Brilliant little place. And I mean little, it seats maybe 16 inside. Beautifully decorated. Food…read morewas top notch!! I think it is to do with the ingredients. Small menu too which meant the attention to those dishes need to be spot on and it was for the 5 dishes we had! Try it and won't regret it!!

They say good things come in small packages, and Cucinetta is a prime example. This place is a…read morelittle hole in the wall, but the food is amazing- the best Italian I have had in Melbourne. It was recommended to me by a South Yarra local and I cannot be more grateful- thanks Wilba!! The menu is also small, but all the options all sounded so delicious. We ordered the roast beef (a standout meal) and also the gnocchi. The waiter was super friendly and suggested we order the broccolini as a side- it is a must try!!! I can't wait to go back and sit there enjoying a delicious meal watching the winter rain and world go by outside. Call ahead to make sure you get a table.

This is a next door quaint Italian joint. Very friendly hosts and amazing fresh food always!…read more Love hoping in to dine or even ordering in.

Fantastic customer service! A+++++++++++++++++++…read more Great Italian food cooked by the real deal. Love it.

Great home style food. Very good service. Love it here. Food is soooo good. Service is super…read moreefficient. I would eat there everyday if I could.

It never ceases to impress, amazing steaks, oysters, Italian dishes and deserts! I've been a…read moreregular for 28 years and never has it disappointed the family vibe the service and the quality feed is unbeatable! BYO a bottle shop opposite say no more! A must vIsit!

The Experience We visited for a pre-theatre meal and it was…read moreeasily the highlight of our evening. The atmosphere at Di Stasio Città is electric--it feels like stepping into a sleek, brutalist art gallery where the energy is high and the service is impeccably sharp. It's the kind of place that feels "special" the moment you walk through the door. The Food We decided to share three dishes, and it was the perfect way to experience the menu. Each plate was absolutely beautiful, striking that rare balance between sophisticated presentation and soulful, authentic Italian flavor. You can tell they source the finest ingredients; everything tasted vibrant and intentional. The Verdict If you're looking for a refined yet buzzy spot before a show in the Melbourne CBD, this is it. They managed the timing perfectly, ensuring we weren't rushed but still made it to our seats with plenty of time to spare.

Quality of Food and Service is best in class…read more This Spring Street Gem just keeps giving. A must for a small or large celebration.

Caffe E Cucina has to be one of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne…read more I've been frequenting this old faithful when I visit Melbourne since 1996 when I was recommended trying it after a weekend away for a friend's wedding. Caffe E Cucina has stood the test of time, having changed hands during the 20years I've been going there, but the atmosphere is still wonderful, as is the food. Whether it be a visit for a nice lazy lunch with friends or a romantic dinner this restaurant ticks all the boxes. I've been to Melbourne many times on work trips on my own, & feel quite comfortable sitting at the bar with a plate of calamari, & a glass of Pinot Grigio. It might not fall into the category of cheap & cheerful, but it's consistently great. The atmosphere of the restaurant could have you thinking you've ducked into a great little place on the streets of Venice or Rome. It's all things Italian. There's options for seating, upstairs has a privacy to it, there's also little juliet balcony spot for two upstairs, if you're trying to impress someone special. Street side seating on Chapel St for those wanting to enjoy the outdoor atmosphere of Melbourne, or there's inside on the main floor. My favourite place to sit is inside downstairs, where it all happens & you see the coming & going, & can see the staff making drinks & coffee's behind the bar exchanging friendly banter Italian style. ;-) Start with a glass of prosecco & get in the mood, transport yourself to Italy for a few hours.. Specials are written on the chalk board on the wall, as well as old favourites that are hard to pass by. My favourite of course would have to be the calamari. Caffe E Cucina has the reputation of having "the best" calamari & I have to admit I crave it & when I finally have it, I savour every last mouthful. Light, soft, tasty.... nothing chewy about it. It's how all calamari should be in my eyes. They know what they're doing. It can be entre size, but I feel like it's never enough, so my recommendation would be to have a main plate of the calamari to serve amongst two as a starter. I love the rocket salad on the side to share as well, light & delicious, whether on the side when having pasta or the calamari you can't go wrong ordering this. The pasta's are great, & consistent, the flavours are all balanced just right, not too heavy, & the sauces just coat the beautifully cooked pasta just right, & will leave you wanting more. I've been fortunate enough to experience risotto at it's best here too. Having been tried a few different specials over my times here, one was a Granny smith apple one that I can't even begin to describe & alway hope to see it on the menu again. I had a beetroot & goats cheese risotto recently that was delicious, silky & full of flavour. There are also many great mains, but honestly my favourite meal here is some calamari, a side of rocket salad, & a bowl of pasta, a glass or two of wine.. followed by great coffee & perhaps share a desert to finish off. The deserts & coffee are great. Tiramisu is of course on the menu & great. It's a little on the spendy side, but I enjoy it, so find it worthwhile. After all, a couple of hours in the heart of Italy through the doors at 581 Chapel St is always something I look forward to when in Melbourne.

