Review Lupino Bistro And Bar - Melbourne

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

A bit pricey but consistently good. Friendly service with helpful staff.

After visiting Italy back in 2018, I was blown away by the stark difference between authentic Italian pasta vs what we get in restaurants or commercially from supermarkets. I am no pasta connoisseur but I will try to avoid pasta related dishes for fear of disappointment. Now Lupino was one of those restaurants on my radar prior to visiting the pasta motherland and admittedly, I am guilty of procrastinating a visit despite the many possible opportunities. Seeing as I would be in the CBD area on my day off, I decided to pick up the phone and book a table for the sister and myself.

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.

It’s just good.

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.

I love Lupino. 😍

Exceptional food with good vibes

We’re from Santa Monica; we were in Melbourne for a wedding. Several people recommended this restaurant. We really liked this place. The manager and staff could not have been friendlier or more accommodating to us. Everyone was exceptionally gracious. But one of the dishes we ordered was the “crab” pasta lunch special. We were there late so maybe all the crab had been used up. But there was one small piece of crab in that dish. The size of my thumbnail. It was embarrassing. We didn’t complain. But to call that dish “crab” pasta wasn’t right. No crab flavor. At all. Amazingly it wasn’t bad, just ..no crab. So while we would be glad to try it again, we reluctantly give the restaurant a “3”.

Such a disappointing pasta - although the spaghetti itself was cooked perfectly, the blue swimmer crab was totally lost in a heavy tomato sauce. Had been expecting something that would highlight the delicate crab. Used to love this place but at out most recent visit the food was lacklustre.

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. <br/><br/>Restaurants need to take steps to reduce their waste, and this is a very small step! <br/><br/>(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. <br/><br/>Loved our starters and mains. Wine selection on point. Will be back to try the other menu items 💕💕

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!<br/>

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!

The Zomato menu isn't quite up to date :( <br/><br/>Ordered:<br/>🍕 Margarita pizza (v) ($22)<br/>🍖+ prosciutto ($5)<br/>🍝 Pumpkin and gorgonzola agnolotti, butter and sage sauce (v) ($27)<br/><br/>Review:<br/>So the interior of Lupino was super nice but kind of small and difficult to find. There's no obvious signage, but it's the white building opposite the car park hidden by the massive tree! Upon our arrival, we were quick to realize Lupino requires booking but they were happy to accommodate for our small party of 2 at the bar, overlooking the chefs awesome technique. Entertainment and food? Awesome!!<br/><br/>Pumpkin and gorgonzola agnolotti was creamy and would definitely be overbearing if not for the lavishly salty pizza.<br/> They were happy to accommodate to my friend's request of LOTS OF PARMESAN and drowned our dish it in haha.<br/>This was a filling combo, especially when they opened our bellies up with some warm on the house bread and butter! <br/>Would be really nice for an intimate dinner and the servers are friendly as well.<br/><br/>Can't say the almost $30 price tag justifies the quantity of the meal - because it is decent - but there was a high change the quantity wouldn't have been enough if I hadn't eaten prior.<br/>Lupino is a great place but there was nothing that WOW'ed me.

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⭐️ <br/>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!<br/>They also serve pretty good pizza too.

Yum yum & yum! <br/>The waitress was so polite, helpful & customer service was high on the scale 👌🏽<br/>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. <br/>The waiting staff were friendly too. Will be coming back for sure!

3.8. Nice place recommended by a sage like member of our dining party.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>Our server was excellent. Pleasant, engaging and very efficient. A credit to the craft.<br/><br/>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.

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.<br/><br/>Very attentive staff attended to our table and describes specials and answered our menu questions.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.

I had high expectations for Lupino after reading the reviews but left feeling a little disappointed. We ordered the seafood pasta and the prawn pasta that was a special of the day. The pasta was a little soft and the dish needed more seasoning. I felt like the food was uninspiring and needed more of a wow factor. The tiramisu was delightful though. Service was attentive and friendly. That being said, I won't be rushing to return.

