We had the pleasure of an Il Cantuccio experience with great friends this evening, and what an experience it was!
We had a table outside, and some exposure to a few revheads roaring past, but the true experience was the great service and sensational food!!!
My wife and I only travel to Melbourne couple of times a year, and we always have a couple of favorite restaurants to visit, and Il Cantuccio will definitely be on “the list” for our future visits!
Thank you so much Il Cantuccio!
Both spaghetti was so good and flavourful! The lamb cutlet was abit small but super delicious !
I've been going to this place for many years. The people that run it are always very friendly and warm. It is what I would call authentic Italian, with great pasta, veal, steaks, etc. Great entrees, garlic bread, etc. Terrific with the classic Italian desserts like tiramisu and panna cotta. Great for birthdays and other special occasions. The meatballs are a must - always a hit. You can have them with bread, or in a pasta dish. Their other pasta varies a little. Sometimes a little below the mark, sometimes sensational, usually darned good. Everything else is always great. I was most recently there June 2019 and it was great. I am giving 5 stars on account of the warm, friendly service, great food and good value for money.
A nice and cosy restaurant, perfect for a cold winters night. Service was friendly, welcoming and attentive. Food was flavoursome and generous for the price. One of the best Seafood Marinara pasta’s I’ve had...even better than the one I had in Rome. Looking forward to returning for dinner again soon, would definitely recommend!
This is one of my favourite place in Melbourne . I have been keep coming back for 6-7 years . My favourite dishes include seafood polenta , pumpkin ravioli , lot pastas , steak is good too . Very good value wine list . Cosy and relaxing . High recommended! Reserve a table ahead.
Salmon is recommended！One of the best i have tasted. （The best i have tried is a Japanese restaurant in Canberra）the veal is fresh and tender. And i haven't tried similar ones before so it is a fresh experience. Pasta is creamy with generous and handsome shrimps. Service is gentle and warm.
Pros:
- real italian style food. You can tell the food has not been rushed and is packed full of flavour.
- my partner had the pasta marinara which was super beautiful - packed with plenty of fresh seafood
- my lamb rack was cooked to perfection, the vegetables were perfect and were a refreshing take on “side potatoes and vegetables”. Tasted exactly like my Nonna’s roast vegetables!
- restaurant itself - super cosy and authentic set up
Cons:
- When approaching the restaurant and requesting a table, the waitress had her back to us the whole time and was quite abrupt. Service improved once we were inside
- portion size of the lamb rack... for $39, I definitely expected more (this was probably because I was enjoying it to much though!
A must for Italian food lovers! It became our favourite restaurant to dine out, a very friendly service and food that never disappoints. Thank you!
Laigon Street has many great restaurants but Il Cantuccio is an Italian restaurant with powerful flavours and very big portions with also very friendly hospitality, with a unique dish “squid ink spaghetti” with the name I was concerned at first but it completely proved me wrong so the only improvement I could state is maybe the space because it is located in a quite tight space but despite that I highly suggest this restaurant for people looking for unique flavours and big dishes.
Friendly attentive staff and delicious food to match. We ordered the Gorgonzola Gnocchi and the Spicy Meatballs and both tasted amazing! The atmosphere is warm and we will have no problems returning for another meal.
I have been to Il Cantuccio twice already and I just love it! Its really a true Italian experience. I have been in Italy many times and I can say Il Cantuccio just brings up those memories. Pasta is just delicious and I have no words to describe the Tiramisu...just amazing. Service is quick and very friendly, always aware.
I definitely recommend Il Cantuccio if you are around Melbourne!
Perfect ambious, great food and good service. Interior of the restaurant gives you Italian village kind feeling and it is perfect for group dinner as well as romantic date. Im definitely coming back.
The interior is a step up from the other Lygon restaurants and is very cosy and rustic. The staff are all lovely and very accommodating. Garlic bread was great and I had the rigatoni al diavolo which was very good with the chilli packing a punch! Tried a bit of the gnocchi which melted in the mouth and was absolutely divine, although the squid ink pasta didn't quite have the wow factor I was expecting. Bistecca was soft and very nice. Tiramisu to finish off the dinner was excellent! A great place for Italian and definitely one of the better ones on Lygon.
