Osteria Morelli

A small neighbourhood Italian osteria on Lennox Head's Ballina Street, this room is built around handmade pasta worked by hand rather than machine, house-baked focaccia and a short menu that shifts with the seasons and what local growers bring in. Dinner runs Thursday through Saturday from 5pm into the evening, in an intimate candlelit setting with a few al fresco tables among the plants. It's an independent, owner-run kitchen rather than a chain trattoria, and the appeal is exactly that made-from-scratch, produce-led simplicity, a handful of well-made plates, focaccia to share and an unhurried pace. Bookings are wise given the size of the space. For anyone after honest Italian food over a relaxed weekend dinner at Lennox Head, it's a warm and characterful choice that rewards taking your time.