Those who have read my blog for a while now would know of my good friend, Iron Fist's hedonistic taste in food (and lifestyle in general), and how going around with him has resulted in my having to eat numerous meals of cup noodles. On the point of fine dining though, it is rare to find a restaurant that does a high quality fine dining experience with good food for an exorbitant price, which is why Mariosarti in Toowong is such a rarity in the market. Being situated along the main hub of Toowong that is Sherwood Road, Iron Fist and I went out for an indulgent after work meal last Tuesday. Despite how busy Toowong usually is, we were lucky enough to score street parking just outside of the restaurant.
Arriving at our booked time of 6pm, we got to choose between indoor and outdoor seating. Of course I settled on the cozy inside seating, especially given it was so cold outside. We both really appreciated the classical yet ritzy decor inside which was formal but still warm.
Starting off with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon we were given menus to peruse.
I quite liked the menu, which comprised of quite a few delicious classical Italian dishes. Like all traditional Italian menus, it was sorted by entrees, first courses, pasta, second courses and sides. It took a little while, but Iron Fist and I were able to make a good selection amongst all the courses.
After making our selection, our friendly hostess took us around to view their private function room, which was as opulent as in the photos I had seen. Apparently there is a secret back entrance which means that high profile guests can come and go as they please.
Back at our table, our starter of house made garlic bread soon arrived. Apparently this toasted ciabatta is made on site every day, and it was topped with garlic and herb butter. We found the bread to be very rustic in the sense that it was quite heavy, dense and crumbly, making for a substantial and filling starter. I really quite enjoyed the fragrant garlic and her butter tastes as well.
Before long, the first two of our three entrees arrived, much to our excitement.
First thing we tried was Iron Fist's most anticipated Pancetta di Maiale, being Mariosarti’s signature crispy skin pork belly accompanied with pumpkin and baby carrot puree, smashed peas and porcini jus. The pork belly had exceptionally crispy skin with a wonderfully crunchy crackling. The meat wasn't too fatty and had a wonderfully tender texture that melted in our mouth which we absolutely adored.
Next we had our most favourite entree Arancini, being crispy fried rice balls filled with smoked Mozzarella, Grana Padano, Gorgonzola served with garlic aioli. The arancini were deliciously crunchy with a batter that wasn't overly thick. The rice was tender and cheese-ily indulgent, which we really liked.
Our third and final entree was the Frutti di Mare Moreton Bay bug sauteed with chilli, garlic and ginger, finished in a light creamy tomato and cognac sauce served with crusty ciabatta. I loved the sauce in the cute little pot, being a marinara type of sauce with cream, making for a flavoursome but rich combination. The moreton bay bug was quite fresh and had a good bite to it. The ciabatta was the same from our garlic bread dish, rustic and wholesome. Needless to say we were quite full up even before the mains had arrived. 
Speaking of mains, they arrived quite quickly after our entrees were finished. As we were dining in an Italian restaurant, there was no way that I would not order pasta, so our two mains were pasta dishes.
First up was Iron Fist's dish of choice, the Spaghetti con Polpette with Black angus Wagyu meatballs filled with smoked white mozzarella, cooked in a rich Napoli sauce served with truffle infused ricotta and fresh herbs. Iron Fist and I both loved the meatballs which were bursting with flavour (and delicious mozzarella cheese). The sauce was sharp and rich with a fresh tomato taste, the pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente texture which meant it had considerable bite to it.
Our second pasta dish was the tortellini frutti di mare, handmade tortellini filled with blue swimmer crab and Mooloolaba prawn, Italian herbs in a light creamy tomato and white wine sauce. The dish was smaller than I had anticipated, given the portion of spaghetti we just had. Comprising of roughly 7 pieces of tortellini, it was more tender than the spaghetti and filled with an amazing crab and prawn concoction.
Although we were absolutely stuffed by then, there is no way that I could turn down dessert when the menu was presented, so of course we ordered some.
Both of them came quickly after ordering, and looked amazing.
First up was my all time favourite dessert, the tiramisu, a sweet Italian cream cheese with amaretto zabaglione between layers of espresso laced sponge fingers and whipped cream. The cream was delightfully light and creamy, the lady fingers soaked with espresso and chocolate sauce, making for probably the best commercial tiramisus I've ever had (only better is my home made one).
Our second dessert was the Fragole Grappa Vetri, glazed strawberries topped with blood orange gelato, drizzled with brandy and basil reduction and toasted almonds. The strawberries were served warm and sweetened, contrasting the cold sour blood orange sorbet. I really enjoyed the crisp fruitiness of the dessert which cut through the very heavy and rich dinner we just had.
Finishing off, I had a glass of Italian hot chocolate infused with Baileys and Nocello. It was a very rich, thick, decadent and sweet concoction that made for a very wonderful ending for a brilliant meal
Taste: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Service: 9/10
Environment: 9/10
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