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. <br/>Food was exceptional. First time but will definitely be back. I need to try everything on the menu. <br/>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!! <br/>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. <br/><br/>Some of our highlights-<br/>Crab spaghetti<br/>Veal ravioli<br/>Croquette<br/><br/>Dessert - can't go past those fluffy doughnuts with nutella and orange jam can you??!! Yumzz

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! <br/><br/>We ordered a few dishes to share and they were all delicious! So fresh, full of flavour and tasty. <br/>- 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.<br/>- Crab croquette <br/>- Ragu pasta from the specials menu. Pasta sauce was full of flavour! <br/>- Tagliolini prescators. Pasta was cooked perfectly.<br/>- Contorno del Giorno (green beans). This was a little greasy for me. <br/>- Tiramisu. Yum! <br/><br/>

Disappointing. We picked this place for pre-show dining as it was close to the Princess Theatre. Ultimately, the food was bland and so overpriced even for the city since the servings were so small. The agnolotti was awful - amaretto taste overpowered everything and the inside filling was just mushy. Mushroom risotto was in desperate need of salt and pepper, for what I'm paying, I shouldn't need to season the meal myself.<br/><br/>Service was so so, felt like we weren't good enough to be dining there and were getting rushed out as a result. They didn't need to rush us since we were nearly late for the show after the food took so long to come out. Think we offended the waiters when we ordered a few different plates to share.

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!<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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!

Sometimes nothing compensates for the horrible hospitality. Nonexistent service, only attempts to rush us out, discovered on our way out our table was the only table not given complimentary entree bread, perhaps too strategic a move? I highly doubt it was an innocent mistake because our table of 6 was the largest group occupying the hall and they didn't forget to give us their chilli oil. It was my sister's birthday so I didn't make a fuss but what a disappointing experience. If you want decent creamy gnocchi go to Entrecote for their divine mushroom and truffle gnocchi or Gemma's for better pizzas.

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:<br/>1. Arancini - really tasty, you can't really go wrong with this <br/>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 <br/>3. Zeppole dessert - average, order something else instead <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>The Gnocchi in a gorgonzola sauce was exquisite. Absolutely perfect. Two other meals were beautiful as well and the tiramisu was a masterpiece.<br/><br/>The setting is lovely and the prices are reasonable - without the wine our food bill was around $70.<br/><br/>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.

Yum...just yum! <br/>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. <br/>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.

I felt like we were being hurried a bit. I know we were told we had to leave by 715 (in at 530), we were told of this, but the waiter hanging around packing plates while others on the table were still eating entrees was not necessary. In the end we left at 630, and although we wanted a coffee I could feel eyes on us to leave for the next sitting. Not necessary guys. We knew what time we had to be out. <br/><br/>Entrees were overall pretty good. Eggplant parmigiana was yum, cauliflower was great, arancini yum. Mains were a let down however. The pasta reminded me of thicker 2 minute noodles. The seafood in the scoglio pasta was not fresh. The mussels were strange tasting. Agnitolli not great tasting. The crumbed chicken was ok as was the lasagna, but nothing spectacular the pizza a bit underdone.

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!).<br/><br/>The food was consistently good throughout the courses, but felt certain dishes simply lacked that 'flavour sparkle' and was a little bit lifeless. <br/><br/>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). <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/><br/>......................................................................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<br/>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!

Interesting combination of flavours and tasty. <br/><br/>Started with creamy crab mix, deep fried- was crisp outside, creamy mix on inside. It was nice treat before dinner and inexpensive $4each.<br/><br/>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. <br/>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).<br/><br/>Finished with warm cinnamon donuts with nutella- yum!<br/><br/>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 +.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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!

