Walking in on a hot February evening, we were greeted with smiles and a cooler climate! Once seated the service was friendly & prompt. The food....where do I begin?
♡Stunning, delicious, scrumptious & divine.♡
Had I have known the Cannoli was going to be as amazing as it was I may have just ordered it for entree & main as well!!! ☆☆☆☆☆
Absolutely loved everything about this restaurant! The food was incredible, staff were really friendly and attentive. In the space of one meal, this became my favourite restaurant. Ill see you lovely staff again soon!
This is s place to share with others - or to sit with yourself and the most amazing food. My fav place
First visit yesterday...food was beautiful...service spot on. Will be back with the rest of the sicilian famiglia...grazie�
Joanne Sulastri Lombardo
+5
Barramundi, Meatballs , cauliflower were all amazing . Such unpretentious. tasty food.
Bar Ida is a restaurant without ego and lots of excellence.
Every time I've been to Bar Ida I have felt happy.
Everything about Bar Ida says to me brilliance, all details from the food ,decor and music ( music is important to me for a better experience, I was glad no Frank Sinatra here) is carefully crafted .
I can tell everyone loves what they do and their pride is on display ,I feel everyone wants to be there
The food was fantastic the service was great the decor is creative and the music kept me entertain wating for my friends
Loved it
Delicious food & great service by friendly staff! Will be going back �
Sapori di una casa ancestrale. Seriously good food, simple flavours beautifully prepared.
Authentic yet creative, we love eating here. Hands down, the best food we've eaten. Great service and genuine suggestions, this bar staff know their stuff.
Just awesome.
Every dish had a delightful turn of difference in the flavour to what I was expecting. Love it.
Lovely food and staff..great restaurant to celebrate my birthday!
This place used to be absolutely amazing. Food and drink still good, but hit and miss great/good. Cheeses lacked flavour and eggplant not as amazing as it used to be. Ragu pasta was great.
Lovely romantic atmosphere and brilliant authentic Italian food.
We had a great time at Bar Idda and thoroughly enjoyed our dishes and the atmosphere. Would recommend for a date, or for any one who feels like quality Italian with a little bit of refinement.
Would recommend 👌
Top spot, lovely staff, great food. Went the 'tasting menu' option expecting a little bit of this and little bit of that but was more like a banquet, the salumi, olives, pickles, pasta, Barra, lamb etc all excellent. Highly recommended by the Jazzman
Lovely spot with an authentic feel, the inside is very cute. Had the Maccaruni and it was ace. Will definitely come back to try the other offerings
Melbourne Lifestyle Blog
+5
I was so happy to discover Bar Idda. Once inside, you are no longer in Brunswick East, but at Nonna’s Sicilian homestay. The food was seriously delicious. And I was lucky to have my friend with me, who was just as eager to try everything vegetarian on the menu. Below is a review of all the vego dishes we tasted:
4.5
Lucky enough to score a couple of seats on a very busy Saturday night. Despite the hectic pace, wait staff were spot on - friendly, attentive and genuine.
The food - absolutely delicious. Started with a couple of glasses of very good wine accompanied by a plate of Olives, a plate of Giardinera, Arancino and really good crusty bread with Olive Oil. Both the Olives and the Giardinera were brilliant examples of simple ingredients superbly preserved.
More good wines by the glass with the mains to share - the Cotolette and the Pomodoro.
Fantastic Sicilian dishes that really are a great expression of Italian fare.
A group of my friends and I went to Bar Idda last night for a birthday dinner. Myself and one of my friends are vegan, and having reviewed the menu before arriving, were unsure as to what we could eat.
We informed our server for the evening of our dietary requirements, and they were extremely helpful in letting us know what was available to us on the menu.
We ended up going with the $55 set menu which was one of the best decisions I've ever made. My friend and I were taken care of so well by the chefs and servers, who gave us our own dishes, and let us know what we were able to eat when share plates were brought out. Not only was the food incredibly delicious, but we were all very full by the end of the evening.