What can I say? Very good flavoursome Italian food, and a very friendly boss who was gracious about my change in booking. I loved all the pastas we ordered especially the squid ink seafood pasta. I brought a friend over from Singapore and she was especially impressed with the veal - perfectly cooked, tender and juicy!
The best pasta on Lygon Street by a mile. Sensational noodles and the sauces are superb. Cozy little place with great value. Good choice for small groups.
Really loved this place. Authentic food and beautiful service. My new favorite Italian. Suggest the carbonara, meatballs and calamari! Bonus it is BYO too 🍷
I organised a group of 14 school friends for dinner on Saturday night and every one was impressed. The food was excellent, from the white bait entre to the fabulous pastas just like my mother would cook. The highlight was the Rigatoni Diabolo and the Marinara. The tiramisu was a hit with everyone. great job to Mario and his staff, we will be back, Bravo
One of the best Italian restaurants Melbourne has to offer. Food was exceptional (mussles, garlic break, veal gamberi, spaghetti marinara), service could not fault. The hostess was overly accommodating, always ensuring we were well looked after. Will definitely be returning again soon!
Great food, attentive service and very flexible with the menu! Highly recommended - one of the best on Lygon St. spaghetti and meatballs a highlight.
Lovely atmosphere both inside & outside and such friendly staff! Every time I've ate here after watching a movie from Cinema Nova with some friends, we've always left very happy and satisfied :)
One of the staff recommended the squid ink linguine to me, the first time I entered and it was fantastic!
I've recommended this place to my friends and they agreed that the food was delicious as well :)
Will definitely come back again soon!
Good quality authentic Italian cooking in a rustic and cosy setting. Great friendly service and very reasonable prices. There was a good variety of wines to choose from and some of the best bottle prices going around. We tried the pasta and we're pleased with the meals. With so many tasty dishes to try on the menu we will definitely be back for more. Bon appetite.
Great food, great servings :) this is our favourite place on Lygon!! This place doesn't have pizza on the menu, which means that they focus on serving you wonderful pastas and mains. Been there many times and wouldn't hesitate going again.
Very impressed , great family run Italian restaurant in the heart of Lygon Street. Good range of Chefs specials and favourites , and they will customise anything on the menu. Try the dessert menu to finish ...if you have any room left !! Worth a visit!!
What a little gem of a place! Tucked away behind beautiful bluestone walls, this restaurant is one of the very few authentic Italian restaurants left on Lygon street. Came here for a cosy date night with the man on a Thursday night (reservation recommended). Loved that it is a small place, makes for easy conversation and attentive service. We shared the calamari which was average. He then had the Salmon special and I got the pumpkin ravioli filled with ricotta. Was delicious, fresh and filling! With 2 alcoholic drinks, bill came to $84. Will definitely be back and definitely recommend to friends if they are after a good feed.
My family and I regularly visit il Cantuccio and it is the best Italian restaurant on lygon street. The staff are fantastic and the food is to die for. We are from the outer suburbs of Melbourne and will specially make the trip into the city to eat here.
To anyone consider to dining here, please do, you won't regret it.
My mouth is watering just thinking about the food.
I have been eating here with my family for over 20 years and the food and service has always been consistently fantastic. The seafood is fresh, the pasta is cooked perfectly and the desserts never fail to disappoint. The staff are fantastic and exceptionally friendly and attentive. Highly recommended!
This is easily the best Italian restaraunt I've ever been too. Pasta is cooked perfectly, not too heavy, and I am happy every time I leave. The venue is tucked away, the food is amazing every time. Service is great too. Highly recommended if you're feeling like a big bowl of home cooked pasta! Chicken and avocado fettuccine is my favourite there.
Booked a dinner for 4 not knowing anything about this place and just going on the reviews here. When we first walked in we were hesitant but that soon changed!
The head waitress was the most welcoming waitress (sorry I didn't have a chance to catch your name) we've ever had and we all felt like we were being looked after by a caring Italian mother!
