A bit pricey but consistently good. Friendly service with helpful staff.
Enjoyed a birthday celebration and couldn't have picked a better place. No frills such as linen table clothes but the service and food were incredible. Definitely will return.
Friendly and attentive service, delicious and comforting food. The menu selection was minimal, but every dish was thoughtfully designed with well balanced flavors. Would highly recommend their prosciutto pizza and cauliflower fritto.
A friend recommended we try Lupino, and we're so glad we did. The food was delicious and the staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. Can't wait to go back next time we're in the city.
Exceptional food with good vibes
I know this restaurant since back in the day when I used to live in Melbourne. Lupino has been consistently delivering high quality Italian food and service since the day I know this restaurant. This time, I am in Melbourne for a quick visit and I had a family dinner of eight. From the moment I booked the table, Richard has been really helpful with the bookings. We ordered the veal, spaghetti with swimmer crab, barramundi and 2 pizzas. All of them were beautiful and perfectly cooked. I must say I am truly satisfied and looking forward for my next visit. Thank you Lupino .
Wanting to try something a little different, I decided on the Beetroot Agnolotti ($27), and I’m happy to say that my gamble paid off. The beautifully slick and chewy sheets of pasta were folded around a creamy puree of beetroot, and served in a pool of buttery smoked ricotta sauce with plenty of cheese grated over the top. This really was something rather special, the addictive sweet and savoury combination absolutely worth a try, even for those who would normally avoid beetroot.
Great food and service, however the butter for the bread is served as individually plastic wrapped Western Star Butter. This is not conscious of the environment and increases unnecessary plastic waste.
Restaurants need to take steps to reduce their waste, and this is a very small step!
(Not to mention Western Star butter in packets you usually get at a hotel buffet breakfast look incredibly cheap)
Preferred the mushroom risotto over the blue swimmer spaghetti but were both cooked perfectly al dente and well seasoned! Rocket salad was a good side and the tiramisu great way to cap off the meal too. Portions were decent, left full but not overly stuffed even though we started with a crusty country loaf. Wish the service was a bit warmer but will be back nonetheless!
Love the cute place. Very welcoming staff. Everything on the menu sounded delicious even though how small the variety is. It’s definitely not a bad thing.
Loved our starters and mains. Wine selection on point. Will be back to try the other menu items 💕💕
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I'm finding that places with smaller menus tend to have better food and Lupino is no exception. First came the complimentary bread and butter and delicious crusty on the outside and chewy inside house bread, yum! A group of us decided to share so we started with the Arancini. These were less traditional that the larger ones I'm use to but they were full of flavour with the melted 4 cheeses on the inside. Also a side of what appeared to be olive oil and vinegar with loads of chilli was a nice touch which you can add to anything for extra punch and not that it was needed as everything was flavorsome. The beef carpaccio was refreshing with beautifully sliced thin beef and parmesan, olive oil and capers, though even with the lemon squeezed over it, just seem to lack zing. Then came the pizzas and these were the standouts, the special being leek and gorgonzola and Prosciutto. Both were incredible and again shows how good pizzas don't need to hide behind mountains of cheese as it should always be about the pizza dough and the fresh toppings. My choice was the prosciutto pizza and combined with the rocket, parmesan and that amazing sauce base it was a real joy to eat. The Leak and gorgonzola special also sang with its falvour combinations. I can now see why you have to book here, great food, friendly service and with the excitement of an open kitchen watching those plates being prepared and wisked away, it oozes atmosphere of a true Italian trattoria!
Wonderfully delicious, fresh pasta. Both the agnolotti and spaghetti were full of flavour and cooked perfectly (the agnolotti in particular just melted in my mouth). Service is friendly and helpful too. Big tick ✅
Pleasant cozy little restaurant! The food was delicious and the portion sizes just great. The staff was friendly and very accommodating. Perfect for a nice dinner out. Would highly recommend this place!
Richard and team are a class act! One of the best Italian restaurants at this end of the city. Service and ambience are both 4+⭐️ and the food is consistently ~4⭐️
Favourite dishes - the entree cauliflower with aioli is simple but great. If you’re lucky enough, you might find their orecchiette with rapini sauce on the menu - that’s a must have!
They also serve pretty good pizza too.
Yum yum & yum!
The waitress was so polite, helpful & customer service was high on the scale 👌🏽
The food was so delicious! I would highly recommend this place. I will definitely be back here again :)
I tried Lupino for lunch and absolutely loved it. I had a pasta special with pork. The pasta was home made with paper thin slices of pork that melted in my mouth. Great service as well.
Lovely little restaurant, with a pleasant, cozy atmosphere. We did not book a table and got to sit at the bar. The food was delicious, and the portion sizes just right.
The waiting staff were friendly too. Will be coming back for sure!
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3.8. Nice place recommended by a sage like member of our dining party.
I’ve always loved the positioning of this restaurant. It enjoys a lovely serene spot on Little Collins including alongside the back east facing side end of the Melbourne Club. I must have passed this spot hundreds of times. It’s always felt classy and quiet and pretty much the perfect spot for a nice restaurant. It just feels good here.
I had a nice greeting greeting on arrival and we were given a nice table at the back facing onto the adjacent lane. Again, it was good here and felt good.
We started with the call for pre lunch drinks followed by some beautiful bread. We skipped entrees and went straight to mains. I chose the barramundi with mussels. This was a really lovely dish, albeit just a tiny bit small for the price. The fish was delicious and was superbly cooked. The mussels and broth were delicious too. I couldn’t fault the flavours. But, truth is it was a small barra fillet and a smallish bowl overall. It was a very tasty dish but it just felt 10-15% undersized to me for the price.
Just as well we ordered sides then. These were superb as well. The server had recommended the potatoes and she was spot on. They were utterly gorgeous. As good as you could do them and a generous serve this time. The Brussel sprouts were great too but they again felt just a little small. So it seemed to me anyway.
Our server was excellent. Pleasant, engaging and very efficient. A credit to the craft.
I enjoyed it here. Location is good, food is good, wine is good, service is great. It’s a good solid Melbourne eating out option that we’d happily revisit.
Hidden gem! Dined in on a Thursday night and had a fabulous experience all round. Set on Little Collins St, this place is easy to miss but has a great atmosphere and was buzzing on the night we were in. The food itself was excellent and in addition, was very reasonably priced. Perfect for a nice lunch or dinner out, would highly recommend!
We enjoyed the fare here. We loved all the entree selections especially the crunchy cauliflower. We recommend the tagliatelle with the oxtail ragu. For dessert the torrone semifreddo was ottimo. Staff were hard working friendly and fast. All in all buonissimo.
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We called into Lupino for a Italian lunch on a lazy Monday. I had always walked past the red wolf neon sign and wondered what was inside, as there is little signage and no menu displayed to suggest the style of food. Im so glad we made the effort to enquire within.
Very attentive staff attended to our table and describes specials and answered our menu questions.
The complimentary breads worked a trick and the pea and quattro fromaggi arancini balls were perfect with their crunchy crumb and oozing cheese. We added some fresh chilli oil that was provided to spice it all up.
For mains I had the veal and pork mince based Fricelli Friulana pasta. This was like deconstructed meatballs with a highly flavoured rich and slightly creamy sauce. This would have to be one of the most tasty pastas I have had in some time and am so glad I opted for this one, my initial pick was going to be ragu.
KD went classic today with a Margherita pizza but pumped it up with anchovies. A giant serve that had that lovely stretch of cheese that she couldn’t stop eating despite being over full. She loved these anchovies so much and the perfect dough.
Lupino was one of those unexpected finds where we didn’t know what we were getting ourselves in for but are so glad we came along and gave it a whirl. I will definitely return... perhaps while I’m not doing “Dry July” and try out their drinks menu.
You can’t fault the food service or ambiance - my favourite Italian in the CBD - I had the Bianca sausage ragu today divine ! Well done guys molto bene
Lupino which means wolf in Italian , is a little gem tucked away in Little Collins street towards the treasury gardens side of the city. Only a brightly lit neon sign of a wolfs head lets you know you’ve found it. Cosy , dimly lit and a warm atmosphere greets you. The service was impeccable from the moment we arrived up until we left. Entrees were shared arancini balls and croquets followed but mains which I chose the veal. Food was uncomplicated and rustic which is what you expect and want from traditional Italian food.