A coworker and I were looking for an Italian place to grab lunch while we were on our breaks and this place had great reviews so we thought we'd try it out.<br/><br/>I'm going to warn anyone else in the same boat that this is NOT the place to go if you need a meal in a standard 30-minute lunch break and if your outfit looks like it cost less than $250.<br/><br/>We work in a retail setting so we weren't dressed in suits or anything, just casual clothes, and the minute we walked in, we could tell the waitress and hostess weren't happy they had to serve us. They didn't treat us with the same amount of respect as the other patrons, who were much better dressed and obviously had more time on their hands to linger over coffee and dessert and chat while spending more money at Lupino. (It could also have been based on our ethnicity but I really don't want to think that was the reason we were treated the way we were.) The staff weren't completely unpleasant but they weren't nice either. It was clear they wanted us to leave as soon as possible. Even some of the other diners were shooting us dirty looks.<br/><br/>Bread and butter was provided for free, along with water, but both took a while to arrive at our table. Our food was delivered slightly faster than we expected, but it would have been better if it had taken longer since both of our dishes were undercooked (and this was not during the lunch rush period). My friend ordered the spaghetti with clams (which at the time of writing this review is not shown on the menu on this website) and I ordered the veal and Amoretto agnolotti. The meat inside my agnolotti was extremely mushy and the burnt butter and sage sauce was just tangy brown water. The flavour of the sage didn't come through at all, it had been drowned by the Amoretto. My friend's clams weren't cleaned properly and there was still sand present in his clams, quite visibly. I didn't have any of his meal but his pasta was VERY pale. He said the whole thing tasted plain, just a mess of unclean seafood, dull tomatoes and undercooked pasta with no sauce or effort put into the flavours. Portion sizes were small-ish (especially considering how expensive it was), but it didn't matter since this place's service made both of us lose our appetites since we didn't feel welcome here.<br/><br/>After we finished our food, our waitress came over and barely gave us enough time to respond to her question of whether we wanted anything else before whisking away our plates and getting our bill ready at the counter.<br/><br/>The interior looks alright, but it's nothing special. Big ventilation pipes hanging from the ceiling above some of the diners and the kitchen, which is open-ish and you can see the chefs preparing some of the food. It's not a huge place but it wasn't cluttered either.<br/><br/>TLDR;<br/>Terrible service if you look like you earn less than 80K a year<br/>Food that has me questioning how this place has a good rating<br/>Super expensive, even if the staff treat you well and if your food is delicious since the portions are small<br/>DON'T EAT HERE.

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.

Flew into Melbourne, checked into our hotel and after a long day we wanted something delicious for dinner.<br/>We were delighted to find Lupino just a few doors down Little Collins St.<br/>It was busy and they were in the middle of dinner service.<br/>The barman greeted us warmly and we sat at the bar with a drink to wait for a table.<br/>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.<br/>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. <br/>My wine loving husband was impressed with the red varietals offered- including Barbaresco. <br/>And the food. Warmed olives, so moorish. Fresh ciabatta.<br/>Cauliflower fritto with white anchovies and aioli- oh my goodness- I could've eaten them all night!<br/>Then my risotto- porcini/spinach and goats cheese. Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned and served "all'onda", on the wave.<br/>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.<br/>My husband declared his ricotta gnocchi to be delicious too.<br/>Dessert did not disappoint, coffee, very good and we enjoyed a liqueur and a grappa respectively to round out a wonderful evening.<br/>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.

Second time to this place but was very surprised with the service. We brought a birthday cake but was told not allowed to serve inside the restaurant! First time ever we were told due to the fact of Council reasons (eyebrows rising) they changed us for the dessert with NO birthday writings on it and the waitress was not friendly throughout the whole night. Food wise it was good despite the poor 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. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.

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.

A very relaxed and chic Italian restaurant. Food is decent, but a bit overpriced. Wouldn’t come back. Spaghetti Marinara $30. Fresh seafood and good flavour. But probably not worth the price. 7.5/10. Crumbed Veal and Caponata $34. Veal was dry and not enough flavour. Would’ve liked a bit of sauce with it. 7/10

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.

A very relaxed and chic Italian restaurant. Food is decent, but a bit overpriced. Wouldn't come back. Spaghetti Marinara $30. Fresh seafood and good flavour. But probably not worth the price. 7.5/10. Crumbed Veal and Caponata $34. Veal was dry and not enough flavour. Would've liked a bit of sauce with it. 7/10

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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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! <br/>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. <br/><br/>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!!!!!<br/>Dessert my favorite tiramisu was light and fluffy <br/>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.

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

Had a pizza. It was fine, but nothing special and I think it took a bit too long to come out. I've had similar style and better tasting pizzas at busier restaurants (e.g. 400 Gradi, La Svolta in Prahran) arrive in less time.

