand we think this sets the perfect stage for the real stars here; authentic Italian food and wine created and served in one of the most beautiful locations on earth”.