I can't wait to come back! Thanks Bar Idda
I have been here numerous times, one of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne. Lovely authentic family feel and delicious food. Service is warm and friendly. Definetely recommend
Went to this little gem for my birthday last week and what a find it was! Traditional Italian style food, it took me back to my Nonna’s cooking that I remember from when I was a kid. The restaurant is small and has a family feel to it. The staff very accommodating and helpful. I shared the almond encrusted barramundi and the homemade pasta ragu both cooked perfectly and eggplant entree which was beautiful. Will definitely back and would encourage everyone to give it a try, you will not be disappointed!
One of my absolute favourite restaurants in Melbourne. It is not only in one of my favourite spots in the city (the Brunswick end of Lygon St) but it serves up delicious, rich, Sicilian food in a homely environment. I've been numerous times but on the last occasion I was incredibly impressed by the pastas and the swordfish. The dishes are perfect for sharing if you want to try a bit of everything. The swordfish was so light and perfectly cooked. We also LOVED the brussell sprouts and the eggplant sides. The menu changes regularly so I can't guarantee the above will be there, but rest assured what they do they do well.
Yes please more thank you kindly! What a ripper of a night for a group of friends. Go the carafe of house white or red and order for the table (not individual), as it comes out bit-by-bit so you get a delicious morsel of goodness with each new dish.
Bar Idda focus on creating tasty Sicilian food. The dishes we tasted included Salumi, roasted peppers and fried cauliflower. These were delicious. The standouts for us included the Capunata (sweet and sour eggplant, zucchini olives and Chickpea purée) and the Purpetti dolce meatballs.
For main we tried the barramundi fillets with almond flakes and salsa verde. Really enjoyed the texture of this dish.
Ristorante bedda. Friendly atmosphere great traditional food and some really good quality Sicilian alcohol. Amar Arancia Rossa and also the Sardo Mirto etc
Love it! Great little unpretentious place. Great tasty Italian food. Their gnocchi are great. Good wine. Friendly staff.
Overall a great experience. Have been back and will continue to visit.
Bar Idda is a wonderful restaurant, one of my favourites in Melbourne. Keep returning here and the food is fantastic and always fresh and interesting - completely different from the usual Italian restaurant staples. Highly recommend doing the tasting selection - its very well priced and the best way to sample the whole menu. Make sure to try the ricotta gnocchi, a flavour sensation!
Sensational!
We ate here on a Sunday night and had a really outstanding experience..the menu was very tempting and we wanted it all, we opted for the larger set menu $75pp which is not a cheap eat but we felt we got good value for money.. all courses were good with the crab gnocchi being an absolute must have. Barbecued fish and scotch fillet dishes were also great..service was attentive without being intrusive.. nice Italian wines and the restaurant is warm and welcoming..
Delicious delicious food is basically all there is that needs to be said.
Every dish was meet with a smile on the first mouthful especially the arancini which had an amazing saffron flavour and the pasta which absolutely was flawless.
The drinks were also delicious and cocktails reasonably priced.
The staff were clearly busy on a Friday night making them a little under the pump but they were generally friendly. The inside of the restaurant was also fairly loud but you couldn’t really hear people around you so you could very easily block that out.
Overall a great place for groups or a nice dinner out and I will definitely be returning to try plenty more off their seasonal menu.
EDIT: came back recently and it seemed less noisy and also tried the broad bean pasta which upped my rating to a definite 5 stars
This place is too expensive for the quality of food. Like other people’s reviews, the barramundi is just two fillets covered in almond flakes and some purée nothing else with the dish for the price, sides are all seperate. The fish was bland and the almond flakes made it too dry. Presentation of the food wasn’t good, literally just goat on a plate. The staff were friendly and service was good . Interior is ok, tables quite close together and I don’t understand why they have horrible plastic covering over the table cloth. Table cloths are meant for getting dirty. It looks cheap.
Bloody delicious! Beautiful barbecued Snapper fillets, Crabmeat gnochetti and even a lovely chicory salad. Try as many dishes as you can - great value too.