The pasta seafood was fresh and delicious and the baked chicken was cooked to perfection! We had an event to attend after and the staff were constantly checking the time and making sure nothing in the kitchen would delay us. Would definitely return, overall a fantastic experience :)
We had Meatballs Calabrese and Rigatoni El Diavolo. Both were well presented and delicious. Service was really good, couldn't fault it. The restaurant was full and busy but we we still felt as if we were in an intimate setting as we were in the very back. We had a booking but arrived late and the staff were very accommodating, no fuss. Highly recommended.
This place has been a favourite of my families for a few years. The service is always amazing and the food is always delicious. Such a cosy friendly environment.
A gem on Lygon Street. Great atmosphere, love the rustic decor. It was a busy Friday evening when we went for dinner but the service was very attentive. The food tasted amazing, from the garlic bread, the mussels and the tortellini carbonara. All those Italian flavours exploding in your mouth makes a fantastic dining experience.
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Fantastic restaurant. Have been here a few times and the food has always been on a high quality, fresh, hot and reasonably priced.
Why this restaurant is getting a 5 this particular time is the staff, they are absolutely fantastic!
We were recently there for my brothers birthday and included in our party was my 1 year old nephew, firstly the lovely lady waiting on us asked if we'd like any special meal for him, she'd happily go tell the chef to make a small meal and have it brought out almost instantly (at no cost) for my nephew.
When he was getting restless and my sister in law was considering taking him home and skipping her meal the fantastic staff asked if they could help keep him entertained while we dined and they carried him around the restaurant entertaining him while we were able to all enjoy our meals. Even when the wonderful lady (who's name I forget but I believe she is the owner) was called away another waiter eagerly took over babysitting, showing my nephew around.
We had such a fantastic night and will be back many times in the future!
Lovely little family restaurant - lovely attentive staff and flavorsome food.
Definitely recommended if you're looking for somewhere to eat on Lygon.
The also have a pretty sweet "free parking" deal :)
This is my go to place for the best Italian on Lygon. Popular with the locals. Fresh pasta and excellent gelato for dessert. Authentic Italian in a casual but very nice looking restaurant.
What a gem! I avoid Lygon like the plague as I have always had very basic, low grade food there, but this place is charming. The staff are incredibly lovely and the food is delicious and very reasonable.
They also cater for coeliacs, and the crew know their menu well, so I was in safe hands.
Was even given an extra fried polenta slice as I was avoiding the bread. So, so lovely - the peeps here.
Hotchillisauce has bounced back with a great pasta from this venue. Gnocchi was delicious, very flavoursome whilst the matriciana sauce blew my socks off. Great ambience and service was also excellent. Can't say a bad word about this place.
Love love love this place. This is a cute little family-owned Italian restaurant. The food has been great every time we've been here. Best cafe at Lygon Street.
This place is absolutely amazing. The food is delicious and most importantly, the two times I have been there all the staff have been super friendly and attentive. I don't often write reviews but I promised myself if the food and service was as good during my second visit I would, and so I have!
This is my partners all time favorite place to eat and she never gets anything other then the chefa lamb shanks special and it is absolutely to die for. Meat falls off the bone and the flavour is just magnificent.
A rare cosy and homely spot in the heart of lygon street. Can't go past the squid ink linguini, bistecca and tiramisu - Seriously delish! Staff are always friendly and welcoming
Love this little Italian restaurant. The owners (I think) treat you as their special guest. The food is so tasty and so much choice and better still no pizza! We had a lady at our table faint and their help and support was outstanding. Thank you
We had dinner there with some friends. We chose to sit outside as it was a nice night and there were plenty of heaters to keep us warm. The staff were friendly and the service was good. The food was amazing, I had the tortollini with bacon and mushrooms. My husband had the prawn fettuccine. He said that he had trouble finding the pasta because there were so many prawns. We would definately go back next time we are in Melbourne.
Amaze. Food an staff were excellent
Nice home style restaurant. Had the fettuccine della casa, was nice but nothing to rave about. Desserts were good too. Service was a bit slow but friendly.
Had V's day dinner with hubby and loved every moment. Service was impeccable, food divine & ambience wonderful. Highly recommend the home made gnocchi, the meatballs with mash and the veal with fontina cheese. Every mouthful was heaven.