The house made gnocchi with fresh ricotta was absolutely Devine. Soft fluffy pillows of potato in a rich tomato sauce. The staff are always accommodating and friendly. Sitting up at the kitchen bar is also a great experience.
Awesome service. Knowledgeable staff.
Food was exceptional. First time but will definitely be back. I need to try everything on the menu.
Staff and Kitchen made our birthday celebration so special. Can’t wait to book another dinner!!!🥂
Great ambience - atmosphere was relaxed without pretense. Comfortable yet classy. Great place for a group night out or even that special date!!
Of course, the ambience can only take your senses that far... most importantly food was no let down! Each dish we ordered came with it's own unique burst of flavours ... not overpowering in it's combination. Well balanced and totally satisfying.
Some of our highlights-
Crab spaghetti
Veal ravioli
Croquette
Dessert - can't go past those fluffy doughnuts with nutella and orange jam can you??!! Yumzz
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Blurry pictures because I only recorded the foods and didn’t actually get pictures in. Went here with my family for my 18th and had several pastas (tagliolini, agnolotti, rotolo) as well as the porterhouse special, the fish of the day (snapper), the prosciutto pizza and cauliflower fritos. Of the pastas, the tagliolini amatrician was the favourite due to the homeliness of the sauce. All the pastas were cooked a little under al dente which I liked very much as it gave the perfect bite. I personally wasn’t a fan of the veal and amaretto agnolotti or the rotolo only because I wasn’t used to the cheese combinations or the asparagus. The pizza was authentic and truly reminded me of Italy with a to-die-for base. As for the steak and fish, both were cooked to the perfect tenderness. I found the greens and potato/cheese item accompanying the steak to be a little salty however the sauce it was in was lovely paired with the complimentary bread which we were offered another serving of once our first had finished. Overall, our waiter and host was very attentive and friendly. Atmosphere wise it could’ve been improved due to how dim it was but that might be the look they were going for. Will be back. :)
Lupino lived up to all the positive reviews. Staff were very friendly, attentive and restaurant was nice and cosy!
We ordered a few dishes to share and they were all delicious! So fresh, full of flavour and tasty.
- Grilled peaches, prosciutto with marinated goat’s cheese. Nicely presented on a plate. The sweet and savoury combo really worked! It was one of my favourites.
- Crab croquette
- Ragu pasta from the specials menu. Pasta sauce was full of flavour!
- Tagliolini prescators. Pasta was cooked perfectly.
- Contorno del Giorno (green beans). This was a little greasy for me.
- Tiramisu. Yum!
Got a spot at the bar with my out-of-town companion after a last-minute decision to eat at my favorite city Italian restaurant on a Sunday night. What a treat to watch the chef cook my tagliolini prawn dish. It was delicious as was my friend’s eggplant melanzane. This much-loved Italian has a fast n furious approach to service and food. It’s a bustling and no nonsense cafe that produces the goods every time I eat here.
On the night I attended Lupino with my family they actually mixed up my order, initially sending out the wrong dish - and still the food plus their incredibly attentive and apologetic nature means I would go back in a heartbeat. Cannot fault the food. I ordered the lasagne and was very impressed. Beautifully cooked with loads of flavour. The risotto and ravioli were also standouts. They gave us complimentary tiramisu which was divine. Genuinely nice people, a classy and warm ambiance with brilliant food. Definitely worth a try.
Lovely Italian food! I can't really fault this place to be honest. I had the risotto with asparagus, pancetta, and scamorza ($28); and thought it was divine. It had just the right amounts of each element and wasn't an overly huge portion that makes one feel ill. I didn't even need to add any salt or pepper!
Before our meal my other two friends had the arancini balls and said they were delicious. One had the veal dish and said it was great, however was very large. The other had the veal and amaretto agnolotti with a burnt butter and sage sauce; she loved it! We were given fresh sourdough bread at the beginning of the meal too.
The atmosphere is very chic, and the wait staff are extremely polite and accommodating. Overall it was a lovely experience with amazing food. I am sure I will be back again soon.
Was interested in eating here based on the good reviews. Service is excellent and staff very helpful. The food is nice - however I think I walked in with very high expectations of eating the best Italian food on Melbourne. The sauce on the veal agnolotti was a stand out!
The restaurant itself is hard to find... It's the one with the fox mark. The menu is a bit hard to read, but the food itself is really good :)
The food was really delicious and we got free bread and butter which was really good! They had an excellent wine list and our waiter was really friendly. What I loved most was that they happily made me a Gorgonzola sauce for my gnocchi even though it was no longer on the menu, fantastic service!
Ordered:
1. Arancini - really tasty, you can't really go wrong with this
2. Crab pasta - very tasty, full of flavour, pasta so fresh, it is so good that if they give me two more plates I could finish it
3. Zeppole dessert - average, order something else instead
Would I go back: Yes
Delicious dinner at Lupino tonight. Cosy atmosphere and fabulous traditional Italian menu. For entree we shared the cauliflower frito with aioli and anchovies (a must order) and the beef carpaccio. Then for main I went for the fish of the day (barramundi) with a broad bean pesto and corn and grapefruit salad. A refreshing and light meal. The service was friendly but seemed a little distracted at times. May have had something to do with the appearance of some internationally famous patrons though.
We came here on our first anniversary in hope of something a little special to top off a beautiful day.
Our initial waitress was a little unfriendly, however we were soon being taken care of by a small Italian lady who was wonderful. Her service was perfect - our glasses were always full, she asked if we would be sharing meals or having one each, then arranged for our mains to come out like two separate courses, which we never would have asked for, but was perfect.
The Gnocchi in a gorgonzola sauce was exquisite. Absolutely perfect. Two other meals were beautiful as well and the tiramisu was a masterpiece.
The setting is lovely and the prices are reasonable - without the wine our food bill was around $70.
Don't hesitate to jump in if you get a chance!
Service is good. Good place to go on a date. Love the vibe and atmosphere here. Open kitchen, the bar has a lot choice of alcohol to choose, even food is nice but not what I expected for the best Italian restaurant in Melbourne. But still worth to try!!!
All the class without the price tag. Great ambiance delicious pasta and good drink selection. Service is very good also. The ravioli is delicious.
Had the best pasta in Melbourne here - the agnolotti with sage sauce. Smelled this divine thing being made in the kitchen, and it did not disappoint. The lemon sorbet-champagne-vodka dessert was excellent too. There's a reason this place is still packed after 20 years' operation.
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Yum...just yum!
Don't want to be gross but if I could have licked my plate, I would have. I only took .5 the score off because I found the bar stool slightly uncomfortable but it was possibly one of the best spots to sit in the house.
Entree-arancini balls and crab fritters. Oooohhhh those crab fritters. They left me drooling. Mains- Gorgonzola gnocchi 😱 (softest and most cheesy deliciousness) and veal agnolotti(I've never tasted anything like it -you have to like almond essence though). Dessert -tiramisu and cannolo (the best I've eaten-thin, crisp shell and mouthwatering ricotta, chocolate and lemon zest (I don't like chocolate in my dessert but I even ate the chocolate side). Wine was brilliant-Montepulciano blend is a winner! We didn't book but luckily got a bar seat at about 7pm-ish. Impressed that you can book this place (rare in Melbs) and even more impressed we scored a spot. Not great for an impromptu dinner for a large number of people. But just awesome for a couple wanting a decent Italian meal in a cosy little Melbournesque locale.
If you're looking for a good quality Italian meal then this place will deliver. The pasta is fresh and the pizzas are delicious. The standout for me were the Nutella donuts. I could have used more Nutella (maybe stuffed on the inside) but they were still good.
Amazing food and service! We booked for 4 and took my 6 month old niece. The table had enough room for 4 of us and the pram. Great spot, amazing food (especially the risotto) and fantastic service. The bread and butter was delicious!
Firstly, there was nothing exactly wrong with our experience. The restaurant itself is perfect for date night and the staff were very attentive. Yet again, love the open kitchen and watching the chefs at work (so captivating!).
The food was consistently good throughout the courses, but felt certain dishes simply lacked that 'flavour sparkle' and was a little bit lifeless.
Standouts were the risotto duck and porcini, the salumi meat platter (possibly the best slice of prosciutto I've had) and the desserts were both good. Salmon dish was lack lustre and I felt what could easily be my favourite dish, Gorgonzola gnocchi was kind of plain (yet well and truly edible).
Since everything is well priced, will be back to try other items off the menu as still overall highly enjoyed my night.
