Feelin’ Bossi Edition
BY MAHI KUMAR
After a few low rankings on the PQQ of late, Bossi scoops in with a smashing score of 8.2.
29 MAY 2023
When Bossi opened, boy did I not expect to love it quite as much as I did.
I absolutely loved Bossi.
I usually try to withhold my overall opinion till the very end (might sprinkle in some foreshadowing here and there) but I honestly need to say up front that the food was just objectively good, the ambiance was luxurious and sleek, and overall it was an incredible dining experience.
When Deli Di Bossi first opened in the Pacifica building, I was excited by the option to have delicious Italian-flavoured sandwiches and pizette’s in a more casual environment. Bossi then opened, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Located in the heart of Auckland CBD in the new Pacifica building, Bossi brings an authentic Italian experience home to Auckland. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by an Italian man with a thick accent. If that isn’t authentic, I don’t know what is.
The interior needs love and appreciation too… The windowed doors, the wooden panels, the chandelier and the striking bar just ooze sophistication. As soon as you walk in, it feels luxurious, making it a perfect choice for a special occasion.
Executive chef Shaun Dowling notes that Bossi is the home of authentic Italian cuisine, where “food, wine and family remains at the heart”.
To start, we had half a dozen fresh oysters ($6.50 each) which came with a shallot vinegar. When do I ever complain about oysters? The only complaints I may ever have is where the mignonette or vinaigrette lacks flavour, which wasn’t the case here. It was the right combination of sharp and zesty with the addition of a freshly squeezed lemon.
Next, was the antipasti menu. First, we ordered the Pesce Crudo ($27) which was a gorgeous fish crudo flavoured with chilli, capers, lime, parsley and caper sauce. It wasn’t over the top with flavours but the addition of chilli and lime with the creamy and salty caper sauce was *chef’s kisses*.
Also from the antipasti menu, we ordered the Culurgiones ($26). This was a mouthful to say and most definitely a (delicious) mouthful to eat. The Culurgiones are Italian dumplings that were filled with mashed potato, gorgonzola and a mushroom sauce. If you know me, you know that I absolutely love stinky cheese and mushrooms. These were great. They didn’t compare to the Cotto spinach and ricotta dumplings unfortunately, because they lacked the saltiness I crave, and I think that’s because the potato muted out the gorgonzola slightly, but they were still good.
From the primo menu we ordered the Gnocchi Cacio E Pepe ($28) which was a delicious gnocchi topped and cooked with the two crucial cacio e pepe ingredients; cheese and pepper. The cheese was pecorino and this cacio e pepe was pretty fucking good. Gnocchi was an interesting pasta choice for the cacio e pepe, and probably why this wasn’t in my top two items.
We also ordered the Spaghetti Vongole ($29) from the primo menu which was a gorgeous salty spaghetti cooked in a white wine butter sauce and served with cloudy bay clams. This was delicious and the flavours meshed so well. This was my second favourite pasta dish for the night!
From the secondi menu we ordered the Scampi Mascarpone Risotto ($42). Now, I’m not usually a huge fan of risotto because it kinda reminds me of soggy rice, but holy shit did this absolutely smash my expectations. The risotto was cooked in a tomato based sauce which was salty yet creamy from the mascarpone and had scampi all throughout. We were scraping this off the plate because it was delectable.
Finally, from the dolce menu, we ordered the Tiramisu ($26). Whilst this is $26, it is noted to be family style, and shit was it. It was massive. We were intimidated by the size of the Tiramisu, particularly after a meal as satiating as the one we’ve just had, but I don’t really back down from a challenge so we picked up a spoon each and got to work. This tiramisu was traditionally made with mascarpone, lady fingers, coffee and honestly was one of the best tiramisu I've ever had. It was fluffy and spongy, and despite being very full we finished it. I dream about it sometimes…
For the PQQ...
For the Price, I give Bossi a 7. It’s a bit on the more expensive side, but It’s also a high class restaurant which I feel you’d reserve for a special occasion. In saying that, the portions of the pastas in the primo menu were pretty reasonable too so you can easily make this a cheaper dinner. It’s my desire to try almost everything on a menu that affected the price here.
For Quantity, Bossi gets a 9. I was stuffed and rolling out of there. As a regular diner, this was one of the places where I felt truly satiated by the amount of food I’d eaten. It felt hearty and substantial.
For Quality, Bossi gets an 8.5. The quality of ingredients and thought behind the curation of each dish was self-evident. The food was delicious, and I’m dying to go back.
Coming to a 8.2 on the PQQ, and after savouring the delightful and carefully crafted dishes at Bossi, I can conclusively say that there’s no reason I wouldn’t recommend it.
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