Excellent service, amazing food. Staff accommodating above and beyond, allowing us a taster of the cheese prior to ordering. Could not fault this authentic little restaurant, thank you Mario
Love love love! I dined w.... Love love love!
I dined with my parents and husband on Sat night. We had a wonderful experience. Fantastic friendly service and scrumptious food. Highly recommended. We will be back soon!
Bravo!. Went last night with some friends from Sydney. Fantastic service and amazing pasta, the best carbonara I have had in Melbourne made the traditional way with no cream. Made me feel like I was back in Rome.
Yet another great meal at Il Cantuccio. Every time I visit from Newcastle I come here to get my fix of authentic Italian.
Great atmosphere. Very nice restaurant, great food, a bit expensive but wouldn't complain about the price considering the quality of the restaurant
Cosy atmosphere, friendly attentive staff, delicious and satisfying meal. Would definitely come again.
Great service. Came here for dinner for the first time this week and was really impressed. The restaurant itself was a bit cold but the warm service made it quite pleasant. The food was good overall - we particularly liked the sauces of the main dishes and the homemade garlic bread.
Amazingly warm atmosphere :D. Only came here once, and I'm DYING to come back. First time I came here was with my father and brother. We were served by a very friendly and kind waitress (I didn't catch her name). The entrees and main meals were absolutely deliciouso and very filling, I didn't even have enough room for dessert!
Next time, I wish to try out Il Cantuccio's dessert range :)
Awesome food!!! Awesome service!!! Very very very good.
Wonderful evening. Lovely dinner at Il Cantuccio restaurant this past weekend. Great food, wine and service. The squid ink linguini and gnocchi were delicious. Will be back again soon!
Fantastic. This place is excellent, the stone walls really grab your attention from the street. As soon as you walk inside you are greeted with the amazing aroma's coming from the kitchen. The food was just delicious and the service was great. Can't wait to return and try more items from the menu.
What a little gem!. We came across this little gem of a restaurant after our dinner plans had been upturned at the last minute. What a fantastic night! Gnocchi was one of the best plates of gnocchi I've ever had. Staff were absolutely lovely. We will be definitely returning to this restaurant in years to come.
Lygon St at its Best !. This is Italian dining as it it should be...great food, great service, great value and as an 'out of towner' certainly what I had come to expect of the Lygon St. dinning experience. Nothing was too much trouble (swapped my vegies for pasta) and despite the type of order, all dishes (risotto, veal ,pasta, etc..plus the deserts) were all of a high standard as evidenced by all the empty plates! Have certainly got this little restaurant on my 'must do' list for my next Melbourne visit.
Larry and family, Perth WA.
Best Italian in Melbourne!. Absolutely the best Italian restaurant in Melbourne (and we've been to a few!)
Mario and Loren have been there for years and bring the perfect family touch to every dining experience. They have the BEST customer service. We got engaged there and they gave us free drinks and dessert and were so lovely. The homemade gnocchi and garlic prawns are phenomenal, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
Five stars, would recommend to anyone!!
It is hard to know where to eat on Lygon St, there are so many options, and so many of them average. Il Cantuccio is the mirage in the desert, very solid food and lovely family run business. I would highly recommend the gnocci - fantastic!!
Very pleasant service, we ordered a variety of dishes, all were exceptional. Will definitely come back!
Bellissimo!. A great little Italian restaurant! Warm, friendly & attentive service, lovely atmosphere, great food & good wine...the perfect evening!
Great food (highly recommend the meatballs from specials menu), awesome garlic bread and tiramisu - this place gets the basics spot on. Service also very good and a lovely atmosphere. We will definitely be back when next in town.
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Romantic Evening Ever. Being a Lygon St Diner since the late 80s to now, I can't believe how I could have missed this place. I booked a table for 2 the day before, and briefly explained to the person on the phone how important and romantic I needed the evening to be. The staff member who answered the phone must have had numerous calls like this before, as he knew exactly what questions to ask and what table would suit my situation. Once arriving there the following evening I was greeted at the door by a mature gentleman, who was obviously the owner and the person I spoke to on the phone. He immediately made my partner and I feel like regulars, making sure we both felt comfortable and relaxed. My partner and I began with and Entrée, followed by the Main course and a bottle of red wine. In a nut shell, everything was exquisite. Everything traditionally cooked and prepared the way it should be. The customer service was next to none, as no request was to big. Even during the slight wardrobe malfunction we had during the night, the staff were extremely helpful and helped rectify the problem.(My fault, I couldn't keep my hands off my gorgeous partner) An amazing and romantic night, with excellent food and professional customer service. 10/10.