Over 30 minute wait for pork fillet (lukewarm) at 9:40pm when most people had already eaten, served by staff with a look on their faces of total disinterest. Never again.

Poor service, poker face waitress , not come back anymore. When the waitress recommend daily special , no smile at all, no greeting. Like machine. Let customer feel not training properly and rude attitude.<br/>It is our first time to be here and the first impression already negative... In a hospitality industry, service always come first! When we ask for some tissue. Waitress come with cold face and bring some toilet hand paper! Seriously ?!

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).<br/>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.

Panna cotta - a new favourite. The food as always was delicious last night. I had the beef carpaccio, tortellini in broth and the panna cotta. Service was impeccable, efficient and attentive. Atmosphere was lively but not too noisy. We have been coming to Lupino fairly regularly over the last three years and absolutely love it. This has always been our experience there. Can't recommend it highly enough.

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.<br/>A truly exceptional evening with superb food and service. We'll definitely be heading there again soon!<br/><br/>Thank you Marco and crew!

Retro slick. Remember those cool Italian restaurants from the eighties, very Conran, clean lines, lovely lighting?<br/>This is Lupino. Simple, well crafted food, succinct, well chosen wine list, slick staff. Buzzy without being loud.<br/>Polite, charming and confident.<br/>An irresistible combination.<br/>Have eaten here three times in the last two months. Just 'cos.<br/>Book, or eat at the kitchen counter.<br/>Or book the kitchen counter.

Be ware the wolf. Having recommended it to friends over time, we were very disappointed on Monday evening. Unfriendly service and coldish mains after a hurry up on the entree. The friendly fun has left this place, and with it the food pizzazz. We escorted ourselves out, without so much as a goodbye.

False. Thought it would it would be better, when I asked for plate for my bread was told no .Food was very well cooked and presented but small quantities .Was not asked If I wanted a drink where others at our table where.A big let down could not wait to get home and have more to eat. sorry I would have to give it a 2 -1/2 Star.The waiters could have smiled a littlealso

Great food average service.. We went here for lunch on Sunday (Mother's Day) to kick off my 40th birthday. Initially we were ignored by the staff and I had to wait a long time to find out what the specials were and to order a drink. <br/>The food was spectacular. I ordered the risotto. I think it's the best risotto I have ever tasted! So great food but It was a little let down by the service.

Definately won't be back!. My experience at Lupino would have to be the worst . Our seating was only for 1 hour and 15min which I feel is quite tight for a seating time, most other places are 2 hours minimum, in saying this we did go ahead with the booking as we could not get a reservation elsewhere. The service was unacceptable!!! we were rushed to not only eat but be out the door on time for the next booking. Food was still on our plates as the waitresses took it away from under us, they were circulating our table non stop. <br/>We were happy to leave at the agreed time if we were not treated that badly. Food was ok overall but would not recommend the risotto, let just say my other friend and I had to rush home soon after as we did not feel well.

...When it turns chilly, there is only one thing my body wants to do and that is to carb load. This explains why we demolished two large Wilo pizzas on the Thursday night and then decided we needed more, more, more pizza and pasta on Friday. Luckily, Lupino was on hand to dole out the goods. Located at the top of Little Collins Street, Lupino, which means ‘little wolf’ in Italian is recognisable by the glowing red wolf’s head above it’s entrance. The dining room is buzzy from the chatter of diners and the hiss of pans from the open kitchen. Banquette and bar seating rules and there’s a larger table situated at the back of the restaurant for big groups- it has an element of privacy but still benefits from the atmosphere of the dining room. A succinct menu tempts us made up of small plates- salted cod croquettes, vitello tonnato or arancini may take your fancy, a few pizzas, pasta, sides and a few main-style dishes- crumbed veal, fish of the day or a pork cutlet...

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.

Small main portion. Food is delicious, but guys, don't go there if you are hungry.