Probably one of my all time sentimental favourites - I feel like Caffe E Cucina could be on some…read morelittle back street of Paris or Rome. Maybe just behind Piazza Navona? But filled only with locals, no tourists, hehe. It is JUST LIKE the classic little restaurants you would find in those archetypal European cities that serve you all your favourites perfectly executed. The decor is lots of brass and wood with an art deco feel; handsome Italian waiters scurrying about to tend to your requests. It's very small and cosy and so authentically European and chic. Not trendy. Go somewhere else for trendy. This isn't it. Think upscale and traditional. I had the Spaghetti with Vongole... it hit the spot. Then the affogato for dessert. Flawless. Another to add to add to my list of Melbourne favourites. Cannot imagine returning and not having a meal here. I would eat here all the time if this was in Sydney, especially when I was yearning for a little slice of Paris and Rome. *sighs wistfully*...

I seriously love this place. You can't beat freshly made…read morepasta with hearty and well flavoured sauces. Plus they are generous servings and less than 15 dollars a bowl. The best sauce is the smoked salmon, capers, lemon infused olive oil and dash of cream. So so so good. Light but still full of flavour! The black truffle and salami is also yummy. Their garlic bread is also fantastic. It is $7 for a ciabatta filled with homemade garlic butter. It is crunchy on the outside and melty on the inside. Possibly my fave garlic bread ever. I'm looking forward to visiting again and again!

Full marks. Just what we were looking for!! A hole in the wall, authentic Italian eatery!! The…read moreowner (I think he's the owner) cooks and serves and charmingly speaks broken English. Serving a small selection of wine and beer (perfect!), hand crafted homemade pasta daily and preparing DELICIOUS sauces with a perfectly designed system to make-to-order per customer taste. We will make this a regular fortnightly Sunday hand out. Loving it!!

We were looking for a restaurant that was less touristy than many of the others along the laneways,…read moreand we came upon Tipo 00 so we made a reservation. We're glad we did! Here's what we noticed: - It was difficult to get a reservation at prime dinner hour, so we opted for a 3:30 PM late lunch/early dinner which worked out perfectly for our schedule. - The place overall has a great vibe, good music, and it is pretty small. - There were some really interesting drinks and good wines to choose from...we went with wine since we had other plans later that evening. - We decided to start with the salad with pear and honey, and then my wife and I split both the black squid ink pasta, and the special pasta that had Moreton Bay Bugs. The salad was incredible perfectly dressed... Having it first gave us away as Americans for sure, but it was perfect. The squid ink pasta was every bit as good as everyone said in reviews, and so was the special pasta. - Service was great, not overbearing. They even brought us some extra bread so we could sop up the sauce from our pasta. Bottom line: There are so many great restaurants in Melbourne and Tipo 00 is right up there and should be on your "to try list".

Sat at the bar and enjoyed wine, complementary focaccia, an appetizer of fried zucchini flowers,…read morethe tortellini for our entree then their house brownie tiramisu for dessert. Delicious meal from start to finish, excellent service and one of the best Italian meals we've had. Highly recommend.

I went to Rossini's because I've been before and it was good (not great, just good). The one thing…read moreI especially love about this place, is that they'll basically let you create your own pasta dish. They're accommodating for sure when it comes to alterations and substitutions. Anyhoo ... Though we'd made a reservation a couple of days ahead, we were still "shoved" into the back room, where there was so much noise (not their fault for all the loud kids running around and screaming, but the acoustics in here are really bad), and no atmosphere. The staff barely cracked a smile, and seemed as if they wished to be anywhere else but here. Having said that, after ordering, the food came out promptly, and as requested. I ordered the Caprese Salad, which was nice, but I've definitely tasted better elsewhere. It lacked the basil taste I've come to love. Presentation was great, and the mozzarella was good, but the overall flavour was far more bland than I'm used to. Price was reasonable for size of the portion. For my main, I ordered a gnocchi with salmon and avocado. I've ordered it before and was really craving it. It was horrible. Filled with things I didn't order (like onion and other greens), and lacking a decent sauce. It was more oil than cream sauce and it literally made me feel ill. We didn't stay for dessert, so we paid the overpriced bill, and were met at the counter with an apathetic staff member who looked like she'd just tasted my main dish and disliked it as much as I did. With so many other good Italian restaurants in Melbourne, I do not see the need to rush back here again. I prefer to go somewhere with a warmer atmosphere (and better parking, too).

The other yelpers are right, it's the same menu for the last 20 years. Zero innovation and nothing…read moresuperb. The back is family friendly (because it's loud as hell) and they have BYO so a good place to get loud and rowdy. Prices a little on the high side. Food is solid but nothing is amazing. I tried 6 different things and nothing blew my skirt up. Service, contrary to other reviews was excellent but we are regulars. Place is always busy.

Solid Italian food with a great atmosphere. You feel like you are eating in an old-school Italian…read moreplace. I had the gnocchi and it was very good. We had an appitizer combo plate that was also very good.

A couple of friends have been talking this place up for a few years now and I finally got the…read morechance to visit. Often I find if something is given a big review it can be built up too much & you come away feeling unfulfilled. But in this case, their comments were definitely justified! The food was beautifully cooked and full of flavours that worked well together. The tiramisu was delicious and my friend says the pannacotta is the best she's ever had. The menu was quite extensive. The service was friendly and very helpful. The staff know what they're doing, were always nearby if we needed anything but didn't float around too closely! They knew the menu and their wines very well. A lovely genuine Italian restaurant with a great, cosy, friendly vibe! All in all, worthy of the cost.