To the owner "Mario" from George & Gia, thank you so much for such a romantic evening, will be definitely be returning.
An evening of good company and great wine. Looking for a place to escape the 42 degree heat of Melbourne city on a Thursday night, myself and some friends stumbled upon this gem of a resteraunt. We started the night with a chilled bottle of Allegria Shiraz Frizzante, enjoyed some lovely pastas and risotto, and finished the meal with another bottle of the chilled shiraz.
The food was amazing, but as the old sayings go, a good night is made from 20% good venue, 30% good people, and 50% great wine.
Best italian restaurant ...excellent food, brilliant service, friendly as....I LOVE this place and can't wait to go back soon. I just ate my left over pasta for breakfast :)
Although we have been here a few times before, tonight is one of those special nights where everything has been perfect....to start with, the food, beyond excellence. I had spaghetti with mussels and clams and to say that it was perfect would be to understate perfection, my partner had spaghetti bolognase and that too was as close to what my mother would make when I was a child as I can remember. The service is still old school (as it should be) and the owner even bought us a couple of glasses of port, just to top of an amazing night. If I was to die tonight I would die a happy man
Just lovely! Had some dinner on a weekday evening and it was simply lovely- service was spot on as were the meals. Would definitely return and attempt to finish one of their main pastas!
Do you want garlic bread with that?. We went early on a Friday night and had the place almost to ourselves up in a nice cosy spot up the back. We had two kinds of pasta with a seafood theme. Both were pretty good, although olives were a bit salty. Overall really enjoyed it.
The only downside to me was the slightly pushy sales pitch - not the wait staff's fault as I guess they are obliged to 'upsell' by the boss - thing is I will order a garlic bread if I want it and ditto coffee - esp. I will make my mind up about the latter before asking for the bill - if I ask for the bill that is all I want!
Excellent service, great food and reasonable prices. The restaurant had a traditional Italian vibe which we really enjoyed.
I wanted to take a friend and her son visiting from NSW to an authentic Italian restaurant in Lygon St. I decided on Il Cantuccio and was very happy with my choice - so were they. Friendly and good service, great food and a cosy atmosphere.
When in Melbourne.... Not being local and therefore feeling a bit lost & overwhelmed by choice on Lygon St - picked this place to eat as it did NOT have spruikers out the front trying to bribe us with free wine / bread / coffee etc yet still managed to be pretty full at 6pm on a Friday. We were more than happy with our choice, beautiful Italian food served here. And we would always rather pay for our drinks/bread and have a great meal than a terrible one elsewhere!
Agree with some other reviews, service slightly slow but still adequate.
Fantastic food. Five friends & I dined here tonight and we were all VERY pleased with the excellent service and fabulous food. No complaints and the desserts were to die for! Definitely coming back & recommending to others.
International Food Review
+4.5
Nice... But disappointed?. Dined at Il Cantuccio after hearing some positive reports. Bruschetta wetted the taste buds and the 'melt in the mouth' gnocchi was to die for. My fellow dinners risotto was adequate but the polenta was a let down. Appreciate the mains are made to order however the wait was unacceptable and detracted from the overall dining experience. IFR
The perfect Italian date night, dimly lit mood lighting, homely decor and the friendliest staff you'll ever find. Food was fresh, tasty and fast. Can't rate this little joint enough!!
It was soooo good, excellent service & food. Defiantly come back when in Melbourne
Good pasta! Downside was that they DON'T have PIZZA!!
Great place!!! I highly recommend it.. I had dinner here tonight as my friends from interstate wanted to check out lygon st. I never go there as I find the food boring but this place is fantastic. There was great variety of proper Italian food. Not just pizza and pasta. The service was amazing. All the food was delicious but one meal was not the best and the waitress took it off the bill. We were happy to pay for it because everything else was amazing.. Hats off to her for doing that.. I will definitely be back... Just as a tip you should get the prawns Caravaggio (I think that's the name) it was prawns in a brandy sauce... Yum!!! Choc mouse was delish too..