Can get very busy with the locals so book or be prepared to wait.
I have to say that this is one of my favourite places I have been to in Melbourne. I tried the saffron aranchini balls, along with the eggplant parmigiana. The saffron balls were delicious and I was pleasantly surprised to find some melted cheese in the middle! The eggplant dish was outstanding. I went from disliking eggplant to loving it, all because of this dish. This is a great place to go to for sharing courses because they are usually quite small.
The food here was great, I specifically loved the saffron arancini balls and the cheesy eggplant dish. I had several courses here and all where delicious!
Bustling, Sicilian inspired bar/Cafe delivers with tapas sized plates of yummy peasant style dishes cooked with passion. The idea here is to share; but you don’t have to! Ambience is 1960s Euro kitchen; nothing matches and it’s not supposed to either! Staff are just gorgeous and full of enthusiasm about the food and vino. It’s a high energy, fun place for groups and also couples. Book well in advance because it’s in one of Melbourne’s hot spots.
Classic Sicilian fare with loads of 'home style' flavours. Nicely priced Italian wines on list. Simplicity at its best. Great relaxed space. Staff very welcoming & accomodating. Loved it!
I’ve heard great things about the Pisci ‘mpanattu ($30), or the pan fried barramundi with almond flakes. Hidden under the nutty crumble of toasted almonds and breadcrumbs were sweet, delicate fillets of fish. The honest flavours were allowed to shine with a simple dollop of salsa verde made with fresh parsley and good olive oil, and of course, a generous squeeze of lemon.
Memorable! We had the best evening over the weekend. Everything from our welcome greeting to dessert was faultless.We decided to opt for the $55 Chef Selection, which was impressive. The dishes were incredibly tasty, sufficient in size and memorable. My favorites would be the pork and fennel sausages, barramundi, arancini balls on lemon cream...and the list goes on. Along with an amazing menu would have to be the staff who were friendly, welcoming, well knowledged and experienced. They are certainly an asset to the establishment.Thankyou for a memorable evening and we will certainly be back!
This small restaurant is worth a try for anyone who wants to experience genuine Sicilian food. Great home-made pasta and very hearty slow cooked meats at very reasonable prices. No wonder it's so popular with the locals . In contrast to the food the wine is relatively expensive.
The decor combines the rustic with a quite contemporary feel. White walls and herbs hanging from the ceiling. The staff are excellent very attentive and helpful. You really have to book in advance as even on a weeknight it can be packed. We ended up sitting at the bar for our meal but that was kind of fun
My partner and I have been here 6-7 times now and will be going back for more.
Where do I start, from the friendly greeting you get walking into this traditional little Italian place, your constantly respected by all the staff! (well done manager on your floor staff)
Food- amazing, literally unreal. What impresses me the most is the consistency of this place. Every time we have come it's been the same. First class kitchen team!
Wine- well priced, nice selection.
Overall guys keep up the great work! 👍🏼💥
What a gem ! Bar Idda is just fabulous the food is outstanding, we shared the arancini, the baked eggplant, barramundi fillets and the beans - also had to have dessert which was unbelievable- incredible food beautifully presented - the only thing that keeps Bar Idda from getting a 5 was service, the staff are friendly but perhaps a little too relaxed we had to ask to order, were not asked if we wanted more drinks and had to ask for dessert menu - a fabulous experience altogether
Amazing Sicilian cuisine, few vegetarian options but delicious and satisfying. They change menu seasonally and every time they surprise you! Cannoli must try and also best caponata in Melbourne!
