With modern Italian meals and a vibrant atmosphere, SkyCity’s iTL Italian Kitchen is the perfect suggestion next time someone asks you for a foodie recommendation.

Located on the ground floor, the Riverbank restaurant is perfect for any occasion and overlooks Adelaide’s bustling Festival Plaza.

In these chillier months, their seasonal menu has you covered for a warm escape that’s sure to please any party.

1. Date-night destination

Italian is culturally synonymous with passion and indulgence – what more would you want out of date night?

If your love language is cheese, look no further than the burrata to start, paired with pickle, charred pepper, parsley oil and prosciutto.

Next up, the simple but delicious house made iTL paccheri pasta.

Head chef Mario Vargiu says it reflects the simplicity of key Italian ingredients, with three types of tomatoes grown by their trusted farmer specifically for the occasion.

The tomatoes are gently cooked, chilled and recooked, then passed through a sieve to create a beautiful, fresh and flavoursome sauce.

Finished with butter, parmesan and basil, this dish will have you gesticulating with joy.

2. Feast with friends

Vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free; in 2023, we know more about our bodies than any generation before us, so chances are at least one of your mates is scanning the menu for those stomach-saving codes (GF, V, VE).

At iTL, no one has to miss out, as they happily accommodate any dietary requirements.

Plus, for larger groups there’s a sharing menu, so you can experience a variety of the best iTL has to offer.

3. Impress the in-laws

It’s Friday night and your significant other’s parents want to take the two of you out for a nice meal. Good idea, right? Except it’s 18° outside, so you’re already anticipating your mother-in-law’s complaints of being cold.

Pre-light her fire by warming her up to the idea of iTL’s Winter Ragu. It’s a hearty dish of rich flavour and tender meat, cooked for six hours, and is sure to lure her out into the evening air.

“It makes a perfect dish for winter, giving a very gentle, warm feeling to your stomach,” chef Mario says.

Perfect for all your perpetually chilly family members.

4. Pizza party

Whether it’s a birthday, graduation or just a Saturday night when no one wants to cook, pizza is always a crowd-pleaser.

iTL’s pizza dough is made with more water than flour and matured for 60 hours. Chef Mario says this makes their slices “lighter and easier to digest”.

And our gluten- and lactose-intolerant friends can rest assured they won’t be left looking longingly at the pizzas coming out of the kitchen.

The restaurant’s gluten-free pizza bases and vegan soy mozzarella ensure there’s a slice to suit everyone.

5. The professional lunch

There’s nothing better to get you through a morning of work than looking forward to a fancy lunch.

Whether you’re networking or celebrating an office milestone (EOFY party anyone?), treat yourself to a well-deserved wine.

iTL’s extensive drinks menu has plenty of options, and their simple but sophisticated menu will help soak it up.

The beef rump tagliata is a dish fit for a boss, with pickled king oyster mushroom, charred wild mushrooms and a beef jus.

Chef Mario says it pairs perfectly with a Barolo. Produced in the Piedmont region of Italy, the high acidity and tannins of this red cut through the main’s richness.

“It has the perfect balance of perfume, power and elegance,” he says.

After iTL, everyone will waddle back to work well-fed.