Lupino is a gem of Melbourne serving up delicious Italian food. The decor isn't fancy, the bread comes in a wicker basket and the butter comes in tiny plastic tubs, but that's all part of its charm. My absolute favourite dish is the chicken and garlic tortelloni, fresh tomato, bocconcini, basil and brodo. The pasta is cooked to perfection and the brodo reminds me of a soup my Italian grandma used to make me when I was young. My only criticism is that the portion size could be a little bigger. I can never go past the arancini with quattro formaggi and pea, the crispy outside that gives way to a delicious melted cheese centre is wonderful. I also love the bomboloni with Italian Nutella, it's a great dessert to share.
Great service. Amazing fresh bread and warm olives. Best cauliflower I've ever eaten. Delicious beetroot cured salmon had a great balance of flavours. Reduced grilled capsicum sauce with the snapper was the highlight. Too full for desert but looking forward to trying some next time. Definitely coming back!
I dined here a couple of years ago and completely forgot to write a review. I'm coming back to Melbourne, and suffice to say Lupino's has come back into my mind. I had THE best Italian meal of my life here. I had a rich and meaty ragu for my main, and to this day its still on my mind, and nothing has ever since come close. The service was wonderful, the food and wine gorgeous, and the setting industrial Italian cool. Next time i'm back in Melbourne i'll be back without a doubt. You'll not regret eating here, this place is tops.
Perfect! Wonderful pasta, excellent and diverse wine list, cosy interior and the ability to hear your dinner companions' conversation because you aren't sitting on top of the next table. Laid back, but proficient and extremely knowledgeable service. Do go, you'll not regret it.
Cannot recommend this restaurant enough! Food was superb, in particular the Veal & Amaretto agnolotti, the wine was 10/10, the service was impeccable. My new favourite restaurant in Melbourne, I cannot wait to come again!
A hidden treasure. Warm, welcoming, honest, wholesome, heartwarming.
......................................................................a home away from home.
An absolutely perfect dining experience! Exquisite food that leaves you planning your next visit to try more. Wonderful service and lovely atmosphere (not too loud despite being full for most of the afternoon). Highly recommended for beautiful Italian food done with Melbourne style.
I've been meaning to try this place for a long time now. The outside is nondescript with a red neon wolf outline and white brick, whereas the inside is a nicely outfitted Italian restaurant. We ate the sashimi entree (delicious), aranchini balls (average), and crab pasta (the pasta was perfectly al dente). The only disappointing thing was the service - we didn't get told the specials, and the waiter seemed to not take care in serving us.
We didn't have a booking just walk in and they had a table available for us. It's been a while since I had good Italian food. But this place does amazing food and great wine selection . The staff were friendly and the service is quick.
Thinking of having a reasonably priced Italian meal with authenticity then I would recommendation Lupino Italian restaurant . The paste was cooked to perfection and was
Hand made . There was a great selection of wines and the staff were all to happy to help me select the right wine with the aide of tasting . Services front of house was on on point . Overall A+
Lupino was a cosy little restaurant with amazing service and delicious food! We were running about 45 minutes late, but as soon as we walked in we were greeted with a friendly smile, which made us instantly feel welcomed. The waiters we had were on the ball with their service - extremely friendly and helpful. We got the lupino salami with buffalo mozzarella (yum!) and the arancini, which were also delicious! Mains we got pastas and the gnocchi was one of the softest and fluffiest I have had!!!! Overall a wonderful experience!
We were very cheeky & popped in for an early dins at Lupino. We received a warm welcome regardless and they found us a lovely table.We started with arincini balls which were divine. We then share a pizza & salad, the pizza was beyond delicious and salad with a very well balanced dressing. We were also so impressed with the warm & friendly service. We can't wait to return with a booking next time. Thanks Lupino!
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Interesting combination of flavours and tasty.
Started with creamy crab mix, deep fried- was crisp outside, creamy mix on inside. It was nice treat before dinner and inexpensive $4each.
Ordered fish of the day with... watermelon, yoghut, basil and cucumber- cut like a thick noodles. I like to try different flavors when eating out and this was an interesting combination. The watermelon salad was fresh and light and the fish was not too heavy and not too light. Satisfied.
An improvement would be to present the fish with the soft side facing up rather than crisp skin ontop (I would rather see the soft white meat rather than brown cooked skin).
Finished with warm cinnamon donuts with nutella- yum!
Service is down to earth, friendly. The waiters are busy catering to tables and still maintain friendliness and attentiveness. There was complimentary sourdough with my order +.
Decor.. hmm found decor a bit of a miss match. The atmosphere was bubbly, kitchen 5star, open kitchen, professional service, waiters wear white. I felt the decor hasn't decided whether it was goin to be 5star or local. Perhaps white table cloths would be an improvement.
Resonable prices for food quality. Would visit again.
Lupino is a place suitable for both business events as well as intimate date nights. Prices are on the higher end, but guests definitely pay for the quality of food and service. The portion sizes of the main courses were very satisfactory. There's nothing more bleak than an 'off' meat to pasta ratio, and Lupino certainly didn't disappoint! The protein and cooking sauce of the duck taglioni were well-paired with the home made starch. I didn't come here expecting mind-blowing pasta, but a solid Italian meal is what to expect at Lupino!
Not a place for a cheap feed (pizza margarita 20!!!) but between 25 to 30 bucks you will get a good feed of pasta. A safe place to go for a dinner with your parents.
Someone described this place as a "business lunch place". I would like to pretend it was me. It wasn't. But this place is. Inoffensive, safe Italian food. Nicely prepared and tastes good. Your PG family movie.
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Flew into Melbourne, checked into our hotel and after a long day we wanted something delicious for dinner.
We were delighted to find Lupino just a few doors down Little Collins St.
It was busy and they were in the middle of dinner service.
The barman greeted us warmly and we sat at the bar with a drink to wait for a table.
Turns out, he was so charming and so attentive (sorry we didn't ask his name),- we decided to forego a table and instead had dinner at the bar.
The wine list is extensive as are the drink choices and I was so excited to find a crisp white "pecorino" wine, as well as the smooth licorice liquore Meletti - both from the Le Marche region of Italy where my Dad was born.
My wine loving husband was impressed with the red varietals offered- including Barbaresco.
And the food. Warmed olives, so moorish. Fresh ciabatta.
Cauliflower fritto with white anchovies and aioli- oh my goodness- I could've eaten them all night!
Then my risotto- porcini/spinach and goats cheese. Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned and served "all'onda", on the wave.
I've eaten risotto in Milan, Venice and my Mammas cucina - this was by far the best I've ever had. Marco, the chef originates from Milan and is a culinary genius.
My husband declared his ricotta gnocchi to be delicious too.
Dessert did not disappoint, coffee, very good and we enjoyed a liqueur and a grappa respectively to round out a wonderful evening.
I simply cannot wait for our next visit.
I find this place has some of the best pasta in the city. Had Arancini, meat balls, pappardelle, octopus, and dessert. All great. Service was attentive. Will return but can be hard to get in for dinner.
Went on a Thursday night. Had a margarita pizza to share between 4 - had the tortelloni and it seems they rotate the pastas our relatively often so there's always a variety of choice. Pasta was amazing - enough said! Sauce was rich, pasta was light - nothing overbearing. Pizza was wood fired, generous with mozzarella and very tasty. Only slight downside was wine was a tad on the expensive side ($14 for shiraz), but not a big deal considering ambience, quality of food and service.
The best pasta and dessert I have had in a long time. Had the veal and amaretto pasta with burnt butter and sage sauce!! Was a delight to my taste buds. Could of eaten it again and again. Dessert was the choc mousse canelloni, wow what can I say, delicious!!! Would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone in melb! Thank you for a great meal.
first of all I must pointed out our waiter - couldn't recall his name - was very well presented. Fresh clean and genuine recommendation.
arancini balls says quarttro formaggi - not that i could taste 4 of them. was a little bit confused. Nice crunch with creamy risotto rice anyway.
Veal and amaretto agnolotti does taste sweeter than a normal pasta should, but amaretto infused pasta was new for me and I reckon it went nice with the veal ragu - generous meat serving too.
pasta of the day was oxtail stuffed dumplings(don't know its real name) and it was so good. I would be happily ask our waiter for pasta of the day again because for this time it was a nice surprise.
Friend did point out our dishes were under seasoned. I guess that's to each individual .
