When it comes to Italian fare, Australia’s second city is nothing short of first-rate
With more residents of Italian descent than any other city in the southern hemisphere, Melbourne is one of the best places in the world to get your fix of cucina italiana. Here are four restaurants where a memorable meal – and a taste of la dolce vita – is guaranteed.
Grossi Florentino, MelbourneGrossi Florentino
One of Melbourne’s original wine bars, Florentino has been serving home-style Italian cuisine for more than a century. Chef Guy Grossi took it over in 1999, careful to maintain the trio of dining concepts that the establishment had become known for: a romantic second-floor dining room, a casual trattoria, and the elegant Cellar Bar. Charming white-jacketed waiters weave through the rooms delivering platters of seasonal southern Italian cuisine, from a simple bowl of minestrone to handmade tagliarini with sea urchin.
80 Bourke St., Melbourne; 61-3/9662-1811.
Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons, MelbourneGiuseppe Arnaldo & Sons
Maurice Terzini may be best known for his glamorous Icebergs Dining Room in Sydney, but he began his restaurant career in Melbourne with a clutch of sexy Italian haunts. Having spoiled Sydneysiders with his innovative cuisine, Terzini recently returned to his hometown to open Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons, bringing with him Iceberg’s exclusive chef, Robert Marchetti. Set on the banks of the Yarra River, the charcoal-hued restaurant features ornate majolica tiles and an aquarium-like salumi cabinet, while menu highlights include crumbed veal cutlets, free-range pork sausages, and a salad of wild chicory, dandelion, and Asiago cheese.
Crown Casino Complex, Southbank; 61-3/9694-7400.
Da Noi, MelbourneDa Noi
There’s no menu at Pietro Porcu’s homey restaurant. Instead, expect whatever the Sicilian-born chef happens to be cooking up that day. Using seasonal produce plucked from the Porcu family farm, meals feature the likes of suckling pig, tender roasted barramundi, and fregola – a grain similar to couscous, native to Sardinia. The wine list is exclusively Italian, highlighted by number of rare Sicilian Pinot Biancos and Moscatos.
95 Toorak Rd., South Yarra; 61-3/9866-5975.
Café Di Stasio, MelbourneCafé Di Stasio
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Café Di Stasio is busier than ever. A stone’s throw from St. Kilda Beach, the restaurant’s honey-hued walls showcase a selection of contemporary artworks from the personal collection of veteran restaurateur Ronnie di Stasio. And the food, largely inspired by di Stasio’s Neapolitan heritage, is just as engaging as the décor, with offerings ranging from delicate crayfish-and-fennel lasagna to hearty, rib-sticking mains like rabbit stuffed with pancetta and prosciutto – best washed down with a glass of wine from the owner’s Yarra Valley vineyard.
31 Fitzroy St., St. Kilda; 61-3/9525-3999.
