This is a restaurant that has recieved many accolades for its wine list and wonderful fine dining experience. My own personal experience here has only extended to dessert and coffee,but that experience alone left me very impressed with both the service and the decadent dessert that literally melted in my mouth. I sat in the outdoor dining area, and even though I was not there for the full dining experience, the wait staff were professional, attentive, and had a thorough knowledge of the menu and wine pairings- including for dessert. Based off that experience alone I will definitely come back for dinner some time soon. The menu looked great! read more

Cafe Di Stasio - Italian Near Me - St Kilda, VIC

Amazing veg food and chocolate mousse. Did not expect to find so good vegetarian food. Overall great experience read more

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A modern esque italian restaurant/bar, that remains as classy as it is progressive. Staff are polite and well dressed. Interior is dim lit, and the art surrounding the dining area is a nice touch. The food was well prepared, and authentic. read more

An Extremely underwhelming experience. This place is ment to be an institution of Italian food, however I walked away very disappointed. Meals took far to long to arrive and when they did they were a 1/4 of the size of the priced we paid and the spaghetti wasn't completely cooked. An Italian restaurant that can't cook spaghetti! I had to have my glass changed twice due to it being dirty and the lights were so dim I saw multiple people using the lights on their phones to read the menu. Makes sense that you're not allowed to take "foto" in this venue. I wouldn't want the public to know what was going on inside either. read more

Great little Italian place in St Kilda. Service was impeccable, wine list was very comprehensive. Decor was fantastic and they stayed open for us. Entrees of scallops for my companion - fantastic, I had the char grilled quail - superb. Mains; lasagna and oven roasted rack of pork. Lasagna was average, the pork was tender but the drizzled mustard sauce was, well bland. read more

Been to this place multiple times and not disappointed They have the regular menu plus specials Good sized entrees And mains a fair size Plus dessert you leaves v full Pasta is just great Wines all spot on Expensive but worth it Don't hesitate read more

Di Stasio is one of those restaurants to be adored in Fitzroy street so it was to my dismay that the service was below par on my last visit. Usually, it is supreme service so perhaps they had an off night which is a shame as I was showing it off to my lover. The golden hand greeted us and we were seated at the back of the low lit restaurant which perhaps had something to do with it, as it seemed we had been forgotten. I had to even go and ask for water! I think our waiter had finished his shift or something so I asked to be seated up the front where a more diligent waiter presided. It all turned around and we were treated to a spectacular meal. The food can never be faulted here, which is why it is respected so much. We shared the Carpaccio con Rucola, a raw beef with lemon dressing and roquette dish. I then ordered the fish of the day which was exquisite and lover boy ordered the Tagliata Di Manzo, eye fillet steak with balsamic and roasted tomato. In these flashy restaurants you have to order sides so we ordered a mixed leaf and the Insalata Di Piselli, a salad of peas and buffalo ricotta. It was perfect ordering and we were perfectly full. Besides the small glitch in service, DiStasio still manages to impress. read more

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For many Melburnians, Café Di Stasio is one of those Melbourne institutions you have literally grown up with. If you are a visitor to Melbourne, ask anyone and they will know it. For me, its been the venue of many a birthday / anniversary / business meeting / whatever-celebration over the decades and the perfect spot to settle in for a nice lunch. I visited today with a business colleague for one of those famous lunches, with much to discuss between us but with the anticipation of the great Di Stasio food and service as the backdrop. Boy, were we in for a rude awakening, rude being the operative word! Whilst the food was to the usual Di Stasio standard and almost flawless, what did flaw us was the unwarranted and unsolicited rudeness of the staff at the end of the meal. We had barely swallowed the last morsel of dessert (a very good vanilla tart with shavings of white and dark chocolate) before being issued with our unrequested bill and asked to kindly spend the remainder of our time in the restaurant bar as our table was "required for a larger group coming in". OK, fine, it was almost 2.00pm but no problem with that. I understand and accept that restaurants need to recycle tables and many have more than one sitting for each meal service. But it is what happened upon moving to the bar that sadly means I will not be returning to one of my favourite spots in Melbourne. We were literally ordered to leave the premises immediately, after we had declined an invitation to order more food and drinks, having only just finished a large two-course meal with wines and coffees. "Ummm....we're a teeny bit full after just finishing our big lunch," we advised, "so can you give us a few minutes to wrap up our meeting here and then we have to go anyway" was not able to be accommodated. The waiter (who claims he has been working for Ronnie for 19 years - really????), retorted with "This is not a public park bench. If you are not going to order something to eat or drink right now, I am asking you to leave immediately." The bar was not full, no customers waiting, no sign of urgency for our spot. After more terse, rude and aggressive comments, he then stood with the door open, glaring at us until we rose to our feet in disbelief and left. Someone clearly forgot to take his happy pills this morning...... We literally got thrown out of Café Di Stasio! Yes folks, all true! Ronnie - We have happily spent a lot of money at your restaurant over the years but there are just too many good places to go in Melbourne now. We don't have to put up with your unnecessarily and over-the-top rude staff completely ruining our experience. Too many Melburnians are complaining about this guy's rude, aggressive and security-guard style of customer service. read more