Good Italian Food. Thought that the food was above average, and great people watching from the outside seats. Service is was friendly but on the slow side
Great Italian food. Lygon Street is famous for its Italian food, there are a couple of places along the strip worthy of my business.
Il Cantuccio is one of them, a no-frills Italian restaurant. They offer great Italian food in a very comfortable atmosphere with very little fuss and with smiles on their faces.
Nestled in the heart of the 'good end' of Lygon Street it has the added advantage of looking after their customers and not subjecting new customers to all sorts of nasty freebies unlike the other (more painful) end of the strip.
All in all we’ll be back again.
Mind Blowing. Food was flawless, the waitress was very knowledgeable when I asked about the meal I wanted to order, also very friendly. Back to the food, I had the angelotti and just did not want to stop eating even though I was ridiculously full! Will definitely be returning here!
For once a place that lives up to its great rating. Service was tip top. Lovely, friendly and accommodating, and gave great advice too. Started with the garlic bread which was good. Ordered the vegetarian rigatoni with eggplant, chili and olives et al. It was delicious and very filling. Also the gnocchi with creamy bacon and mushroom sauce. This gnocchi was the real deal, silky smooth goodness. The sauce was ok but perhaps a tomato based sauce would've gone better. It was incredibly filling. We got the main size and only managed half. Top tip would be to order entree sizes as they are large serves and very filling. Bonus of ordering too much was a takeaway container of leftovers for tomorrow's lunch - score. My experience with Il Cantuccio 8.5/10
Amazing pasta, with friendly staff and a cosy atmosphere. Highly recommend :)
We felt like guest at the family home - from the handshake at the door to the banter on settlinv the bill.
The food was very well presented and resented to our table quickly but not rushed.
The personal attnetion of the hostess to our needs really made us feel welcome and at home. Thanks!
Great Food and Service. We had a great time here last night with a couple from overseas. Food were delicious, tried the chef special Risotto, spaghetti marinara, calamari fitted,...etc and portion were big. The service is attentive and make you feel like home. The owner and his wife gave us a very warm hospitality and give good advice for my friend tour in Tasmania.
Loved it. The gnocchi with Bolognese and pollo asiago was magnificent. My fiancé and I had a great long conversation with the owner who gave us some great travel advice (we told him we were only in Melbourne for the day.) would highly recommend Il Cantuccio and my fiancé and I will be coming back next time we are in Melbourne.
Delicious! Beautiful ambiance and lovely service will be back again!
Amazing. Thank you fellow urbanspooners - whilst visiting Melbourne I wanted to take my son to the famous Lygon Street for his favorite - Italian. Il Cantuccio won the vote based on reviews from here and did not disappoint. Starting with not having a booking and finding us a table, we had traditional bruschetta to start - beautiful!!! My son had a Spaghettii Carbonara and I had Rigatoni with tomato based sauce and vegetables - Fantastic. Great service, great food - reasonable pricing. We will be back next time we visit Melbourne!!!!!
Excellent restaurant with very friendly staff and unbelievably good food.
The BEST Italian restaurant I have ever been to! We had the minestrone to start. Steaming hot and totally full of flavor. It was the best I have ever had. For main I had marinara with housemade gnocchi, and a touch of cream and chilli which they were more than happy to oblige. The gnocchi was amazing, beautifully light. I will definitely be coming back again and again. Reasonable prices. Beautiful family business. A++++
Good food, good service & reasonably priced. Will visit again.
Friendly & nice food. Just been and have frequented a fair few times over the past.
Owners and thier daughter also work there and serve & are very friendly and also open for a chat.
Fast service and the hired help were also good and followed us up.
Food is tasty and fresh. Wasnt expensive like some of the others. Had an an entree pasta since we had actual entrees prior and was a good serve. Complementary port was a bonus at the end but dont go expecting that.
I noted prior reviews although didnt find the pasta too expensive compared to some in the area.
Parking remains a problem.