Excellent experience to be had at Lupino. We were squeezed in at the last minute for an early booking before a concert. Beautiful handmade pasta and arancini. Small selection of changing menu options that are all done brilliantly. The best part was the outstanding service from both the staff and owner - made the night really enjoyable, can't wait to go back!!
Typical Italian fare served with a degree of excellence. Whilst the dishes on offer stick to their Italian roots they also highlights the chefs ability to use great produce in a funky way. Service was great and ambience is nice. The only downside? - perhaps the serves were a little small for the price- otherwise a winner all round.
MelbourneFoodPaparazza
+4
I went to this Melbourne CBD Italian restaurant with relatives from the UK. We ordered in our family’s standard way when at Italian restaurants – a number of entrees to share (this time being a pizza, arancini and an antipasto platter), a main for each person (which this time included my gorgonzola gnocchi and my brother’s ordered steak), and a number of desserts for the table to share including a semifreddo.
Lupino never disappoints. A very chic and modern Italian restaurant. Classic Italian food made to the highest standard. Ordered the pork cotoletta, duck ribs, crab croquettes, a pasta and the Panattone bread and butter pudding. The stand out was the crab coquettes and the veal ravioli with burnt butter. It's one of Melbourne's best Italian food for a good reason. The service is really good and the wine list had a good variety.
Finally got to Lupino's last week, can't believe we have not been here before now but it has been on the list for a while now. Started with the vitello tonnota and it was perfect, beautiful veal and the most amazing tuna mayo on top, was such a great way to start our meal. Also sampled a couple of the arancini's and they were delicious. Finished with the special fish of the day which was perfectly cooked and the special crumbed chicken dish which was so good we hope it makes it to the regular menu! Much more to sample on the menu and as this will soon be our local so we will definitely return often.
Another long standing, premium and renowned Italian restaurant specialised in handmade pasta and pizza in the CBD. Watched news recently that it is our Melb Lord Mayor's fav restaurant, and a popular restaurant for professionals, businessmen and governors. Ordered their grilled octopus, arancini, meatball and sword fish cappacio, salads. pastas etc.. Authentic and delicious! My fav was the octopus w salami and beans.
Great venue. Not too big or too small. Food is gorgeous. Beautiful flavours. I had the special Linguine with lamb ragu. Perfect balance of richness and flavour. My friend had the Chicken Tortelloni which I also tried. Lovey, soft and light to taste. For desert we ordered the Triffle and Bomboloni (italian donuts). Donuts a little chewy but nice. The triffle was excellent. Unique icecream flavours in both dishes.
The only disappointment was our waitress. She wasn't very friendly. Just straight to the point, these are our specials, can I get you drinks, are you ready to order etc. There was no greeting, welcome, hi how are you tonight etc type stuff. And when you're finished they come and take everything off the table. Which is kinda telling you in a subtle way, it's time to pay and go.
Apart from that, like everyone else says, it's great food and well worth going.
Eating at Lupino I was reminded of how spoiled we are for choice of restaurants in Melbourne. A great restaurant, staffed professionally serving really great Italian fare. Choose tasters off the menu tapas style to share, or bigger dishes in a more traditional restaurant format. A seriously good Italian meal where you may not expect it.
Everything melted away to nothing in my mouth! I cant even tell you how long its been since I have eaten meat thats that tender. I would challenge anyone else to come up with a place that does a better lamb backstrap!!! Thanks all for a thoroughly enjoyable meal, we will definitely be back!
Lupino is an absolute institution in the Melbourne food scene. The restaurant itself is nice, the staff are lovely and helpful and the food is just delicious. Very authentic Italian dishes... The pasta is simple but well made, the meat cuts are quality, the fish is fresh! Spoilt for choice for wine, and the desserts are also yum!
Fabulous place. We called in last night for a small eat and just loved the service, the food and the open kitchen - inspirational!
We drank a couple of Chianti and sat at the window and watched The world of Little Collins Street go by. We ate the peach with goats cheese and prosciutto and pork ribs - lovely. We will be back for a full meal! Thanks.
My name is Alex and I am 10 years old. I love Lupino because the food is fresh and nice and the people are very friendly.
The Pizza's were my favourite
Great relaxing mood inside and staff are welcoming & warm.. Food is great without being too over the top or wanky.. open kitchen is quite cool
We had our work Christmas party here and the food was exceptional! Taking Italian to a whole other level... the cauliflower and octopus/salami starters were my favourites and all of the pasta were just melt in the mouth and flavour packed. Dessert also just incredible... one of my favourite dining experiences for 2015!
Really really good. Crispy and fresh pizzas and delicious pastas as well. Reasonably priced for the area. Make sure you make a booking otherwise you will be disappointed.
My favorite place to eat at the moment and the veal Milanese with witlof, tasty tomatoes and cheese is to die for . Try the cauliflower fritters with white anchovies and aioli WOW!!!!!
Dessert my favorite tiramisu was light and fluffy
Can't wait till they open again after the Christmas break .
Booked dinner on a Friday night for my husband's birthday dinner. Lovely family-run feel to the restaurant and the place was full of buzz. Although the service was a little slow (it was a busy night), the food was great (we had gnocchi, pizza and a green salad) and the staff were lovely. Would recommend for a family dinner or with a big group of friends.
The food is superb! I've had numerous pastas in numerous places before, I often couldn't finish it because it's either too heavy, portion's too big or the pasta itself is just not that nice. However, Lupino does not give me any of those feelings. The food was so fantastic that I finished the whole spaghetti and still I'm asking for more. Definitely the best handmade pasta in town. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Food was top notch. The quail saltimbocca just melted in the mouth and sauce on the veal ravioli was delicious. Service was great, including the nice touch of the chef's thanking us before we left (we sat at the bar where the kitchen was). WIR? absolutely.
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My partner and I made reservations for a Saturday based on a recommendation from friends. Our overall experience was not bad but not fantastic. Our waitress was nice enough and was extremely efficient and knowledgeable but did not engage in any banter as to give a bit off a bit of a cold feeling. It almost felt as though the wait staff thought they were above everyone (which they may well have been but I don't think patrons should be made to feel like that).Our food was almost perfect with the veal but the gnocchi (which was itself cooked perfectly) gorgonzola was extremely underwhelming. The cheese had absolutely no impact but this may simply be the chef's choice. Me however, I love gorgonzola to have a rich bite. So unfortunately I would have to say our mains were at 75% (if there was a measure).We couldn't fault the starters, desert or the wine, so on an overall scale for food and wine I would have to say at least an 8.5 out of 10. Otherwise it was just the ambience and staff that let our experience down.
Our waitress was very nervous and struggled with the specials, but the food is always delicious. Shame the carbonara wasn't on the menu, but I had the special and it was delicious, sausage tagliatelle
Great service, food, wine and venue. Had a reasonable size group out for dinner and we tried most of the menu before we were done. Highly recommend!
Amazing food - pasta is beautiful and dishes just melt in your mouth! Chef even made a special meal for my sister (it was her birthday).
I would go here everyday if I could :) Really worth it, for reals!
After walking past this place at least twice a week, I finally stepped in for dinner. Sat at the bar and had the pasta with oxtail ragu. The ragu was rich and savory and the pasta was done perfectly. A nice place to have wine and pasta after a day in the office.
The pasta here is absolutely amazing. It melted in my mouth and I thought I was going to go to into a food coma. We spent hours here pacing ourselves, and indulging in every bit of our meal.
Hand-made fresh pasta at it's finest! The bread was crusty and delicious, brought back many Mediterranean memories for me. The staff are professional and provide excellent service. I honestly enjoyed eating at this venue and will bring future customers to Lupino.
Fabulous home made pasta and fabulous service! We didn't have a reservation, luckily there was room!!!! So accommodating, will def be back soon.
Went for a pre-theater dinner. Had arrancinis, croquettes, cauliflower fritto, twice cooked souffle, and pork ribs. All very yummy. Attentive service. Owner was very friendly. Will come again.
The idea of the Chef’s Table , where diners get to sit at an exclusive table in full view of the kitchen and its workings, is not a new concept ...a Chef’s Table allows the diner to be in the thick of the action, so not only do they get to observe the chef at work and pick up on some of the cooking techniques used, but they are often permitted to engage with the chefs and ask them questions. The only downside to a Chef’s Table is that due to the exclusivity of them, they often require booking months in advance and cost a pretty penny. The slightly more affordable and casual version of the Chef’s Table that can be seen cropping up in middle tier restaurants is dining at a bar in front of an open kitchen- and it’s a perfect alternative.