Not impressed at all. I went there last night for dinner and I was NOT impressed. I ordered the veal & pea angel hair spaghetti dish and it was gross. I only ate a bit because I was hungry and I needed to eat something right then to take my medicine - therefore I was NOT in the mood to argue otherwise I would have complained. The dish was lacking in salt, any decent flavors and there was way too much cheese in there - plus it tasted a bit milky. The pasta was stuck together, and it didn't even look good/appetizing on the plate. It looked like gross cat food. I don't understand HOW they served that dish to a paying customer. <br/>I was hungry so I ate the leftovers from the pizza my friend ordered. The pizza was ok, nothing special.<br/>I will not return and I DO NOT recommend this restaurant to anyone else.

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.<br/>Love the no name, secret sign on the door, adds to the intrigue...<br/>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!<br/>The food was sublime. Every dish that came out was devoured with much gusto and great enjoyment.<br/>The wine list is fairly extensive and the dessert menu is impossible to pass on. The Buffalo milk pana cotta was amazing!

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!! =)<br/><br/>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! <br/><br/>Tried the arancini, proscioutto pizza, gnocchi pomodoro, trifle and biscotti.<br/>Arancini: Amazing, flavourful little balls of goodness! Do they sell these frozen by the bag? If not, they should! <br/>Pizza: Lovely crust, great quality toppings and generous.<br/>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.<br/>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! <br/>Biscotti: Good, but not what Dad was after as he wanted the plain, flat ones.<br/><br/>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. =) <br/><br/>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. <br/>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! <br/><br/>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 <br/>For once we wanted to try everything on the menu .. Delicious .. We weren't even planning to have pizzas but pizzas were a hit <br/>Defintely will be returning <br/>Sticking to simple Italian traditional dishe , you can't loose <br/>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.

Great food. However.... My partner was happily eating the olive and salami pizza when he bit into a seed, luckily his teeth were fine. When it was brought up to the waitress she gave a confused look. There was no apology. But finally when the bill came around the waitress finally asked if his teeth were ok. But still no proper apology.<br/><br/>The food itself was very nice. Their pasta was cooked perfectly and presented beautifully. The pizza had a great texture and was light and full of flavour. It was simple food brought to it's full potential. It's a shame that the food was great but their customer service could be better in my opinion. Based on previous experience I recommend to deal with this situation differently. Simply acknowledge (not avoid) and apologise...

We dined here last night & thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! Great food, great atmosphere & the staff are efficient & friendly. Thank you Richard, this is now one of our favourites and as a local, we will make it a regular.

You're the best......around. Delish....walked in off street. Sooo nice and great price. Service exceptional. Def coming back fo sho.

Absolutely delicious!. To die for food. Amazing meatballs. Delicious pizza. Best bread. Scrummy veal. So so so good! Avoid the dried out Nutella bombalones and back area is too quishy for more than 10 people but ace overall!

Not very Gluten-Free. There are too many better options for Italian dining in Melbourne. Everything about my experience at Lupino was below acceptable. Upon being seated we ordered a bottle of Prosecco which promptly arrived but a very slow waiter to return meant we went looking for the bottle to refill. Once the bottle was empty we sat through three courses without another drink offered! There was hardly anything on the menu that was glutenfree. They offered gluten-free pasta but some of the pasta sauces were not gluten-free so there was only two options left and the waiter said that it was a problem to order gluten-free pasta. It was like he just couldn't be bothered. The only option left for me was a risotto and it was pretty ordinary. Another had the risotto and concurred. There are much better Italian options in Melbourne for Gluten-Free.

So good going back again. We are from Sydney and stumbled on this bistro. We had a very pleasant experience and some delicious food so we rebooked for dinner two nights later. The staff were great and the food was delicious. The restaurant was packed on a Monday night which must say something. My husband loved the beetroot salad.

Never going back. Seriously I have not had such bad service in any restaurant like we experienced last Wednesday night at Lupino. The Manager was rude and certainly needs to take some serious customer service lessons. Food was ok, just basic Italian food. Have had better at my local pizza shop. Other waiters were quite nice and pleasant. But will never go back .... the manager is a complete idiot!

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!!

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.

Understated, unpretentious, delicious Italian in a warm atmosphere. One of my favourite restaurants, especially on a cold wet night. The staff are welcoming and efficient without being over the top, the food is unapologetically classic Italian favourites, and if they ever take the gnocchi gorgonzola off the menu I think I would cry. Not the cheapest but worth every cent and more. I only wish I could go more often.