Probably my favourite place to eat in Brunswick. It's like eating at my zia's house. Authentic italian food and the homemade sauce is the business
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My husband took me here for a birthday treat on a Sunday night. The place got quite busy a bit later. Staff were very friendly and accommodating with my pregnancy and allergy diet. We decided on the $55 chef's menu. First up was the antipasto with herbed olives, arancino, and salumi. Arancino was perfectly crispy on the outside. Next we had the duck with autumnal veggies and sweet and sour eggplant. What an interesting dish. The capunata is meant to be cold I think but probably would have tasted a bit better at room temperature. Other than that, the flavours were really interesting with the chickpea puree, pickled and marinated vegetables. Next we had the ricotta gnocchi. SO GOOD. The basil was fresh and mixed well with the eggplant sugo. Finally, we had the roasted pumpkin, sautéed wild greens, pickled pine mushrooms & salted ricotta, house salad of chicory, celery, sultana, dijon & lemon vinaigrette and the pork & fennel barbecue sausage with sweet & sour persimmon. We ended with the walnut cake dessert. All in all, with this menu, we got to try all the contorni. Really great value for what you get and we were stuffed! Enjoyed it a lot and look forward to coming back!!
My wife and I went Friday night on a recommendation and were highly impressed and will be back with friends in the near future. Could not fault the service and atmosphere. The waitress was knowledgeable and very friendly and this has a large bearing on the overall experience. The place was a little noisy but we like a happening place. The food was all excellent starting with the anchovy doughnuts and the special being the cauliflower. The mussel linguine for flavour was right up there with the best we have ever had and we have been to most of Melbourne's top restaurants. The duck was the only dish that we thought needed improvement as a little dry and lacking a little something as a result. Am sure Manu would also ask where was the sauce. The specials dessert the apple pie with that side marscapone was delicious. Thank you so much guys we will be back.
Guess I still can’t call myself a Melbournian girl until I get to know all the hidden gorgeous food spots . And… Bar Idda just proved that comment is right. I used to live in the city for a few months but honestly I never explored it enough. Its filled with all the little places which create surprises for your taste buds all the time, and you just can’t catch up!
Excellent dining experience. The food was delicious, especially the king prawns. Lovely rustic Italian feel. More food than you need to eat. Recommend sharing menu for best selection. Salumi was amazing but also caters well to vegetarians. Lovely wait staff. Special mention to Sicilian Spritzer. A good challenger to Rumi but not quite there.
Want to know the cheapest and quickest way to get to Sicily..... go to 132 Lygon St Brunswick East. Seriously i didn't expect that menu outside of a small local Trattoria In Messina.
Ordered, arancini - suburb, cavatelli alla Norma - one of those dishes you won't find outside of Sicily...or Nonnas house, bought a tear to my eye and lastly the almond crusted fish, preferred it the way it was a few weeks ago but still pretty good.
But there is something else about this place that I love, the hospitality, it's like your walking into there house and they will not let you leave unless your satisfied, that's what makes it authentic.
Defiantly be back, keep up the good work.
Randomly popped in Sat night while walking Lygon. Got the last table just near the door which was lucky as the place packed up half an hour later with reservations. Really cute restaurant/bar. Menu is sharing style. Got the Aranchino and layered Eggplant to start. Really tasty. Eggplant was seasoned perfectly. Then my bf and I both chose the beef ragu pasta...and bypassed the sharing part! Clearly homemade pasta. It was maybe a little bit too heavy and could have been cooked a couple more mins but it was lovely anyways. Sipped on a Margarita which went down a treat! Service was great and everyone was attentive. Don't expect pizza and pasta done 6 different ways, this place is going for more of a 'shared' Italian experience. And doing it well.
This is one of favorite places to eat when in Brunswick. Eating here reminds me of eating at my aunties place (shes an awesome cook). Of all the Italian places i have eaten, this place tastes like Italy. It all starts with a beautiful homemade sauce. The sauce here is amazing and so to freshly made pasta. I love how its all designed to share
Frilly, embroidered tablecloths, thick orange glassware, wine served in tumblers and Sicilian food makes Bar Idda a rare find among the ordinary Italian food offerings and akin to a special feast at nonnas. For mother’s day, Bar Idda offered a 5-course meal for $50 per person. To begin, we sampled some Antipasti which included plump, preserved green olives with herbs. The Arancino had a beautifully crisp, light shell which exposed a creamy fontina cheese risotta with mixed seasonal mushrooms. I could have devoured a million of these crunchy suckers. On the side, thin slices of hand cut cacciatore salami, sliced capocollo and Sicilian salami were cured to perfection and certainly salivation inducers.