By far the best Italian restaurant I have been to in Melbourne! The tortelloni in brodo are to die for, the homemade pasta cooked to perfection! We sat up at the 'chefs view' table where owner Marco chatted to us like old friends in his kitchen while he cooked us a selection from the menu.
A truly exceptional evening with superb food and service. We'll definitely be heading there again soon!
Thank you Marco and crew!
Retro slick. Remember those cool Italian restaurants from the eighties, very Conran, clean lines, lovely lighting?
This is Lupino. Simple, well crafted food, succinct, well chosen wine list, slick staff. Buzzy without being loud.
Polite, charming and confident.
An irresistible combination.
Have eaten here three times in the last two months. Just 'cos.
Book, or eat at the kitchen counter.
Or book the kitchen counter.
Amazing spot and food amazing
If you can get a seat at the chefs bench, bypass the normal table and watch in awe at this amazing team dish up incredible food. Loved it. Thank you. Staff and ambience is sensational.
Hard to find treasure.. Booked last minute for a work dinner for 6 and they were more than happy to accommodate us at late notice.
Love the no name, secret sign on the door, adds to the intrigue...
Everything about Lupino's was top notch. The staff were friendly, courteous and professional. Only complaint was they were a little too efficient, if you weren't quick on getting in on a round of drinks they were off you fetch the rest before you could get your order in!
The food was sublime. Every dish that came out was devoured with much gusto and great enjoyment.
The wine list is fairly extensive and the dessert menu is impossible to pass on. The Buffalo milk pana cotta was amazing!
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Love the food and great service!. Confession: I'm happy Il Solito Posto isn't open Sundays. Wanted some good Italian on a Sunday, but our fave ISP is closed Sundays, so went looking for others and finally decided on Lupino. Very happy!! =)
Location is good; inside is nice, you can sit at the counter and watch the chefs right there if you want. Or at the window is nice, too. Our waitress was just great, loved her!
Tried the arancini, proscioutto pizza, gnocchi pomodoro, trifle and biscotti.
Arancini: Amazing, flavourful little balls of goodness! Do they sell these frozen by the bag? If not, they should!
Pizza: Lovely crust, great quality toppings and generous.
Gnocchi: Omg...when a place gets its gnocchi right, it's just divine little plump pillows of goodness...sigh... I want them now... A drizzle of the chilli oil was just perfect for it.
Trifle: Not your average 70's trifle! This was caramel, mango and honey comb, with some cream and with a dark chocolate squiggle on top. The caramel was soooooo good. They should sell it in jars so we can take it home for toasts. I let the honey comb pieces sit in the gooey caramel for a bit, by then it was softer. Caramel, mango, honey comb, what a good combo. For a dessert that hardly had any chocolate in it, it was defo a winner!
Biscotti: Good, but not what Dad was after as he wanted the plain, flat ones.
Our waitress, seriously, more waitstaff around Melbourne can learn from her! And should! Attentive, helpful, on the ball, funny, personable without being intrusive. She seemed surprised by the tip? Don't see why, she was great. I think it should've been more but I wasn't paying. =)
Lupino, a new fave!
Great food and excellent service. Pizzas were Italian style with thin, beautifully textured base and simple, fresh toppings. Chicken tortellini was also lovely. Would go back.
Lupino was a delight. Understated decor belighs the quality of the experience. The attractive young Italian waitor was extremely helpful and knew the menu inside out. Food overall was outstanding and we tried most of it. Highlights were, the Italian sausage pasta, arancini , lamb blackstrap , gnocchi and the deserts, all of them.
Outstanding I will be back.
Perfect!. Service was fantastic, food was amazing (best pasta I've eaten!), nice atmosphere and enjoyable restaurant to sit in! Absolutely nothing to fault!
Excellent food and service!. Presentation, food, service were all excellent!
We had a lovely dinner here and left very satisfied. No complaints!
Being Italians ourselves , finding a simple traditional Italian restaurant who tries not too look to fancy on the menu is hard to find
For once we wanted to try everything on the menu .. Delicious .. We weren't even planning to have pizzas but pizzas were a hit
Defintely will be returning
Sticking to simple Italian traditional dishe , you can't loose
A winner
Great Italian food experience. For ages I had walked past the Lupino little wolf light above their door and kept promising myself that I would go there! Why did I wait so long. The food is mouth-watering delicious and the wine list is decadent, the staff are friendly and the atmosphere relaxed. Whether it has been the lunch time rush or a lazy dinner, the Lupino has never disappointed.
You're the best......around. Delish....walked in off street. Sooo nice and great price. Service exceptional. Def coming back fo sho.
An absolute favourite!!. We have been here so many times, and the experience just gets better with each visit!! Intimate settings, beautifully authentic Italian food, made fresh right in front of you! A real treat!!
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Welcoming and top notch. Picked out a Little Collins tapas bar as the pre-show spot to take my girlfriend for dinner, but on arrival the place was filled with piggish corporates and felt generally uninviting. We then happened upon Lupino, a place I knew little about. It looked modern, the atmosphere warm and buzzing, and the staff looked professional and alive. We were allowed to sit right in front of the open kitchen, basically face to face with the chef. We were quickly attended to by the busy wait staff who were clearly on top of their game. There was an element of urgency in their brisk, friendly conduct that added to the excitement of being in a place I don't necessarily belong (we were not dressed like typical fine diners). I ordered drinks and a selection of their vegetarian dishes, including the olives, arancini, melanzane parmigiana, beetroot salad and roast potatoes. I was worried the food would take awhile as I had not allowed much time to get to the show and they seemed busy, but it all showed up fairly quickly, and all plated beautifully. The arancini and eggplant dishes were both great but my god, the beetroot salad was a clear winner. Chef acknowledged us nicely as we stood up to leave, much respect to him and his team for making us feel so welcome. I wish the show we saw afterward had come anywhere near the experience we had at Lupino.
Warm and welcoming.. A thoroughly enjoyable experience. Friendly and attentive staff, without pomp. Pleasing menu and guest friendly space.
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A little known gem. I had eyed of Lupino for a while and finally ended up heading in for a sunday night dinner. It was cold and wet outside which made the warm and comforting atmosphere inside even better. Our party of three secured a spot at the bar overlooking the open kitchen. We had the perfect seat in my opinion as we got to see exactly what was being made and had a chat with the chefs.
Lighting, music and the murmur of the full restaurant created a vibe where you felt right at home. Staff were friendly and efficient which isn't always a given in restaurants these days.
After scanning the menu and hearing the specials we locked in a margherita pizza for entree. The chef sent us complimentary arancini balls to kick things off which was a friendly gesture. We then stalled our order on the mains to see what was coming out of the kitchen. We devoured the thin based pizza in no time at all and then turned to mains. The fettuccine ragu, spaghetti marinara and pappardelle with a creamy porcini and bacon sauce were all incredible dishes. Fresh pasta and amazing flavours left us all very satisfied. I would definitely head back to order the lasagne - this was a huge slab that was probably the best thing I've seen in a while. The waiter did recommend it but we did our own thing.
We were all but done until the chef once again stepped in and set us up with a tasting plate for dessert, again on the house. The tiramisu was smooth and the donuts topped with nutella and a side of yoghurt ice cream really topped us off.
A sensational night out and we would't have changed one thing!
Lupino - Impressive in every way. It was great to visit Lupino with a friend last Friday 1 August 2014. It was a terrible wet winter's night, but it was absolutely worth the trip into town for the evening. We had booked as it's often booked out on Friday & Saturday nights.
We both ordered the main of veal / pancetta with parsnip puree etc... (can't remember name of dish). It was superb. We ordered a side of red witlof salad as well. All beautiful flavours.
My friend & I were in synch with choices, as we both also ordered the tiramisu for desert. It was wonderful.
Wines were great. Nice coffee to finish.
Fantastic service.
Great vibe. Stylish, buzzy, but not too noisy either.
Well done Richard Lodge. Thanks for making us feel welcome.
Cheers, Jane D
Brought a client and my boss for dinner at Lupino after reading reviews. Glad we did!
They were very accommodating (we were little late due to traffic) and the service was brilliant.
But the highlight is the good!! Omg I will dream about the carpaccio, rotolo (omg delicious!!) but IMPORTED Nutella!! I have always argued Nutella in Italy is different but my dessert of Bombole proved it...
