On the ground floor of Auckland’s downtown residential skyscraper, The Pacifica, sits a new Italian restaurant Bossi. Simply step off the bustling sidewalk into its inviting space, and you’ll be instantly transported to a restaurant in Rome, as you take in the sophisticated surroundings, from luscious velvet furnishings to a sleek, curved marble-top bar. In fact, the space is as fitting for an intimate date as it is for an outing with family, lunch with colleagues or a spirited gathering with friends. After all, Italian cuisine is fit for the whole family, and owner Jenna Carter intends Bossi to be a welcoming experience.
Carter had a strong vision for Bossi from the outset. She wants guests to feel like they’ve entered her home for a delicious meal — one that is reminiscent of her experience growing up within a tight-knit Italian community in Melbourne, and time spent with her late Nonna, whose portrait is proudly displayed on Bossi’s wall.
“Opening a space like Bossi has been a dream of mine for years. Born out of pure passion and fond memories cooking with my Nonna, this is an ode to her and her legacy. I’m delighted to finally welcome Aucklanders and visitors alike to enjoy the many dishes my family has grown up with for decades”, says Carter.
Complementing Carter’s nearby Italian deli Deli di Bossi, the Bossi restaurant offers an elevated take on contemporary Italian cuisine. Headed by Executive Chef Shaun Dowling, the passionate kitchen team all have Italian ties in some way or another, and we can firmly say their handmade pasta is nothing short of exceptional. The menu features crowd-pleasers like polenta with mushroom ragu and raviolo filled with egg yolk, the latter a divine and saucy creation cooked to perfection. Dowling’s house-made limoncello is also featured on the cocktail menu and infused into creamy gelato (trust us when we say, you will savour every spoonful). As Dowling puts it, the team have spent months curating Italian dishes that are “synonymous with luxury, without losing their timeless charm”.
At Bossi, you may find yourself in an alluring booth, at a table, seated in the upstairs mezzanine (which can also be booked for large gatherings), or in the private dining space (which seats 10). The cherry on top is perhaps the inspired rendition of Michelangelo’s ‘The Creation of Adam’, masterfully painted by mural artist Ross Lewis. And as you revel in Bossi’s elegant setting, if you look hard enough, you may discover other Renaissance-style surprises, like the golden cherubs tucked behind the bathroom doors.
In our eyes, Bossi is the perfect execution of Carter’s vision, bringing an air of much-needed romance to downtown Auckland. Set to open on Friday the 2nd of December, we suggest you book a table now, as hungry Aucklanders (including the hundreds of residents in The Pacifica above) flock to this delectable new destination.
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