This is our favourite spot for a dinner date. The interior is gorgeous and the atmosphere is created in all the detail. I fell in love with the quirky style of the table wear and the staff. The food is delish you can't help but over order, it's so worth the food baby!
I've been wanting to try this place for a while ... The service is good. Well informed staff. The beer and wine list is mainly from Italy but the staff will explain what is what . Had the ragu pasta and must say very very close to my mums ragu which is a good thing being also Sicilian ... Fish with almond flakes very nice .. The meat balls were good but not a fan of the cinnamon taste through it...will go back and try other dishes....... Well went back s second time to try other dishes. Had to have the twirl pasta again. Yum.. Calamari, very good. The pork and fennel sausage. One the bed I've had so far. Great balance of fennel and the sauce with white beans added to the BBQ'd sausage .. Delicious ..... Once again the service was good.
Hadn't been here for few years and gave it ago again a couple of weeks ago and the food was absolutely de-licous!
We had:
Baked layered eggpalnt, BBQ'd swordfish with Kipfers; soooo much flavour! Twirled pasta with Beef ragu and a side of anchovy and garlic braised greens - which very sooo tasty!
Took me right back to Sicily.
BlatheringAboutNothing
+5
I'd been before and was dying to go back, and we were not disappointed. Took my partner for his birthday, with my teenage daughter, who is a vegetarian. The restaurant has a nice feel to it, the service was impeccable, and every dish we ordered was absolutely brilliant. The only thing I'd note, although it's not a criticism, is that for vegetarians - ie, true vegetarians who don't eat fish - the options were fairly limited - I think there was only one choice apart from the side salads. Luckily my daughter is usually happy to order tapas style, share dishes, and loves salad, so she was fine. I will gladly be back again in future!
The three of us popped out to Bar Idda - a quaint eatery with very friendly staff!! We shared the ricotta mushroom gnocchi, fennel salad and chicken. Fennel salad was definitely not what we were expecting - fennel is baked and served cold with a variety of blood and orange oranges. We weren't overally impressed and struggled to finish the dish. The gnocchi was really good and the others enjoyed the chicken. We ordered dessert - the cannollo which was great!!
I love the food here, and you can eat and drink well for quite a reasonable price. We always have food left over! Staff are nice, and professional despite how busy it gets sometimes. Only thing: if they want to seat you upstairs next to a heater blowing hot dry air, take my advice and decline.
Lucky enough to get a table by walking in on a Saturday night. Cute place that makes you feel like you're in a little restaurant somewhere in Italy.
The waiter explained the menu and answered all questions we had. The food was delicious and tasted like it came out of nonna's kitchen. The baked eggplant was amazing.
The evening also finishes with a take home recipe card on payment. Nice little touch to end the evening
Frenchtoastandindiepop
+4
On a sunny, daylight savings evening we visited Bar Idda in Brunswick East. It’s a lovely little spot, a small and pleasant place to share a meal. Inside, the decor is simple and quite homely, right down to the plastic wrapped tables. Somewhere else they might have been tacky, here they invoked childhood memories of sticky hands and messes made on grandmothers table. The staff at Bar Idda were native Italian speakers, with an efficient and polite approach to service.
Been there twice in last fortnight. Both times great food, lovely waiters and big serves. Some wine prices a tad high but everything else is great.
We decided to give Bar Idda a look see. We didn't book but in a busy room they managed to find us a table in what was also a very snug eating area.
The waitress was very helpful re the menu. The menu says the plates are designed for sharing and that's exactly what we did. The menu didnt have huge variety for mains but the 3 or 4 options were enough.
We started with a ragu spiral pasta that was tasty and perfectly cooked I just wanted a bit more sauce on it.
For mains we had the slow cooked sweet and sour lamb shoulder that fell apart. It was a little on the oily side but the side of egg plant salad cut through the oil perfectly. We also had a couscous salad that topped off the meal nicely.
