Must-try dish: Exceptional steak, Italian style

Is that the full name?
Osteria Riva prides itself on the quality and flavour of its meat, so there are lots of options on the menu but we loved the “250gr F1 crossbred Angus/Wagyu sirloin MS5+ with rocket and parmesan”.

Where do you get it?
Osteria Riva, 1/96 Bronte Rd, Bondi Junction NSW 2022

Why is it a winner?
We could get all technical talking about this steak. We could tell you how its lineage includes the Tajima strain of Japanese Black Wagyu cattle raised in rural New South Wales. We could tell you it’s been dry aged for four weeks and has a marbling score of 5+. But what you probably want to know is how it tastes, and all we can say is that it is meltingly soft and tender, that it is expertly cooked and that is the kind of steak we would cross town, maybe even borders, for. Accompanied by a simple rocket and parmesan salad, it is, quite simply, perfect.

Anything else to know?
Osteria Riva specialises in the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna, that’s the region of Italy which is home to Bologna, a city nicknamed “La Grassa”, or “The Fat One” so obsessed are its citizens with rich and delicious food. So when you’re here not only do we suggest the steak, we reckon the set menu which features a mix of antipasti, three pasta dishes, tuna, sirloin and tiramisu is an absolute steal at $75 a head ($95 if you opt for Wagyu). Trust us, you won’t be sorry!

Want more Must-try dishes? Check out the perfect chicken schnitzel sandwich or a Japanese-inspired cult favourite burger.