The greatest! Lunch is amazing here. Feels so decadent and so cool and yet this place has been around for ages. I don't know why they have a menu, everything is great. They should just say - do you want fish, pasta or red meat and then serve up from there. Make sure you leave room for the espresso martini!!!! read more

My hotel recommended this restaurant when I had travelled to Melbourne. Since it was a short walk, I just strolled down and was promptly seated - it was early. I later realised that I was lucky to get served right away since this soon filled with fellows with reservations. One of the pros for me was the plethora of vegetarian options on the menu.The staff was very pleasant. The maitre d informed me that they can make veggie versions of anything on the menu. Love it! I have dined at some excellent New York Italian restaurants but Di Stasio's remains the finest Italian food I have eaten. read more

Went with clients for lunch. Big disapointment. Rude and condescending wait staff constantly pushing bar drinks. Marginal Italian food at rather expensive price. read more

Wonderful meal here at their bar. Server from Rome started me off with a delicious Negroni cocktail. This was followed by a small serving of a pasta that featured shaved trout eggs. Salty and delicious. Turbot main was nice but not exceptional. Had their pea salad with it which was a nice complement to the turbot. The magic came at desert. A mascarpone tart with a side that came with some semi sweet soft ricotta mix on the side. Could have eaten three of those. Service was attentive and well informed. read more

Recently I had the pleasure of dining at Café Di Stasio as my learned friend and counsel resurfaced and made himself available for a dining experience. He owed me a proper dinner as the result of me picking up the tab when we recently visited PM24 (which I was not able to write about because I became too intoxicated and didn't clearly remember the wonderment provided in the last hour) and he suggested Café Di Stasio as we were meeting at The George Basement to catch up early in the evening. The restaurant was happy to take an ad-hoc booking on this Friday night and they were seemingly pleased to accommodate us at 9:30 PM. When I opened the front door, which has bronze handles in the shape of the owners hands, Ronnie Di Stasio, which are both welcoming and ominous at the same time, the sheer volume of noise from the restaurant nearly pushed me back onto Fitzroy Street. Once I released the cold bronze however the welcoming gaze from the front of house beckoned us in. Being both hungry and thirsty, we were not thwarted and were led through the vortex of clambering guests into the back corner. Above us was a large Bill Henson photograph called Untitled #125, according to my later browsing of the Roslyn Oxley 9 gallery online. You may recall (as I do as I lived in Sydney at the time) that in May 2008, during the opening night of Bill Henson's 2007-08 exhibition at the aforementioned gallery in Paddington, Sydney, the exhibition was cancelled after complaints were made to NSW Police regarding concerns about an email invitation from the Gallery to a "Private View" that depicted photographs of a nude 13-year old girl. Regardless, this photograph was the focal point of the dining room and certainly kick-started the conversation. The photograph was from his 2000-2003 exhibition and had nothing to do with the controversy that was caused when Bill Henson visited St Kilda Primary School in 2007 to pick out potential models for his work. Interesting trivia to say the least. Despite the loud buzz, the very interesting fit-out which included light beaming from faces from the wall and being approached by waiters in white jackets, I was amused if anything. The small design nuances were interesting to both search out and discuss, much like if you walk though the CBD and take the time to look up at the old architecture, you find curious things that you would usually not notice because you need to beware of trams and certain death. The super-efficient server in the white jacket was quick to take our drink orders and discuss the more enigmatic aspects to the menu. I opted for a simple yet perfectly made Negroni. I am so used to being put off by what potentially could be a wonderful apéritif because bar-staff tend to use excessive amounts of Campari, which overwhelms the gin and vermouth rosso. This was not the case here and I happily drank every last drop quickly and greedily. As it was nearing 10:00 PM we were advised that we should place our orders as the kitchen was going to close. Fair enough. Moscardini Affogati (baby octopus slow cooked in red wine and chillies) ($29) was my first dish and considering the menu, it took some time to make this choice as there were so many dishes that seemed appealing. The octopus was unlike any other octopus that I have ever had the pleasure of having. Soft yet tender with a texture completely unlike what you would expect, if you have enjoyed octopus before. With the red wine sauce and the hint of chilli, this made for a magnificent first course. My learned friend opted for a bottle of 2010 Grosset Gaia (blend of 85% cabernet savignon and 15% cabernet franc) from a single site of the Clare Valley's highest altitude vineyard. It probably wasn't the best match for the beautiful octopus but went well with the sauce, however this choice was not the fault of the house and instead my highly ambitious and omniscient (sic) learned friend. Considering the strengths of the wine, I opted for a main course of Spaghetti Salati (spaghetti with pork and beef ragout) ($36) and retired outside with my learned friend to discuss the meal, but also so he could enjoy a cigarette. It wasn't until he was nearly finished sucking back his third stick when the waiter appeared outside to advise us that our mains were on the table. I thought this was not only apt but professional. Why keep the dish under a hot light when it should be consumed as soon as it is plated up and presented. The spaghetti was just as amazing and beautiful as the octopus and this time the wine match worked well. My biggest regret is not attending Café Di Stasio for the fabled long lunch and it will be a destination the next time that I have business to discuss and deals to secure. An oasis located in a sea of detritus makes attending this restaurant (strangely called a café so you get the feeling that they are over-delivering on all sensory fronts) which is considered a "Melbourne institution" for 25 years and counting. read more