Crap don't go waste your hard warned

Warm and welcoming.. A thoroughly enjoyable experience. Friendly and attentive staff, without pomp. Pleasing menu and guest friendly space.

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. <br/>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. <br/>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.<br/>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. <br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>My friend & I were in synch with choices, as we both also ordered the tiramisu for desert. It was wonderful.<br/><br/>Wines were great. Nice coffee to finish.<br/><br/>Fantastic service.<br/><br/>Great vibe. Stylish, buzzy, but not too noisy either.<br/><br/>Well done Richard Lodge. Thanks for making us feel welcome.<br/><br/>Cheers, Jane D

Brought a client and my boss for dinner at Lupino after reading reviews. Glad we did! <br/>They were very accommodating (we were little late due to traffic) and the service was brilliant. <br/>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...<br/>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.

Amazing. Took two of our Melbourne friends there for lunch, they now rate it as the best Italian Bistro in Melbourne and they are serious foodies, we loved everything about this place the staff, the owner was so friendly and helpful, we are definitely putting this on our list of where to go in Melbourne.

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!

Wedding Lunch. 10/10 - what a magnificent meal to celebrate a very special occasion. Great service, the opportunity to watch the chefs prepare the meals - and be prepared to answer questions - just added to the occasion. Traditional Italian fare - I should have photographed the menu so I could better describe the meals had by all. All three courses were exquisite and most unique. So well looked after by the staff - definitely a revisit in order next trip to Melbourne.<br/>Highly recommended.

Great slightly retro atmosphere, beautiful rustic Italian food and a very warm and friendly attitude to service. Will definitely be back.

Loved the swordfish tagliatelle. Lovely ambience, reasonable price, extensive wine menu. Definitely worth a visit.

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. <br/><br/>For dessert, can't go past the panettone pudding which is also a great sharing size.

Unimpressed. Food was ordinary, nothing to rave about. The chicken tortelloni was cooked perfectly, but was bland. The risotto also lacked flavour and excitement. Even the bomboloni dessert (nutella donuts) was hard, chewy and difficult to eat. Highlight of the meal was the wine. Expected much more and did not think it was worth spending a meal there.

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.<br/>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 :)

Disappointing. Lupino was recommended by a good friend with great taste. For the price, I was disappointed. The arancini were slightly dry and plain and the Parmigana Melenzana was not better than what I can make at home. The gnocchi with gorgonzola was, however, fantastic.<br/><br/>We were a group of nine and found the restaurant's inability to cater to different dietary requirements inadequate. We each paid $75 per head for a main and share entrees or desserts, with 1-2 glasses of wine each. There are better options for Italian in Melbourne.

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. <br/>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

Joyce and John, Don't be stupid. I have never read more rubbish in my life! You both obviously are used to eating bastardised italian food which we are so used to having hear in Australia. I am Italian and I never go to italian restaurants for this fact alone....until I found Lupino! Unpretentious, fresh, seasonal food. It's what I grew up with and its what I cook now! Highly recommended on my part.

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!

Catherine. Dined at Lupino yesterday. Beautiful food but $51.00 for a bottle of Prosecco was a bit over the top. Why do we have to get so ripped off for alcohol in licensed restaurants?

The first 15 Seconds - Pleasantly surprised. We tried Lupino out due to a recommendation. Firstly, it is great to find a restaurant opened at that end of the CBD on a Sunday. Secondly, the minute we walked in there was a nice feel to the place. In my opinion the first 15 seconds you enter a restaurant gives you get a good indication as to how the service is going to be and Lupino was definitely up there. The food was delicious, arancini balls(starters), prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella served on delicious, plump peaches (entree), followed by a rabbit ragout served with penne pasta. The serving sizes were very substantial and there is no way you would leave hungry. The stand out was the service which was exceptional. The bill was very reasonable for what we ate and drank. We would definitely return. Another Melbournian treasure!

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. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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.

Lovely. A trendy little restaurant that does simple Italian well. I ordered the gnocchi pomodoro (admittedly, after watching it served to Matt Preston on their website). I have to say that the ricotta gnocchi was faultless: pillowy and feather soft, bathed in a fresh tomato sauce. No frills, but boy was it done to perfection.