All the portions were good size and we had no room for dessert.
The food and service were good here. The room was small and loud only draw backs.
Love this place! Quality food that is always delicious and authentically Sicilian. Consistently great service. The restaurant fit out and decor makes me feel like I'm back with my grandparents. Absolutely worth a visit - maybe even the best Sicilian food in Melbourne!
Excellent food. Fresh, well cooked, flavoursome but without fanfare - exactly how traditional Italian, 'casalinga' food should be. Decor completes the 'mom and pop' trattoria feel. Attentive service and reasonable prices make Bar Idda a must!
Possibly the price/quality place in Melbourne, we go there as regularly as possible. I don't understand the 3.7, most "hyped" restaurants are average by comparison.
As others have said, Bar Idda is small and local. And it's Sicilian comfort food. But it's comfort food done with such panache, such contemporary flair
Green Gourmet Giraffe
+4.5
Upon entering, I was greeted with the lively bustle of the full restaurant. It didn't take me long to relax with the the friendly folk on my table and an attentive waiter. And then the seven courses started coming our way and I had a lovely time. So much delicious, fresh, interesting food. Bar Idda is an Italian restaurant in Lygon Street, East Brunswick that focuses on the fresh flavours of the Sicilian cuisine.
Pre-vegan, I was a big lover of Italian food and always happy to look for an excuse stuff myself on dishes from different regions of Italy. I still love Italian food, though it seems most of the vegan options for dining out are limited to pastas, pizzas and risottos– things I can make at home easily. Admittedly, I haven’t really researched properly and I’m sure there are some great options out there I just don’t know about! So when I heard that Bar Idda were holding a ‘Roots, Fruit and Wild Herbs Vegan Degustation’ evening as part of The Age Good Food Month, I was pretty hopeful this would fill the gap!
I have had several great experiences at this restaurant. Really attentive and friendly staff, delicious food. Unfortunately I would never book a large group dining experience here. With 20 people at $45 I couldn't help feeling a bit ripped off. 1 meatball each isn't good enough, particularly when making a lot of money on drinks. Won't be back for a while unfortunately.
This is really rustic and moorish food served in the pleasantly quiet side of Lygon Street. If you are looking for a traditional and homely Sicilian/Italian food - this is your fix. The service was polite and helpful, we were pleasantly guided through the wine list. Good selection of Italian wines by the glass/bottle. The food was fresh, seasonal and delicious. Don't go past the gnocchi, swordfish and the baked eggplant side (if available). I would absolutely pay another visit to sample more dishes and get into some desserts which I sadly had to skip - servings are large for two people, but perfect for four. Lovely.
There’s a warm comfort walking into a restaurant that looks like Nonna’s place. Sicilian restaurant Bar Idda sits in a cozy, corner front shop on the cool end of Lygon Street and is complete with charming, mismatched crockery and equally charming and mismatched tablecloths.
There’s something special about Bar Idda which keeps me coming back for more. Its rustic and lively atmosphere makes it the perfect spot to wind down after a hard day’s work. And it’s so authentic you could easily trick your mind into thinking you’re in Sicily. It’s no wonder this cosy trattoria is constantly packed to the rafters throughout the week.
One of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne, the food is always outstanding and the value for money is amazing. I love the fish with almond crust, it is so delicious. Highly recommended.
A really pleasant discovery. Hat tip to the folks at Chrismont Wines who hosted a lunch there. The set menu comprised of simple, beautiful dishes using good produce from the King Valley. Roasted goat and the desert were stand outs for me.
Great little place. Down to earth in both appearance and approach, it's a friendly restaurant with helpful staff and delicious food. One of my favourites.
Has a lovely romantic dinner here. The server was charming, chatty and knowledgeable when questioned about the menu. Dishes are designed to share. The homemade pasta with pesto was fantastic - light, delicious and perfect for a hot summer night. I wasn't sold on the fried cheese with figs as I found the cheese too tough (not soft and gooey like fries cheeses I've had in the past) but my boyfriend loved it. He also adored the fried chicken. The eggplant was amazing too. Definitely would recommend for a couple or larger group as the shared style makes it easy to cater for different tastes and dietary requirements. Great place!