I'm from Sydney and every time I come to St Kilda, this is my number 1 cafe and restaurant to attend. Without a doubt, this is the classiest, most beautiful dining I have experienced in Victoria. Every time I'm here, I feel as if I'm actually dining in Italy. The food exceeds my very highest expectations, as do the deserts, and the drinks are fabulous. I feel like a celebrity when I dine here, and the staff definitely treat everyone as if they are. What is also a unique and interesting addition to this hot spot is the fact that Cafe Di Stasio have their own vineyard. I'm not much of a wine drinker, but every time the waiter tells me about different wines (they're so knowledgeable), they ask for my opinion and always choose the right one for me. If I lived in St Kilda, believe me, I'd be severely overweight right now. This review doesn't even express my full love for this cafe. Do yourself a favour local St Kildians, or visitors, get here, RIGHT NOW. read more

Cafe Di Stasio is an Italian fine dining experience, upon entering through the large black doors with golden hands as doorknobs you are greeted by a set of very professional staff and seated at lovely pristine white table. I was lucky enough to be dining at lunch time so was able to make use of the $35 lunch special. This included two courses as well as wine, very good value considering this is a fairly upmarket restaurant and usual prices reflect that.I ordered the Omelet D'aragosta which was crayfish cooked in bisque, it was amazing, creamy, light and elegant. For my main I ordered the Lamb, it literally melted in your mouth, it had obviously been slow cooked in a white wine sauce and deliciously seasoned with rosemary and garlic. Amazing! Cafe Di Stasio is also well known for their wine selection, having a vineyard in the Yarra Valley they have lots of their own wine available at the restaurant. I tried the Chardonnay and was very satisfied with my choice, I would definitely like to come back and extend my dining experience perhaps for dinner this time. read more

Cafe Di Stasio - Italian Near Me - St Kilda, VIC

After reading reviews on Yelp myself and two friends decided to try Di Stasio. I'm not sure what other reviewers dining preferences but this restaurant is just awful. If you're after tasteless Italian food presented in a pretentious 90s overblown fussy manner then this place won't disappoint. From the tragic gold hands on the door to the stuffy waiters to the pseudo nouvelle cuisine presentation it was all uniformly terrible. I asked the waiter how the Scampi came and he replied 'it comes as it comes'. What that means, I don't know. The only thing that was good was the bread. Italian food, and food presentation in general, has moved on from 1994. Italian food to me these days can best be described as the absolute best, simple, fresh, vibrant ingredients combined in simple and extraordinary ways - think Fratelli Fresh or Fratelli Paradiso in Sydney. Di Stasio is not that. This is a great candidate for Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. Avoid at all costs. read more

Delicious food! Excellent service. Linguine with crab was the best I've ever had.

Amazing staff... Atmosphere... Authentic cuisine.. Extensive wine list...,& a place to feel at 'home'... One of St Kilda's finest.

Relaxed atmosphere offering fine Italian cuisine and wine. Look forward to eating here when next in Melbourne.