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.

Over cooked and bland would be the best way to describe the food;<br/>it's a shame when one can cook better than a Reaturant!!

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.<br/><br/>You didn't actually say anything, and I don't understand what was wrong and why you "didn't stay for dessert".

Great name. Go in thinking it was authentic Italian food - meatballs! Who serves meatballs? Lupino is not a Trattoria where meatballs are served. <br/>And since when do Italian restaurant's have Western Star butter in plastic packets on the tables?<br/>Then fancy telling the patron that I have chosen a 'heavy meal'. However that heavy meal were the gnocchi that I will give a 9/10. <br/>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.

The menu is full of typos how can this be authentic Italian ?

Amazing. Gnocchi is to die for as with everything else. The marinara was pretty pathetic though, two prawns for $30..bit rich!

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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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!<br/>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.<br/>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.. :)

Not sure what all the fuss is about. Dining at Lupino was an average experience. Food was okay but not outstanding in my opinion.

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 !

Pitiful service. The greatest food in the world doesn't make up for the terrible service , I will never go back !!

Well excuse me for wanting dessert. My partner and I walked in lupino at 9.30 pm after dinner as we were told lupino had fantastic desserts only to be refused a table because we weren't interested in a main meal . To be turned away because we weren't going to be having a main meal was unacceptable . Disapointed by the attitude we recieved

Lupino was an overpriced abomination of Italian food. I thought the service was at best ok, and this is the only positive that could be said about the modern Italian restaurant. I ordered the fish of the day with the tomato salad. The fish was at best just enough to feed a 12 year old and the salad was more of a garnish then a side dish as it was not sizable enough. Would not return here.

Service was excellent however, food was bland and pizzas were poorly described on menu.<br/>The "anchovy pizza" was literally a base with 4 anchovy fillets. For $17 you would expect more than 1 topping item....Overall not bad but would not go back.

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!

Wonderful. I was in Melbourne recently and dinned at Lupino, twice infact, once at a table and the other night at the bar, I was given amazing service, the food was outstanding I love Melbounre and its dinning Richard has done a wonderful job with this new restaurant, I can't wait to return and have the Goats cheese Soufflé it was delectable!!<br/>Jane<br/>NZ

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.<br/><br/>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 :)

One of my favorite restaurants in Melbourne! Fantastic service and atmosphere, accompanied by yummy food!

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.

Delicious.. Two of us went for lunch today. We managed to get a reservation at the bar, as we only called a couple of days ago to book. We arrived, Richard seated us and took our coats. He was genuine and friendly. Our seats where right over the chefs workstation, and it was lovely to watch them prepare and get everything out with calm and ease. We had the beef carpaccio, gnocchi and the lamb ragu. Washed done with a lovely bottle of red. Could not fault the food or the service. The lamb was sensational, melt in the mouth and not overly seasoned. The gnocchi was fluffier than clouds. Fresh and light. We finished of with a trio of amazing sorbetti.<br/>I do think the prices are a bit steep at about $160 for a shared entree, two mains, a bottle of Cabenet (our wine was $60) a shared sorbet for dessert and a glass of Nonino. Although they do have wine by the glass and some cheaper bottles. I believe the prices reflect what has become of Melbourne restaurants, especially up this end of Collins. The food however is excellent and wont disappoint.

Not recommended. Really terrible service. Rude, too hasty, arrogant.

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)<br/>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.<br/>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.

Great for Sunday Lunch. On a trip to the City we thought lunch would be nice but most of the establishments near parliment were closed on Sunday. What a result choosing Lupino. Friendly well informed staff. Laid back atmosphere and fantastic reasonably priced food. I opted for Osso Bucco my wife a Lamb Ragu Pasta dish both were excellent. We would definately go back.

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.<br/>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.

Popped in as a table of 7 around 5.30 on Sunday night before the Comedy Fest & had quite possibly the best casual Italian dining experience I have ever had. This place couldnt be faulted.

