Wood-fired pizza, wine by carafe, and riverside views of Lake Burley Griffin? Molto seems to have all the goods. Canberra’s newest restaurant bills itself as a “modern sea-side trattoria with sleek modern interiors”, with a menu to match.

Locals will recognise restaurateur  Carlo Tosolini’s name from the iconic Tosolini’s Italian Restaurant. He keeps the authentic vibes going here.

A bottle of rose and half the stuzzichini menu – whipped bottarga with lemon zest, beef carpcaccio, or chargrilled prawns with fregola, perhaps – sounds like a fine way to see out the summer.

The pizza menu is paired back, with just a handful of ingredients, including the requisite San Marzano tomatoes and imported buffalo mozzarella, in true Naples-style. Same story for the pasta, which will be hand cut, and include a made-at-the-table spaghetti cacio e pepe, bolognese of Gippsland beef and Western Australian scampi risotto.

Expect a mix of Italian and local labels for vino, with a solid by the glass selection, and a short and sweet list of five cocktails (we’ve got our eye on you, tiramisu martini).

Molto Restaurant, 37 Eastlake Pde, Canberra, Ph:(02) 6140 7039