Very nice- authentic and very traditional food!!
Fantastic food and service. Went to Il Cantuccio last night and everyone really enjoyed their meals :) It is a little pricey (as others have mentioned) but will definitely be going back due to the food and fantastic service.
Wow what a find .. Wow!!!!!! what a find out of these restaurants in lygon st good honest italian food with freindly staff will definitly go back. they made us feel like we were at home Keep it up..We love it.
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Don't miss it.... ... and you'd be forgiven if you did because this place is almost as wide as its doorway!
Small, cosy and friendly, this little family restaurant's decor is a mix of kitsch and almost random keepsakes and photos of the owners with other people you probably should recognise.
We stumbled in on a Saturday evening, and enjoyed a hearty, home-style minestrone, followed by a perfectly al dente spaghetti all carbonara (made the proper way, with no cream and not too oily). My wife's meal was a Veal Scallopine, which was overcooked and tough, but tasty nonetheless.
Part of the charm involved is that the staff clearly want you to stick around, making sure you're ready to take your main meals (which may account for their overcookedness, should they have been sitting around under lights??) and in no way stepping on your toes, no matter how busy the venue gets. We were even asked 'oh, are you leaving already?' when we got up to pay our bill!
All in all, a very comfortable, warm and cosy affair made all the more excellent by some top notch grub, at least on the soup/pasta side of things. The house wines were cheap, but not nasty.
Highly recommended.
I have one word for this place. Perfect. The location was quaint, the food was otherworldly and the staff were the most friendliest yet.
I had the seafood marinara fettuccine and my wife had the squid ink seafood pasta. My wife is usually a Tabasco person and without fail, she'll grab a bottle. This is the first time she forgot about it. That was how damn tasty it was.
The pasta was fresh, the seafood was beautifully cooked and so crunchy. The sauce coated every bite of pasta perfectly. But the kicker for me was the chopped fresh parsley that brought an extra layer of freshness with each bite.
10/10 loved it.
P.s they give you complimentary bread with really good quality olive oil too! 👌👌
Absolutely delicious Italian food! The restaurant is rustic with a very homey feel to it. The staff were delightful! I loved the gorgonzola gnocchi! Squid ink spaghetti is incredible. Really fair prices. Plus they have you a massive bowl of parmesan for the table which for me is a huge plus. I want ALL the cheese. Thanks il cantuccio! Your restaurant is lovely.
This place had literally the BEST food I have ever tasted in my life. I had a chicken dish and oh my I have never tasted anything so great. The staff were amazing and accomodated my vegan friend aswell. Such a great atmosphere, it felt like we had left Australia and headed overseas! A must do!
Il Cantuccio seemed to be one of the crowd’s favourite Italian restaurant on Lygon St, and we got to see some of the reasons why.
They do their carbonara in authentic way, with eggs and no cream. The dish was still wonderfully creamy from egg yolk and also the flavour from bacon (pancetta?) was brought out well.
The serving size was quite large - you get a mountain of pasta on your dish - and it’s great.
Overall it resembled home cooking from Italian family that you have visited - hearty, simple, and unpretentious.
I have been here last summer with my partner and her parents. Lovely location , outdoor well covered , inside fancy and warm feeling with the fireplace. We got pasta , gnocchis are amazing specially with truffle. Fresh wine , nice customer service and average price. IThe picture down here show the seafood pasta , tasty and light that permit to you to do all the walking of the rest of your day :)
First time trying Italian but the person who served us was amazing and friendly, originally my sister and I wanted to get our Garlic Prawns take away but there was a delay in getting the box but we instead ate out in the food court. Garlic Prawns looked amazing as they tasted, if I ever came back to Melbourne would totally recommend this restaurant to a friend.
We were lucky we arrived when they just opened and able to get a table without booking. It would be best to call ahead, it's definitely worth it. The staff was so friendly, the food was top notch. Generous portions, fresh flavors, and great ambiance.
Without doubt, the best Italian restaurant across Mebourne and Sydney. The entree bruschetta is by far the best I've ever had. The meatballs were sensational. It was hard to pick a standout mean but the traditional Calabrian Involtini is the finest dish served on Laigon Street.
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