Mahi Eats: Straight Vibes At Bivacco Edition
BY MAHI KUMAR
It’s a typical Savor group ting, but Bivacco does well with a PQQ of 7.5
22 June 2022
Today, the girls are hitting Savor group’s most recent moment Bivacco
Bivacco “Bar & Griglia” is NZ food scene domineer Savor group’s most recent opening taking over the old Headquarters. When I heard an elevated dining experience was opening at the old HQ, I was shocked and confused. I have spent many late nights dancing there and seen many people spew on the ramps. But I have to say, painting it green and really utilising the outdoor dining area has created a real ambiance. It’s an incontestably nice location with a great vibe. The views of the waterfront are stunning, and it’s central to the CBD which makes it a great choice.
As a self proclaimed “bold restaurant serving simple Italian food”, it delivers on its promise of being a great location for a long lunch or a low and slow dinner. You can really take your time here in a way that feels relaxed and unfussy.
To start, we ordered from the Pane and Antipasti menus. This comprised the Garlic Pizza Bread ($14) which was a good garlicy bread. The dough was soft and fluffy, and it was topped with Rosemary and sea salt. I don’t lay awake at home thinking about it but it was a good entree. We paired that with the Heirloom Tomatoes ($28) which were deliciously seasoned with salt, some toasted buckwheat, lime and basil and topped with torn mozzarella. As a cheese and bread girl this was a divine combo. I’m also a crudo girl so we had to get the Tuna Crudo ($32) which was seasoned with horseradish, cucumber and apple.
For the pizzas we got the margherita ($30), the potato ($36) and the mushroom ($34). I personally hate ordering margherita pizzas because I think they are snooze fests. The girls enjoyed them, but it was literally tomato and mozzarella. The mushroom pizza was divine and the star of the show. It was topped with truffle (yum), gorgonzola (you know I love a stinky cheese), walnuts for crunch and radicchio. 20/10 would recommend. The potato was nice, but I didn’t love it. Flavoured with red onion, torn burrata throughout and caviar, it had some interesting flavours and after trying the mushroom it didn’t quite compare.
The mushroom pizza was divine and the star of the show. It was topped with truffle (yum), gorgonzola (you know I love a stinky cheese)!
From the pastas and large plates we first ordered the Scampi Mafaldini ($44). This was a delicious shrimp pasta cooked in a delicious sauce that tasted buttery, full of garlic and full of black pepper, but also with a bisque (a very creamy soupy sauce). It was thick and creamy, but full of flavour. If you’re heading here, you have to try it. We then ordered the Goats Cheese Ravioli ($36) which was mild and earthy from the cheese, but not bursting with flavours.
Finally, we ended with the Tiramisu ($19), which was generous in portion size and so fluffy and creamy from the mascarpone and sharp with the flavour of coffee.
For the PQQ:
Overall, I actually liked Bivacco more than I thought I would. Savor group are known for their quality restaurants but I expected it to be like non-solo pizza (which I find to be good but not great).
For Price, I give it a 7. It’s a well priced meal on the whole and you can definitely have a pizza between two.
Feeding directly into Quantity, I give it an 8. Portions are very decent. The Scampi pasta was delectable and large which made me a very happy gal.
For Quality, I give it an 7.5. On the whole, I found that there were more meals that I’d go back to try again, than not. I thought some were ok and kind of plain, but I think Bivacco offers so many dishes that it’s really ideal for a long lunch or big group dinner where you’ll really try a lot of the menu items.
Overall coming to 7.5, Bivacco is the perfect location for your next boozy long lunch or birthday dinner. Having an extensive menu curated with locally sourced ingredients and located in prime real-estate, it gives straight vibes.
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