Will be back!
Amazing food and amazing service. Just am awesome place I'm more than happy to pay for. Well done to Marco and all the guys there. Just lovely.
Found this place on Urbanspoon as we were looking for a new city place to try. We were amazed. The food was wonderful. The penne with swordfish was full of flavour and the blue eye my friend had was equally tasty. The 'mess' desert was light and a great way to finish off a memorable meal. The service was also a stand out for me. Intuitive and subtle, yet effective and friendly. I will be back as soon as we can. Well done guys, a great new place for me to recommend.
Reminds me of my Nonna!. Every so often, I stumble across an Italian restaurant that would play Frank Sinatra in the background. This place screams "vintage Frank Sinatra" and in a good way. The Chicken Tortellini in Brodo tastes so similar to my Nonna's (it's really scary I know!. My friend had the handmade "linguine fini" with seafood. The pastas are hand-made and you can certainly taste the difference. The dessert selections are amazing. Save room for the panna cotta with honeycomb and strawberries! Slightly sweet strawberries with smooth, rich, and creamy panna cotta. It sounds heavy, but it's not... it's actually really light!
Great slightly retro atmosphere, beautiful rustic Italian food and a very warm and friendly attitude to service. Will definitely be back.
Reliable. The house-made pasta is delicious (especially the tagliatelle when it's available) so you can't go wrong with ordering any of the pasta dishes. The fresh chilli oil is a nice touch and pairs perfectly with pasta.
For dessert, can't go past the panettone pudding which is also a great sharing size.
Great Restaurant. We went here for the first time on Saturday for my birthday and it was an excellent choice. Great ambience, not too noisy and excellent service. The food was really outstanding. We had polpetti for entrée and Duck and mushroom Risotto and Gnocchi for mains. Quite conventional dishes but both absolutely perfect, the very best we have had in a long time. This was followed by a Tira Misu which again was absolutely perfect. The prices were extremely reasonable and it was a most happy occasion for both of us. It was a great choice and we will certainly be back soon.
Very nice! Would definitely come back.
Searched through urban spoon ratings and came across Lupuno thought we would try it and we were really impressed! The carpaccio was perfect and the Italian sausage with the parsnip purée was fantastic! So much flavor! Highly recommend! Spent about $135 for 5 drinks, 2 entre & 2 main! Pretty good :)
Lovely Place & Great Food!!. Had dinner here for my birthday. Booking process was easy. Had a large group with my grandfather who needs a fair bit of assistance to walk and get into the restuarant. Staff were very hospitable and helpful. Food was delicious.
Couldn't say a bad comment about this please. Definitely recommend.
Magnifico!. Lupino has fast become one of my favourite little Italian spots in Melbourne. A casual setting, and simple, unpretentious, and beautifully cooked food at reasonable prices. I rarely order risotto as most people muck it up, but here they get it just right. The octopus salad is also a consistent winner. Keep it up!
Great night, great place! The quail was amazing and so was the tortellini in broth! I would definately return!
Mr Pucci thinks it's a great place. Been here a few times and never disappointed.
Exceeded my expectations on all fronts! You will not be disappointed, quality food & proffessional service
Came to Lupino for Saturday lunch with a girlfriend and we really enjoyed the food. Had chicken and pumpkin risotto with marjoram which was perfect - light, creamy and flavorful. My friend ordered pasta with Italian sausage and it was absolutely delicious as well. The tiramisu finished our meal on high notes. Coming back here soon!
Good food. The food here was really good. When I walked in the front door I was a bit disappointed, the interior is pretty drab, feels cold and the tables for two are way too small.
But the welcome was really warm and friendly and the place felt very relaxed, there is no pretension here. That flows on to the food. It is simply described on the menu and it is simply presented but it is full of flavor and they do not dumb it down. My lemon chicken was delicious and the accompanying fennel salad was a perfect companion.
Menu is mainly pastas, risottos, pizza and a few classic italian mains. Prices were more than reasonable and in fact for what you get, it is cheap.
This place is in the middle of some of Melbourne's best Italian restaurants, Becco, Bottega, Florentinos, Italy 1, The Italian, Society, etc etc....and I think it more than holds its own.
Girl's Night Out. This is a little gem at the top end of town. Fresh, seasonal produce teamed with a gentle touch creates simple but satisfying food. The accommodation of an additional guest was handled with ease on a fairly busy night. One very small niggle was slightly pushy service - whether that was due to our being at the first sitting of the night or an overzealous waiter don't know but it was a small blip in a great experience. Will come again for sure.
Joyce, Don't Be Stupid.. Your review is terrible. You put an apostrophe in the word 'restaurant's' and you also went on to say that "Lupino is not a Trattoria (your capitalisation) where meatballs are served". Joyce it's just not your restaurant to decide whether meatballs should be served or not.
You didn't actually say anything, and I don't understand what was wrong and why you "didn't stay for dessert".
This was a great find on the top end of little Collins Street. The menu is small but should cater for all tastes. Based on recommendations were going to have the gnocchi but on seeing the daily special of steak with fennel & radicchio salad really glad to change mind. It was really good and recommend that it be on the put on the menu. Husband had the chicken risotto which was really good too.
Amazing. Gnocchi is to die for as with everything else. The marinara was pretty pathetic though, two prawns for $30..bit rich!
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Prowl-worthy. Lupino, meaning little wolf, is a busy, bustling Italian eatery in Lt Collins St, up from Bar Lourinha and on the site of the old Champagne Lounge. Been here quite a few times since it opened, and always found it to be delicious and quality food, good service and happy (if noisy) atmosphere. My tip is Sunday lunches are quieter and a good introduction to the place. Bookings required especially for prime times.
On my recent visit, l was taken out to dinner by friends who were first-timers and l have been assured will return. For entree, they had the beef carpaccio - had to order one each because too yummy to share! I ordered the eggplant parmigiana, a wonderful concoction of cheesy saucy layers, albeit a touch blackened at one edge. For mains two of us shared two of the pizzas, the anchovy and a special with artichokes and pancetta. Both were light and crisp with tasty toppings that didn't dominate but had more than enough oomph. But the flavour sensation of the night was the osso buco with soft polenta - tender juicy meat in a wonderfully rich sauce. The plate went back spotless. Dessert was a stretch on the night for me, but my hosts shared some of the gelati and were impressed by the flavours. A glass of wine each, and attentive, informed service rounded out a fun evening.
I didn't get to see the bill on that night, but its usually about $50 or so a head. A bit more expensive than the express (per-theatre/lunch) menu at Grossi, but you aren't time limited here if you aren't in a rush. Nonetheless, very good value for the quality. On previous visits, I've had more of the antipasto, including the white anchovies, marinated olives and the arancini. All of these have great flavour and a definite home-cooked attention and taste. Not to be wolfed down...
If you're looking for great simple Italian food then this is the place for you. Quality produce, great wine list, great service! And to top off a great meal was a superb coffee. We had the arancini balls, the veal, quail with soft polenta and porcini mushrooms which was a special, and Italian donuts for dessert and I cannot fault a thing! Highly recommend Lupino!
Finally an unpretentious good Italian restaurant. Wonderful simple food and lovely service to match. The octopus with potatoes and the gnocchi were stand-outs. Grazie Lupino. Everything was fantastic.
Delicious. Superb ! Divine Italian cuisine (very impressive Marco and team !!) accompanied with delicious wines - wonderful 'space' and great view of chefs in action. Sensational and memorable evening back in September. And warm perfect table service. Bellissimo !
BEST AUTHENTIC ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN MELBOURNE. I went to Lupino in a group of 8. From the minute we walked in, we all knew it was going to be a GREAT night. The staff were fantastic, the food was AMAZING and the wine was great. Best Italian Food i've eaten in a long time & includes having my mum's italian food. If you do go, make sure you eat the Arancini Balls and the Polpette. I had the Stuffed Qual which was a special and that was one of the best dishes I ever had!! I will definately be going back ::))))
Decent Italian but a bit overpriced.. Lupino has good italian food, however, for the price you pay it doesn't quite live up to in terms of taste. Defintely worth a try but if you want a really good Italian at a good price Lygon is the way to go.
Delicious meal prepared with expertise and true Italian passion. Marco, the gnocchi rival those my Nonna used to make and your pizza base- stupendo!
