Farro Spelt Pizzeria, Windsor

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Posted 2025-02-09 by Jen ⇒ follow

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So many places to eat, so little time or rather, I hope there are many many more centuries left for me to cover every single restaurant in Victoria. Farro at 126 Chapel St, Windsor - like all the restaurants on Chapel Street, is even closer to me, at just a 6 minute walk away. I do have to admit to walking fast, and yet I've never been there. Probably because pizza is never my first choice to consume. However, a friend and neighbour of mine told me he was there when I rang to catch up after he'd been in Rome for a couple of weeks, so we decided to have a coffee together as he had nearly finished his lunch and was on his way home. He said they made lovely coffee there and that he'd order me one so it would be ready by the time I got there (that's how close I am). He wasn't far wrong, as that latte was absolutely just the way I like it. Full of body, the taste of a quality brew, and most importantly - hot, just the way I like it. I like my coffee piping hot and will not stop drinking it till it's all gone, as I can't stand a lukewarm cuppa. It was so good that I ordered a second.

But that's just about the coffee. Hungry and way past my lunchtime at nearly 3pm on Saturday (yesterday), I ordered my food and discovered my friend had ordered the exact meal off the menu . Squid ink pasta and seafood is something I can never pass up, and at times, it stops me from trialling something new - my bad. Squid Ink Spaghetti Gamberi is what I had - cooked with prawns, garlic, chilli, parsley, medley tomatoes, olives, capers, anchovies and white wine. I've ordered squid ink pasta and seafood in a couple of top-notch restaurants like The European on Spring Street, and Thirty Eight Chairs off Chapel Street in Bond Street to name a couple, and each chef has their own recipe and style of plating. The only thing they have in common is that all three establishments served up tasty crustaceans I'd keep going back for.

Farro is no different. I enjoyed every single mouthful and revelled in those plump prawns that were not too shabby in size, which is wonderful because it gives a meal the look of generosity, and that's important. No customer wants a miserable-looking meal that has no heart or generosity of hearth and home. Unfortunately, as one person late to lunch, I have only one meal to show you, as one cannot eat any more than that. At least I can't. It would have done me no good to have caught up with my friend and neighbour earlier either, as he had the same dish. He did tell me he was a regular there and that they knew him well. He also vouched for their organic spelt pizza, which he reckons are so good - I guess I'm going to have to venture out again and saunter into their pizza world. All of Farro's sourdough pizzas and fresh pasta (freshly made, no wonder it tasted so good) are made exclusively with organic spelt flour and high-quality ingredients. They also have vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

As you can see from the menu page, there's a lot of food porn to salivate over. I'm already looking over the 'Patate E Tartufo' with house-made trufe aka truffle cream sauce, mozzarella, garlic, gorgonzola D.O.P (Denominazione d'Origine Protetta/Protected Designation of Origin - a label that guarantees that your favourite cheese, prosciutto, olive oil etc is produced, processed, and packaged in a specific geographical zone and according to tradition), potato, rosemary and E.V.O aka extra virgin oil. You can also add sausage for an extra $4. It's Sunday morning and I'm already thinking of food, and it's not unlikely we'll be eating out on Sunday, family day. Farro has 7 restaurants in Caulfield North, Fitzroy, Hawthorn, Thornbury, Moonee Ponds, Richmond and of course Windsor, and you'll find all the addresses and phone numbers on the menu page to make your booking.

Farro revels in the fact that you can enjoy modern and authentic Italian cuisine that's balanced with the power of the 100% organic ancient grain Spelt with which they make all their pizzas, bread and pastas and consciously selected ingredients. They go by their philosophy of bringing balance to our lives by making healthier food choices that firstly taste good, and most importantly, feel good in our bodies. So check them out the next time you're on Chapel Street, or make a conscious choice to go there. A few important things to note - Kids Eat Free every Mondays and Tuesdays from 5pm at all their restaurants. Kids must be 12 years old or under and available for dine-in only with the family. Booking is recommended. They also have 'Happy Hour' every day until 6pm for house wines, house beer and Aperol Spritz - all at $10 each. Any orders after 6pm will be back at full price, and it's one drink per person at the time.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, this year Farro is serving up a 3-course sharing menu crafted for romance if you're interested. Think bold flavours and vibrant colours, however, the main menu will still be available on Valentine's Day. Last but not least, I'd like to say that the decor of the Windsor restaurant was warm and rustic and filled with atmosphere, and made me feel right at home in such a beautiful space. I checked out the upstairs which was all set up for a function but we sat outside on the high seats which were very comfortable with their woven inserts, to eat and people-watch at the same time. That's the whole fun of eating outdoors isn't it - to feel the cool breeze and enjoy the ambience of your surrounds as life swirls past around you.