Posto Matto review: Osborne Park Italian eatery perfect for a pasta and red wine craving on a stormy night

I blame cyclone Narelle. I was sitting at my desk, an unappealing salad in front of me for lunch, while watching her unleash hell outside my office window. It’s pasta and red wine weather, my brain told my tastebuds, as I shovelled a spoonful of disappointing leaves into my mouth. Next thing I knew I was booking Posto Matto for dinner. My mood improved instantly. I’d driven past this Italian eatery many times but had never gotten around to going until Narelle sparked major carb cravings. According to the website, Posto Matto means mad house. When I told my other half that is where we were going to dinner, he failed to see how it would be any different to any other night. Speaking of mad, Narelle was still raging when we made a quick dash from the car to the restaurant. Once inside we were seated at the back near the pizza oven, where I watched a steady stream of bubbly, char-crusted beauties being cut and boxed. I made a mental note to return for one of the more than 20 pizzas on offer or to order takeaway in the near future. But on this occasion nothing was going to distract me from my pasta dreams. I was torn between the pappardelle ragu, $32, or beef cheek panzotti, $34. In the end I couldn’t go past the lure of tender beef cheek, which came enveloped in silky smooth, al dente pasta and smothered in a rich tomato sauce with molten piles of buffalo mozzarella. A glass of Underground pinot noir ($15) was perhaps a little too light bodied but still I had my pasta and a red, so happy days. My husband opted for the mushroom and truffle ravioli, which came swimming in a creamy mushroom sauce with truffle oil, parmesan and parsley ($34). It’s the kind of meal that tastes like the greatest dish ever after the first spoonful, before you find yourself struggling to finish due to the heaviness of the pasta and cream. But my husband is clearly made of sterner stuff than me, because he managed to polish it off, no problem. Our table of four also ordered a very traditional-looking lasagne ($32), which was deemed delicious by a pleased-looking 10-year-old, and the aforementioned pappardelle ragu, which I got to sample and can confirm was as tasty as I assumed it might be. Yet another reason to return. Dotted around the restaurant are cute little cartoon illustrations of how to communicate using Italian hand gestures. Included was the relatively well-known “eh?” (fingertips clasped together, back of the palm facing out), alongside lesser known gestures including how to say “look at that idiot”, “forget it” and my personal favourite, “if you could only imagine”. I’m not quite sure what the hand gesture for “thanks, that really hit the spot” might be, so had to make do with a thanks and a wave, before heading out into the blustery night buoyed by a satisfyingly full belly. The verdict: 15/20 Delicious pasta and a glass of red is exactly what the cooler weather calls for. Posto Matto 211 Main St, Osborne Park Open: Tuesday-Wednesday 4pm until late, Thursday-Sunday 11.30am until late Contact: 9344 4748, postomatto.com.au Bookings: Yes