Wow. What an amazing place. The food, wine and service were truly amazing. I would definately recommend visiting this resturant for a rememberable experience. It is a must do if you are ever in Melbourne.
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I almost didn't write this review because we don't want anyone else to discover our new family favourite! ;) But they truly deserve all the kudos and success in the world! We discovered this gem when they did their cheese wheel pasta week, and have been back numerous times since - in particular, the wonderful staff helped us hold a surprise 50th birthday dinner there for my mum.
The lovely people at Cucinetta were wonderful in helping find a way to fit our larger group in for dinner (12 people - taking up nearly the whole restaurant!), as well as assuring us that there would be delicious options for everyone's dietary requirements. On the night, the staff were faultless - the service was warm and attentive, and nothing was a problem (even though we were probably creating a lot more work for them than they would ordinarily have to do)!
The Cucinetta big group tasting menu was absolutely delicious. Every single one of our guests could not stop raving about each dish that was provided for us, from the antipasti to the panna cotta.
Cucinetta has been scrumptious every time we have dined there, but I must say a huge thank you for helping my mum's 50th birthday go smoothly and creating a very memorable night for her!
I've been wanting to come here for ages, but it's tiny and deservedly popular. The staff were delightful and smoothly manoeuvred around the tiny restaurant with practiced ease. The food was flavour packed, easily the best Italian pasta in Melbourne!!! We enjoyed Wagu Bresaola, Miso Frito, the Cacio E Pepe and the handmade Tagliatelle with Ragu. We asked for a recommendation on wine, enjoying a stunning bottle of white that we had never heard of before. OMG the Tiramisu. I want that recipe!!! It's light, beautiful coffee flavour with hints of chocolate!! We will be back to try more!!!!
If I could give this place a 6 I would. If you want to feel like you're in Italy having amazing food in a great atmosphere this is the most underrated place in Melbourne. With amazing service I'm definitely coming back 😍😍😍
No pun intended but a true little Italian restaurant. From the moment you are greeted at door until you leave you are immersed in an Italian cultural experience. Amazing service with a sensational culinary experience. I’ve got plenty of meals here still to come.
Cute and comfortable is how I’d best describe this restaurant. For a romantic night out this is the place to go. Thanks for the beautiful Italian meals and phenomenal service ❤️
Possibly the tiniest fine dining restaurant we have ever eaten in, Cucinetta is only 29 square meters including the kitchen. So, the menu is small but excellent and so is the wine list. This restaurant is very popular with the young professional set and can get a bit noisy. Also, it's absolutely essential to book because there are not many tables but you will be rewarded with an excellent meal
We had a birthday party here and they were amazing. They nailed every aspect and made it such an enjoyable evening. I can't recommend it enough. It's great value for the quality of food. I can't think of a better Italian restaurant in Melbourne.
Absolutely perfect. Service was on point; the food was impeccable. The homemade spaghetti was perfection. Tasted even better than most pastas from Italy. Really could not fault anything.
I could have died and gone to heaven when I tasted the pasta here. I don’t usually get overly excited by Italian restaurants but this understated gem has topped my list. I had the perfect sized serve of spaghetti with cheese and truffle oil and am amazed at the simple brilliance of the dish. The staff were fantastic and friendly. Will definitely be back and then some.
A cozy little corner serving great food!
The cacio e pepe with truffle is just a delight!
Hubby devoured the ragu tradizionale.
The basil panna cotta was very light and a perfect end to our dinner. The wine list was not so bad either. Great service!
Cosy dining defined. If you want a memorable dining experience than Cucinetta is the place for you. The service; impeccable, the food; to die for. Whether it’s a dinner with that special someone or a dinner to satisfy those Italian cravings Cucinetta has you covered. A small and intimate setting takes you straight to the Amalfi coastline with a vibe that’s unrivalled.
My partner and I had an array of pasta, seafood, and some of their very well selected wines. To say we left satisfied is an understatement! The service was amazing and we couldn’t thank the staff more if we tried. As this was a birthday celebration it was a greatly appreciated dining experience!
We would highly recommend Cucinetta to anyone looking for authentic Italian dining!
The 29 cheese gnocchi was as one would expect: very cheesy, and very salty too. I love cheese and this dish definitely went above and beyond to satisfy my cravings, to the point where I was a little sick of it at the last few bites (but I finished it anyways!). The gnocchi itself was soft, plump, and chewy, and so was the bread roll given as an appetizer. The waiting staff was lovely and though the place is a bit small it's quite nice as it's naturally well lit.
Booked in for a lunch on the last day of the cheese wheel cacio e pepe dish- glad we did! Really tasty pasta dishes, totally full after. Wish we had been able to make a dinner as the wine list looked fab. It’s a tiny place but warm and efficient service (only counted 16 seats). Well worth booking into for a dinner date.
Everything was perfect!!
I went last night to see what the hype was about and safe to say this is one of my top 5 favourite dining experiences in Melbourne to date.
My partner and I shared the burrata, we then had the gnocchi and aragosta for mains, followed by pannacotta and tiramisu for dessert.
Service was amazing, the restaurant has a gorgeous romantic atmosphere, and the food is absolutely to die for.
This was a beautiful experience and I can't wait to come back again soon, thank you for having us ❤️
I visited on a Sunday night at 7pm with a booking for two. The place is tiny so definitely book ahead. We went for the 29 cheese gnocchi event, so we ordered that and the fettuccine ai funghi (both $39.99). The cheesy gnocchi was awesome, the gnocchi was very well made and the cheese was delicious. The fettuccine ai funghi was also really nice. There was one server who was super friendly, so it was very personal. They provided complimentary bread rolls at the beginning and orancello shots at the end. Overall, I highly recommend visiting for some excellent quality food, especially during the 29 cheese gnocchi event.
TOP SHELF PASTA. Yummiest risotto I've ever had. Caprese salad and Pepper Pasta were brilliant up. Flavour and freshness is unreal. (Note: cheese wheel pasta only at certain times so check dates online. It was disappointing because when searching "Cheese Wheel Pasta Melbourne" in Google Maps comes up with this restaurant alone. Which is picking up on the link to events at the venue but it's also not very clear.)
Staff were very attentive and it was an absolute home run.
Cucinetta
- Artisian Fettuccine ‘Cacio e Pepe’ w/ Truffle $36.99
- Button Mushrooms in Taleggio Fondue w/ Crutons $26.99
- Homemade Gnocchi w/ Porcini Mushroom & Truffle Oil $35.99
A hidden Italian gem in South Yarra. We had the mushroom fondue as the starter. The taleggio sauce was absolutely flavoursome. It was a mouthful of joy to taste the earthiness and richness of the mushrooms and cheese with the crunchy breadcrumbs. The fettuccine was textbook perfect. That cheese and pepper sauce wasn’t too heavy and it was finessed with a hint of truffle. Overall, a lovely Italian dinning experience. This is a super small and intimate restaurant. Remember to book in advance.
We couldn't fault anything at our visit to Cucinetta. We had to change the booking about 5 times due to Covid & other circumstances and had sent many emails re this, one of them being to ask for their dish (lobster pasta) to be available for a special dinner we were inviting our friends to and they remembered each time we communicated. The food is authentically Italian and the service was fantastic. This is like being in a tiny restaurant in some Italian side street. They even made a drinks reservation each time for us at a nearby bar and restaurant. This was our 2nd visit and we will definitely return
Gorgeous place with excellent food and really friendly service. We particularly loved the arancini entree and the cannoli. Fair warning though, if you tend towards claustrophobia, this is probably not the place for you - it’s tiny and intimate, and may be a squeeze!
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