Cafe Italia must be one of the most uncreative names for an Italian restaurant to assume, especially one that is tucked in a small lane connected to the little Italy of Melbourne, Lygon Street. Fortunately, it is also one that serves up very good authentic Italian cuisine in for pretty reasonable prices.
alfresco dining at Cafe Italia when weather permits
Incidentally, this is also one of Mell’s housemates, Jun Wei’s favorite Italian restaurant in Melbourne. The eatery is located on a rather small 1-way University Street (between Melbourne University and Carlton Garden) and only has a small 3′x3′ sign on the outside. Pretty easy to miss especially since the place sorta look like a green house from the outside during cooler months.
Together with Zehan (who also needs a bf, a good Muslim boy perhaps?), the four of us went there in the middle of April during my last trip to Melbourne.
spaghetti frutti di mare (seafood), fish special (barramundi)
The restaurant has three different area, conventional dining, private rooms, and court yard (which, as mentioned, converts to green house like area when it’s colder). Interior is tastefully decorated with a bar, wine racks, and plenty of plants. Very comfortable and yet not overly done.
The menu is not any different from most Italian restaurants, offering pasta, beef, lamb, fish, pizza, and of course, a variety of appetizers, desserts, and wine.
lamb chop, rigatoni ragu (pasta with eggplant)
I ordered the lamb special ($27.90)- a generous piece of char grilled lamb chop marinated with lemon and wine served on pea mash. The meat was tender, juicy, and the taste of the lemon and red wine marinate was just right. I was so glad I ordered it. The pea mash was interesting and I actually liked it better than mashed potato by quite a bit.
Mell had the pesce del giorno (fish special $28.90)) – a piece of barramundi (I think) fillet served with fire roasted peppers, brocolini, and lime saffron sauce. The seafood was fresh and sauce went well with the whole combination, no complains at all there.
Jun Wei, KY, Mell, Zehan
Zehan and Jun Wei had the rigatoni ragu (spaghetti with eggplant, $17.90) and spaghetti frutti di mar (seafood spaghetti $22.90) with both of them expressing approval for their dishes in terms of taste as well as presentation.
Comparing to the more student friendly (budget wise) places such as Cafe Notturno, Cafe Italia is 30-50% pricier, but if you look into the place, service, as well as food quality and taste factor, then it is a very worth while place to visit.
At the end, our bill came to just a bit less than $100 for the four of us (we only ordered water). Dollar to dollar, an excellent value don’t you think? Now I think I might need to go back there again for the next Melbourne trip.
Address:
Cafe Italia
56/66 University St,
Carlton Victoria 3053,
Australia
GPS: -37.799366,144.967926
Tel: +613 9347 0638
Website: cafeitalia.com.au
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- Il Dolce Freddo, the best Italian Gelati at Melbourne
- Cafenatics at QV, Melbourne
- Ying Thai 2, Southern Thai Food at Melbourne
- Hello from Melbourne version 2.0
By Mellissa on Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
Cafe Italia is the bomb diggity!
Slightly more pricey but worth every penny.
By Leo on Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
My plan is to go to Melbourne on my next oversea trip… so might need your opinion on where to eat soon. As u know, H1N1 is still rampaging out there and so, this will have to wait until next year (hopefully)
By KY on Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
Mellissa,
Agreed, HUNGER!
Leo,
I’m slowly compiling a food map of Melbourne, slowly.. slowly.
By Yatz on Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
wooo..i dun think we’ll get that size of lamb here in Malaysia..pfftt
By Cruxie Faye on Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
always interested to know what’s good along lygon street. I’m kinda at a loss on where to bring friends from overseas when they come for a visit.
By KY on Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
Yatz,
Well order 2 then haha
Cruxie Faye,
Just don’t bring them for “Malaysian” food then. Hehe
By JD on Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
Pasta looks delicious. But takan fly all the way to Melbourne to eat meh? Any suggestion here in KL, KY?
By May Zhee on Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
Eh are you TAN Kar Yeong or TEH Kar Yeong I think I just called you a TEH how come I always mistaken you for Teh one?!?!
By KY on Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
JD,
Just fly there only, tickets are cheap now. Hehe
May Zhee,
Teoh!
By Myhorng on Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
looks delicious.
By Huai Bin on Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
There is this place in Lygon (forgot the name) where they serve oysters and other seafood on a five-tiered serving contraption (much like the Triple Play dish in Chillis). Very premium prices though, went there once. Check it out next time you go to Melbourne.
By eiling on Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
Yeah i think it’s affordable. Hey the pics turned out really nice. i like the shot of the barramundi
By KY on Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
Myhorng,
Yes, very
Huai Bin,
Interesting, will see if time and budget permits
Eiling,
Thanks! Ya really affordable
By maRCus on Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
KY gor…!! i think i saw you on the escalator in LowYat yesterday! =D
you were heading up, yes? XD
By KY on Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
maRCus,
Why never say hi!
By aeroplane1234 on Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
presentation is gorgeous. dish also very clean.
By Adrian on Jul 16, 2009 | Reply
Dude, next time go Lygon Street be sure to eat at Restaurant Lazzat! It is a Malaysian restaurant. cheap & the lauk is nice! nothing over AUD 10. You cant miss it.
PS – How bad is your friend Zehan needing a lam pang yau?
By Cruxie Faye on Jul 17, 2009 | Reply
KY – Lol, I would probably bring them to eat Gelati in winter. It’s quite an experience to remember.
By Huai Bin on Jul 17, 2009 | Reply
Cruxie Faye: Gelati in winter is very awesome! I love doing it as well.
By KY on Jul 17, 2009 | Reply
aeroplane1234,
And delicious!
Adrian,
Ah, and why would I be at a Malaysian restaurant when I go all the way to Melbourne.. emmm. As for Zehan, please publish a link to your facebook/blog etc
Cruxie Faye & Huai Bin,
Gelati in winter is awesome, I totally agree!
By Adrian on Jul 17, 2009 | Reply
Aiya you ah… Just telling you la about a Malaysian restaurant since you were mentioning Lygon Street( rolls eyes)… besides, you did eat at Don Don Resto & that Vietnam place also! ahahhaa! kantoi!
PS – Dont have blog/facebook la… email add can?
By Cruxie Faye on Jul 17, 2009 | Reply
There is a pretty authentic malaysian/singaporean restaurant along elizabeth street though. And it’s not Rose Garden. It’s called Tang Shui (Sugar water). The rest of malaysian restaurants in chinatown melbourne are really not up to my liking.
By ryan on Jul 17, 2009 | Reply
Told ya!
Glad that you liked it.
http://kyspeaks.com/2009/04/14/ky-travels-the-city-of-melbourne-in-photos/#comment-111103
By KY on Jul 17, 2009 | Reply
Adrian,
Hahaha I know i know, chill. OK I shall pass your email to her.
Cruxie Faye,
ooo interesting, I guess lotsa Malaysian frequent there ya?
ryan,
Good job!
By Adrian on Jul 17, 2009 | Reply
Update me ok bro..
thank you.
By May Zhee on Jul 17, 2009 | Reply
Wtf ok so I am STILL wrong wtf wtf wtf
By KY on Jul 18, 2009 | Reply
Adrian,
Hahahah alright.
May Zhee,
LOL tragic!
By Adrian on Jul 19, 2009 | Reply
just a question bro.. can describe briefly about her? thx
By KY on Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
Adrian,
Her blog, her blog!