From the warm welcome to the excellent wine list - this wonderful restaurant did not disappoint. Richard and the front of house team were just wonderful.
Busy on a Thursday evening and yet a delightful dining experience. Buonissimo!
Delish Italian!!. Was wonderfully looked after the talented Marco, Richard and team at this fantastic restaurant! Enjoyed a divine, slow cooked lamb shank with rigatoni special accompanied by a gorgeous sangiovese. The desserts are also to die for!! Do yourself a favour and sit at the bar and watch Marco in action - the guys are happy to interact with their clients and talk food. I had a really wonderful night with the lovely staff who made me feel very welcome. I can't wait to return to Lupino next time I am in Melbourne!!! Thanks guys! x
Beautiful food, generous portions!. I dined here recently for lunch with a friend. The service was excellent and the food did not disappoint! We started with complimentary bread - crunchy and fresh; then shared the warm olives and the caprese salad with tomato, mozzarella and basil - fresh flavours! For main I had the spaghetti marinara which was full of fresh fish, prawns, muscles and cockles - the serving was large and was accompanied with chilli oil which was bought out to the table with the mains (thoroughly enjoyed this dish!). My friend had the gnocchi which she was was delicious! We ordered 2 glasses of wine and spent about $150. We were stuffed full when we left! I thoroughly enjoyed eating here and would definitely recommend giving it a try for a special occasion, or just if you are after good Italian food!
Left with a food pregnancy that I do not regret!. Pretty much awesome. I had the gnocchi for entree, Marinara main, Pannetore pudding for dessert. Let me start in saying that all of that was way too much for me but I could not stop eatting. The gnocchi was beautiful and sweet without being rich, walnuts were cooked but still had a slight crunch and the pear brought the flavours all together - not one part was bland or uneventful on the pallet. Marinara was really comfort food based - I could say Marinara is Marinara but the seafood was cooked perfectly and there was the perfect ratio of seafood and pasta. The dessert was the seller - whilst I presumed there was no room I found room after every mouthful. this pudding is not your average bland pudding. It has a melody of fruit and spices with an airy creamy base. An aweome restaurant, with great service and great dynamic! Highly recommend for a first date.. or any date.. :)
I had dinner Saturday night on my own as my friend abounded me and was sitting infront of the chefs cooking. I suddenly didn't feel alone , the chefs greeted me and so did the wait staff very attentive . The food I had that night was excellent , Vitelli tonnato, gnocchi romana, fish, and panettone pudding . They were all of a great Italian standard complements to all the staff, I am a chef and have a restaurant I know how hard it is . This is for you guys chefs and waitstaff from some one that know really good . Keep up the good work I'll be back, and also the rosemary in the panettone pudding with the gingerbread ice cream is a signature dish. Keep that !
Quality restaurant! Nice dining space, love the open kitchen, service was very good, friendly helpful and accommodating. Simple Italian dishes done really well with bags of flavour! Tiramisu was fantastic! Highly recommend!
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Have been wanting to dine here for a while and finally had the opportunity tonight for our 6 month wedding anniversary. Booked a week prior for 6:30pm and was told we would need to vacate the table by 8pm. All good. Unfortunately due to traffic we were 15 mins late. Took about 10 mins for them to come and take our order. They offered for us to order drinks the moment we were seated, without yet having seen the wine list which I then asked for. We had a couple of the small appetisers each to start off with then for the main I had the marinara spaghettini and my husband had the veal. All of the food was flawless. At 7:35 the waitress asked if we'd like to order coffee and I said we'd like to see the desert menu. She said that wasn't possible due to the time constraint. I nearly died. How rude, embarrassing and offensive. I kept my cool and asked for the bill, then left. Do I take it that they thought it was ok to move a paying customer on with 25 minutes before we needed to give up the table, save asking the next people to wait for 5 mins before we finished up, should that have even been the case? Based on the time taken to serve the rest of the meal we'd have been done by then anyway! I'm bewildered. So for that, regardless of how nice the food was, I will not return.
Further to this review....received a phone call from the owner today. Lovely guy. Was very apologetic and as it turns out it was a miscommunication amongst staff in that they thought we were on a table that needed to be vacated by 7:45. So given that, I will return :)
Enjoyable meal had by all. Helpful and efficient service, excellent wine list and great Italian standards done very very well. Will come back soon hopefully!
Had a great night out with friends. Food and wine was fantastic. Service great also. Thanks guys!
A little pricey for the quantity you get, but it was a lovely place to have a drink and a casual dinner.
Shhhh.... keep this gem hidden!. We were looking for a dinner place, and this popped up. The reservation service was quick and easy, and on the night itself, we were surprised that it wasn't busier, considering the smartness of the decor. This was an impressive place from the very start, when we sat down and looked at the very exensively sourced wine list. Our server was extremely helpful with advice and suggestions, and even challenged me to differentiate between two reds! (I passed)
If the dinner menu wasn't sufficient, they had a fair list of the day's specials too. We started with the anchovies entree (excellent) and I had veal shank with polenta. Doesn't sound like much but that's exactly the point - their approach is to let the produce speak for themselves, and the kitchen succeeded magnificently.
It was definitely a dinner to remember, and hopefully many more revisits to come!
Really tasty quick and relatively cheap Italian! Had special pizza (so yum), ricotta gnocchi which melted in the mouth, caprese salad and homemade bomboloni.....so so yum!
Fantastic service from the staff at Lupino. Beautiful food too! Great environment... Unpretentious, inobtrusive, great value... Would go back and definitely recommend.
YUM!. Love this place. Only been once but there's a nice laid back quiet atmosphere and the food was really yummy. My friends and I all ordered the same pasta special - it had asparagus, broad beans, peas and ricotta and it was just amazing. Arancini balls are a win and the staff were all very friendly, good service etc.
Will definitely be going back.
Delicious!. Warm, relaxed atmosphere. Tasty Italian food at a reasonable price. Excellent service, will definitely be back!
Very good Italian-Australian! food nothing special.... A little bit expansive but the product is 100% Italian....I'm very envy about the cellar!!!!very good Italian wine but really expansive!restaurant for couple!!!or to pick up the girl :)
Carmelo 1469. Great sexy restaurant..very good food very good experience and not expensive.
We turned up unexpectedly at 7pm on a Saturday night and were able to snag the last spot available. We Could not fault a single thing, so impressed I thought a review was deserved on the way home! Service was excellent from the minute we walked in. Without a reservation we were offered the bench seats (which at the time we thought would not make for a nice relaxing meal) and we left feeling we had the best seat in the house with the friendly, calm chefs creating spectacular dish after dish before our eyes. The wait staff were so friendly, helpful and attentive (but not overly!) and each and every dish we ordered from entree through to dessert was spot on and presented simply and looked incredibly appetising. We will definitely be going back and next time, booking the bench seats in advance to make sure we get them! I'm going to go as far as say, one of the best meals in a while :)
A perfect pasta fix. I am mad on fresh pasta and my man loves some carbohydrates after a big basketball game so after his match one night last week we made a spontaneous decision to head into Lupino. Fresh spaghetti with meatballs = the best. Lovely green salad and a light Italian red wine. Great value, nice staff. We'll be back.
Went to Lupino last night with friends and had a great night. Service was excellent and food uncomplicated but delicious. We shared a number of starters which were all great especially the arancini and polpette. Had the spaghettini marinara for main - fresh, light and delicious. Shared a bomboloni and yoghurt icecream fur dessert - yum. All of our group were really happy with their meals and will definitely return
Took my husband to lupino for a date last Friday and very much enjoyed the experience. Lovely, simple Italian flavours, reasonably priced and served with a smile. Definitely recommend!
Simply delicious dining. Bravo Lupino! Very, very much enjoyed our experience at Lupino. By far the most delicious, honest Italian food in the CBD. The service was great, from being greeted so graciously on arrival, to our departure at nearly 11pm. We love everything about Lupino and will visit again and again. Brilliant!
Elegant, efficient, excellent. Simple food, surprisingly well done.
Well priced simple Italian dinning. The dinner menu is very well priced with most mains under $30 and lots of starters to choose from. We were very hungry and only had mixed olives and our mains and we were filled! I had the clam pasta with garlic and chilli and everything was delicious. Right amount of clams to pasta, great simple sauce, just perfect. Will be back again to try the other pasta dishes.
Good pasta. Lupino is cosy and trendy with reasonably priced pasta dishes.