Boy Meets Girl Meets Food
+4.5
Bar Idda is a classic Sicilian restaurant located on Lygon Street, the main Italian drag in Melbourne. The setting is no fuss and comfortable, with smiling service that immediately puts you at ease. The menu is designed for sharing, and the four of us visiting did just that. We started with marinated green olives, arancino and savoury zeppoles- out of these the zeppole were probably the table favourite. The little doughnuts were light and fluffy, and filled with a delicious mixture that was lightly flavored with anchovy. We then moved onto spaghetti with mussels and an almond-San Marzano pesto. The dish was simple yet effective, and the tomato-based pesto was certainly unique; we also found the pasta itself to be lovely, the way only housemade pasta can be. The next dish out was one of the strangest dishes I’ve ever experienced- fresh zucchini and chilled cucumber topped with a tomato sorbet; we were obviously intrigued by the menu description, and were not disappointed when the dish a
Authentic Sicilian Casual Dining. What I love about this suburban restaurant is the complete lack of pretension. The staff are genuinely warm and friendly, the food is authentic Sicilian home cooking at its best and the wine list is well researched and reasonably priced.
It's probably the best Sicilian restaurant in Melbourne, so if you are not familiar with the food of Sicily, this is the best place to start your education.
Bring back the bbq fish in red couscous broth! It's not a fancy restaurant, it's never gonna win awards for presentation, but it's one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been to, and certainly up there with the best in Melbourne.
I read somewhere they pitch themselves as Sicilian tapas and the sharing of dishes is certainly the mentality of this place. It's home cooked food and even has plastic table cloths just to reinforce that this is the food your nonna would serve. And as we all know, no one makes food like nonna!
PS. PLEASE bring back that bbq fish in the red cous cous broth - I still dream about it!
Yum! Yum! Yum! Just like Nonna's cooking. The eggplant with mozzarella starter is so delicious, easily one of the best eggplant dishes I've ever eaten. Also really loved the ragu pasta. Bar Idda was an absolute delight and the focus really is on simple and delicious food.
Coffeelovercollingwood
+4.5
Laid-back Rustic Perfection.. Never been disappointed here! We brought the family here while they were staying in Melbourne for Christmas and they loved it. Everything was great, the meatballs, the pasta, the fish, the salads. Great work guys!
Will be back!. Decided to venture in on a friday night, had to wait for a table but they have a nice cocktail bar next door so we didnt mind! the feel of the place is rustic italian. very friendly service. food was fantastic, and being vegeatarian I was able to find both entre and main which I liked and was not left hungry or dissapointed at all. will definitely be back!
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Great Italian food. Bar Idda is a quaint, noisy little Italian restaurant that serves really good food. The space is tiny and squishy, which really adds to the "share food" mentality of the menu which though not extensive, really packs a taste punch. The service is brisk and friendly - there was time for a conversation and smile even though the place was heaving.
Our starters were the Arancini and Zeppole (anchovy stuffed savoury dough balls) and both were excellent. For mains, there were a few standouts - the Maccaruni (beef and pork ragout, home made pasta) is to die for, the Spatchcock - cooked to perfection and served on a bed of cous cous (ask for bread to soak up the sauce!!) and probably the pick of the night was the broad bean and asparagus salad - MUST HAVE!!! We also had the gnocchi which, thought beautifully fried lacked a bit of sauce for our liking.
The desserts you can give a miss - I would definitely include another main or side instead. The wine list is relatively small but some of the bottles are a little pricey.
With food that good though, we will definitely be back AND you can book!!!! (which we would strongly recommend!)
Favorite restaurant in melbourne. Rustic Sicilian dishes best shared & enjoyed with a 1L carafe of Italian table wine. Attentive and caring service. Bustling on weekends. Be prepared to sit at the counter or high bar in the window if you haven't booked. 5 stars.
