Date Night: Pizza, a movie & gelato
If you’re planning a date night with someone special, then there’s no need to head into Newcastle. Maitland has got the goods for a classic date night: pizza, gelato and a movie.
A little bit of Italy at Ometto Pizza Bar
Did you realise that there is an authentic Italian pizza restaurant at The Levee in Central Maitland, and it’s delicious? You really need to check this place out!
Owner and chef, Giuseppe Maviglia opened Ometto 12 months ago much to the delight of pizza loving locals. His traditional Italian style wood-fired pizzas are simple, but oh so delicious.
The menu is based on traditional recipes from Giuseppe's homeland, northern Italy, but with a few Aussie twists. Most of the pizzas have just three or four ingredients, but as he explained, with high-quality ingredients you don’t need to overload the pizza with lots of different toppings. Just keep it simple. They use local ingredients where possible (all meats and vegetables), but import the cheese and olives for that authentic Italian taste.
Apart from the pizzas, there are also three seasonal pasta specials, all handmade on site. On the night we visited it was gnocchi al gorgonzola, gnocchi al pomodoro and lasagne alla bolognese.
There is also a range of Italian wine and beer on the menu, and it’s BYO for wine too.
Good news, there’s gluten-free bases available. Along with heaps of vegetarian and vegan options.
Dinner done, movie time.
After dinner head over to Reading Cinemas and catch a film. They have four cinemas, showing the latest new release blockbusters.
Enjoy the luxurious armchair stadium seating, fully stocked candy bar and fresh popcorn.
And best of all, tickets are just $10.50 all day every day.
Now for dessert.
Right outside the cinemas is Jubilo Gelato, Maitland’s one and only gelato shop.
Serving gelato, sorbet and vegato.
What’s vegato? Well, it’s lactose free, gluten free, dairy free and totally vegan gelato. It tastes incredible and comes in a range of flavours. The caramel is a favourite, but make sure you go back and try the chocolate, coffee, fig and ginger, lychee, mango, nut, peach and Turkish delight.
Owners Bill and Robyn pride themselves on producing delicious gelato. It’s all made on site, using local products where possible, like the milk which comes from a local dairy in Luskintyre.
Maitland locals love their gelato, and the most popular flavours are cookies and cream, and kinder. Not necessarily together, but actually on second thought that does sound yummy.
If you’re not into gelato or sorbet, they also serve cake, tea and coffee.
Buon appetito!