I had the tortellino of chicken and garlic dumplings. While quite simple was served with a tasty broth. The serve is small so it may not fill up the hungry ones. I found that the pasta was well made, looked like some amount of effort had gone into refining it.
My friend had positive things to say about the canelloni as well.
Service was efficient & friendly.
Went here by default because next door was closed for renovations.without a booking,we were seated straight away despite the restaurant being quite busy.the menu is small but everything we had was awesome!the melanzane Parma was tasty and delicious,the 3 cheese pizza was great and the chicken tortellini and lamb main were equally as amazing.very simple dishes with great flavors!loved it!service was excellent too.
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It's Saturday, my girlfriend and I take a chance on the cinema - but alas gold class is full. So we think "let's try mamasita" - but again beaten to the punch by the hordes of people with a hankering for Mexican food. We're down on our luck and about to head home when I spy somewhere I can pick up a lotto ticket (didn't win - rats!). We ask the old dear behind the counter if she knows of any good restaurants - and she says down the alley is a nice place called Lupino. We chance it. I am so glad we did. We didn't have a reservation, but they make us feel welcome, and despite our somewhat casual attire don't bat an eyelid about it. The service was fantastic and our waitress clearly knew her stuff explaining the specials with aplomb. To start my girlfriend gets a what can best be described as a goats cheese souffle - which was superb - light, melt in the mouth, delicious. In opted for an amazing sausage and lentil dish was perfect. Our mains were similarly amazing. My girlfriend having a chicken dish - which I cannot remember the name of for the life of me - all the more infuriating as she is still raving about it. I treated myself to the veal and porcini risotto - I only rarely have risotto as I'm frequently disappointed by them - but in a rare surprise this risotto was superb, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We loved this hidden gem so much that we have booked a return trip this coming Saturday and will no doubt try some of the other offerings Lupino has on show.
Buongiorno!!! Lupino!!!. I went there on Saturday night with a few friends we shared a couple of really well chosen bottles of excellent red, thanks to Richard, shared a few pizza's to start andI had the fish served with a tomato and basil salad or my main.
Friendly, knowledgable staff, friendly welcome at the door fab and fun. good looking space, I'm looking forward to the next visit!
Anchovy pizza. Amazing light delicate and make sure you apply the chilling oil.
Great Place. The way the classics should be.
Will be back soon, loved it.
Great prices for delicious, Italian food in a great place. Lupino - delicious! A great, relaxed but cool inner city restaurant. The staff are really friendly and welcoming and it's great fun to sit up at the kitchen bar and watch the chef's in action. A diverse but well thought out menu with options for a quick pre-show meal (perhaps the polpetti and a pizza) or a longer lunch/dinner. Delicious handmade pasta, interesting, tasty mains and yummy desserts. It's very reasonably priced as well - will become a regular haunt. Already looking forward to going back to try some more dishes.
Good, but a little pricey. Lupino is situated at the Paris end of Collins Street. Great location to get a bit to eat before seeing a show or catching up with friends. The service was fantastic. The staff were very attentive, which is a rarity in a lot of other restaurants. We had all "small" bowl of the warm olives and white sardines with fennel for entree served with bread. Then had pizza for main followed by coffee with dessert. Considering there was only three of us, the bill came to $190 which I thought it was a bit expensive. The servings are on the small side. All in all the restaurant was great and had a lovely atmosphere.
Great space and food. This new Italian eatery with pedigree, that is Richard Lodge and Marco Lori, has the X factor. The food is simple but sensational and service is true style. We shared the Cottechino with lentils and the polpetti both true Italian flavors. The risotto of rabbit was delicious as well as the lasagne, truly old school. Can't wait to get back here again!!!
Fantastic dining experience. I took my girlfriend out for dinner to Lupino with no prior knowledge of this place and I must say I was very impressed. We were able to walk in off the street at 7:30pm Sat night to be seated immediately, so that was great. The service was fantastic from start to finish, with regular contact to see if we needed more drinks etc. The food was also fantastic although the portion size of my meal could have been a tad larger for the price paid. Overall I recommend Lupino to anyone who enjoys Italian cuisine, it's a cozy little spot oozing in atmosphere and accompanied by friendly staff. Our visit was very pleasurable and made the perfect start to a fantastic evening in Melbourne. Timmy
A little bit of Italy at the Paris end of Collins. Lupino, a cute but classy new Italian restaurant in the site of the former champagne lounge in Little Collins street, has quickly made itself at home in amongst the European restaurants of the Spring street end of Melbourne's CBD.
Relying heavily on the old classics (rich and intense Napoletano pizzas and sumptuous quatro formaggio gnocci), this modern style bar also adds its own twists to a traditional menu.
The anchovy pizza is an absolute classic, even for those who don't normally have the palate for these salty little fish, as is the veal tortellini. But make sure you leave enough room for dessert - the bombolini, with imported Italian Nutella (you can definitely taste the difference!) are a mouth watering Italian style chocolate donut, served with a perfectly complimentary frozen yoghurt/ice cream! Don't miss out!
The World Loves Melbourne
+4.5
Lupino means 'little wolf' in Italian and this little wolf howls with Italian class and style. You can't miss the quirky red neon wolf sign on the outside of the building. Lupino is about simple things done well... They do an excellent job with classic Italian dishes with creativity and finesse! Lupino is able to bring in that rustic and "homely" feel we look for in Italian dining.
MoMo And Coco ~ Dessert Correspondents
+4.5
MoMo & Coco's "Guide to Doughnuts in Melbourne" -- elegantly restrained Lupino serves chewy nutella bomboloni, an ideal dinner before venturing to Melbourne’s equivalent of La Scala.
Lupino has been somewhere I have wanted to get to for a while and we are finally here! On a dark, cold Friday night we slip into our table and read through the mouth watering menu and fantastic Italian wine list! Prosecco Please!! The menu is quintessential Italian with wholesome comforting favourites with lasagne, spaghetti marinara and risotto to name a few. Lupino is quite small and the tables are given their space so there is a nice hum to the place without the noisiness you might get in bigger joints! This is a perfect spot for a romantic evening or quiet catch up, also means the piccies aren’t brilliant as I didn’t want to ruin everyone elses evening with a flash, flash, flash!! The quattro formaggio and pea arancini are amazing! Oozy, cheesey – delish! The Baked Polenta with gorganzola, walnuts and honey is divine! The polenta was so smooth and I could have easily eaten this all to myself!! The special white anchovy and fennel special is divine! I love white anchovy they are soo
A great little restaurant almost hidden away on Little Collins street. Friendly service and good food.
Rustic, intimate, small but well executed menu. Great for dates (in my opinion).
That place was out of this world. Good proper Italian food. The waitress that served us was amazing and she was 2 weeks from giving birth but still gave us the best service. Definitely will be back to enjoy the amazing food and drinks.
Great place with a great atmosphere. Seems to be very popular too! Don't forget to ask for their daily specials - I had their pork cutlet.
Super friendly service and all the foods are scrumptious!
Thanks for the nice service to Hola and Nicola!
The food of the day= roast chicken with the ricotta was really juicy and has a delicious sauce! Highly recommend!
Lupino is a busy yet buzzy efficient restaurant with great food, ambience and prompt friendly professional service.
A crisp lager comes out with warm fresh bread and the specials are too good to pass up. I settled for the Italian sausage ragu with gnocchi and a side of firm green beans with wilted spinach in butter. Yum yum.
From the friendly greeting to the speedy first drink while we were waiting for our friends to arrive, this restaurant oozed attentiveness. Our waiter was able to manage our chatter while he told us the evening's specials and our food arrived promptly. Our entrees of crispy cauliflower went down a treat, even with the children. We were celebrating a birthday so dessert came out with some special attention. The bill needed to be divided and that seemed to be no problem. Add all this to the small, reasonably priced car park twenty metres away, and our pleasant night was complete.
Amazing 👏
Food was exceptional. Staff were friendly and atmosphere was lovely and chill.
Exceptional service from Amanda! High quality cheeses, meats cooked with care and skill, all types of dietary requirements catered for and followed up during the meal without causing a fuss. The Tiramisu was the best I have ever had or prepared myself. Awesome.
Quite enjoyed the day out in CBD, dining in at Lupino by the recommendation. Gnocchi, crumbled veal, tiramisu, and great selection of red wine listing were the highlight. Hope to return soon after reintroducing pre-Covid menu with more extensive antipasto and dish offerings
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