Delicious!. Great to go with a group so you can share lots of things. Food and service are both great. We had 2 vegetarians in our group and there were only a couple of options for them.
Amazing home made pasta. Very friendly staff. Will definitely be coming back soon!
Great quality produce in relaxed, rustic atmosphere. Had a really nice dinner at Bar Idda. The salami and eggplant entrees were both delicious and went very well with some olive oil and bread. The lamb cutlet and meatball mains were very tasty, and very well accompanied by a side of mixed peppers. Also the house red was very drinkable, although 1 litre proved to be a bit much for just the two of us. And finally, we were both pleasantly surprised by the bill, very economical.
Great little place that feels cosy and friendly. Food was great, rustic and very tasty. Not the traditional Lygon st spaghetti garden variety. Thought the service was efficient and friendly without being overbearing. Well priced. Spaghetti under 20 and sides around 10. Will def be back.
Great Place!. Tried Bar Idda for the first time last night and we loved it. Fantastic food and amazing service. We'll be going back for sure!
Favourite resteraunt ever!!!!!!. We went in to Bar Idda last night and the place never fails to impress us. It's always delicious with its ever changing seasonal menu. We had the pork and it had the most amazing, crispy crackling and the homemade pork and fennel sausages were to die for! The front of house staff are always super friendly and very attentive. Definitley give this place a try!
Loved the experience here! Was able to sit upstairs which felt like a little private dining room - more intimate. Highlight dish was the freshly made pasta with crab - yum! Best pasta I've had in a long while and the service and staff were really great too. Look forward to coming back for more!
The plc buzzes with graat atmosphere and the menu that has a good combo of Sicilian vibe with some nice twist!
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When you enter this cosy restaurant you feel like you're stepping into a Sicilian restaurant. It has this authentic feel to it that is impressively matched by the exquisite traditional food. The menu is designed between two or larger groups with shared plates, and there's a large range of dishes to choose from. Seafood, beef, chicken and vegetarian offers a delectable platter to pick and choose amongst you.
While the food was absolutely divine, the service didn't quite hit the mark. I arrived earlier than my group and hadn't been there before, I was pointed to my table (rather than seated) and was handed the menu - without any explanation. This made it difficult as most of the menu was in Italian or had ingredients I needed to Google. This was disappointing, it felt like just because I was alone they weren't going to bother until everyone was there. Also we had to help ourselves to our own cutlery and continue to ask for water to be refilled. Nothing too excessive, but the hospitality was a letdown and didn't match the excellent authentic feel and food.
Overall a recommended restaurant for great food!
I grew up eating the most incredible Italian food (all thanks to my mum and Nonna), so I rarely find myself wanting to go to an Italian restaurant. I mean, why pay for it? Well Bar Idda has convinced me otherwise.
We had a few plates but I only took photos of a couple because a cleaned my plate to quickly. It was so delicious. The asparagi and house made capacollo are an absolute must, closely followed by the purpetti.
Do yourself a favour and get the Connolly for desert. Delicious.
Sorry Mum and Nonna, I still love your cooking but I can't wait to go back here!
Bar Idda is that local neighbourhood restaurant that you've walked past dozens of times and wondered if you should pay a visit. When you eventually get around to dining there you realise you should have done it much sooner. Everything about the experience at Bar Idda is wonderful. The staff are well trained, very friendly and make you feel welcome which is complimented by the mouth watering Italian food that you'll be raving about to your friends. The Mulinciani (eggplant dish) is an absolute must for entrees and the meatballs are equally delicious. Everything on the menu sounds incredible and I'll be back to try them all. Next time you're walking past and wondering if you should give it a try, do yourself a favour and make a booking.
Consistently some of the tastiest and most authentic Italian food in Melbourne. The pasta dishes never miss, so fresh and full of flavour, while elsewhere, the hits are plenty: lamb shoulder, polpette and roasted eggplant that will make you melt. Sharp friendly service that always knows what it's doing.
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