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

It was ok. Went here with my partner and parents a couple of night ago. We had a booking so no problem getting a table. Food was pretty good. The anchovies for a starter were delicious. We were not impressed with the service, the waiter was not very friendly. It was good, but I don't think I would go back, there are so many other restaurants I would rather go back to before this one.

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!

Arrogant & pretentious! Simply awful service.. Totally agree with Jenna's review below. Went here with a girlfriend all dressed up from a day in the office. When we got there, was "greeted" (if you can call it that!) by the most awful host who flatly told us (half empty restaurant, Wednesday night) that "his" restaurant was "totally booked up" & that we could squish onto the bar if we were interested. I mentioned that we wouldn't be long, as I was probably only after a wine & some olives, whereas my friend was after a wine & a meal. The host flat refused us entry as we "both had to be eating or we don't want you here". He went on to say "we're not a bar ladies: we don't want you here if you just want a wine". Seriously. I was absolutely disgusted! Post-GFC the first thing to go is eating out & entertainment! This is a new establishment yet to forge a name in Melbourne - I am totally horrified. After a few drinks we would've probably ordered mains & could've easily spent $100+. Worse service I have come across in a while - DO NOT go here! Not worth it. We took our business to Lane's Edge, had a fabulous entrée & main meal + wines & with a fantastic smiling waitress who was more than happy to help.

Soft and easy.. One thing I nursed apart from a heaving food baby, was Lupino's cute business card. Cute. <br/>So, the food is quite nice. A little over priced for what you actually get, but I think that is a little bit of a food trend at present. I'd give it a 6. Simple and tasty. Nothing to write home about, but the exceptional service and fun we had with our waitress made the glow on our cheeks crimson. The decor is quite new, modern, dark and nice lighting. If strolling past, I'd happily come back to say hey. Even a nice business luncheon or something simple for my family from the country.

Lupino is a welcome addition to an increasingly well renowned 'foodie precinct.'. Food is simple and (mostly) well executed Italian fare, where fresh ingredients are allowed to 'shine.' Chicken dish was somewhat dry and service was a little slow. Waitstaff missed more that one opportunity to up-sell and suggestive sell. Overall, an adequate dining experience.

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. <br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>My friend had positive things to say about the canelloni as well.<br/><br/>Service was efficient & friendly.

Arrogant much?. Don't bother going to this place if you don't bother to dress yourself up or at least pretend you're going to spend big. For the manager or whoever it was who turned us down saying restaurant is going to be "full", do yourself a favour and don't treat people like they are fools, although it's not our loss for not spending at your restaurant and instead give businesses to some other much more friendly restaurants nearby.

Lupino. Went here with a friend last week and was generally disappointed with the experience. <br/>I ordered crumbed chicken with prosciutto, served with radicchio and fennel salad. The chicken was bland and under cooked. It comprised 3 chicken medallions and only one (the smallest) had one piece of prosciutto baked on to the chicken. The radicchio and fennel salad was oily and without any flavour. My friend's lamb salad (special) was good and she graciously shared it with me, but the caprese salad was so stingy! 8 slices of tomato and one ball of mozzarella. <br/>We ordered affogatos for dessert and again, pretty disappointing, cheap vanilla ice cream and weird proportions of ice cream and coffee (way to much ice cream and not enough coffee).<br/>I expected much more from this restaurant, particularly given the prices they charge for their food and wine.<br/>Do not recommend, there are much better Italian restaurants in Melbourne.

Disappointing. Meatballs lacked flavour, steak was fatty, and the eggplant dish bland. On the plus side, caprese salad was good as was the service. Although not too expensive, I would say folks, give this place a miss, plenty of other great places to spend your money in the CBD

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.

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. <br/>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.<br/><br/>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!!!

Absolutley perfect, you won't be disapppointed. To put it simply, "this restaurant is WOW". <br/><br/>The service, food, wine and ambience is first class, I couldn't find fault with anything.<br/><br/>The pizza's are absolutely melt in your mouth, all dishes we tried were simple honest and great tasting.<br/><br/>We enjoyed the food so much we went back for lunch the next day to receive the same great food and service.<br/><br/>My only regret is I live in Sydney and can't visit too often, but when in Melbourne I know where to head to for an excellent meal.

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. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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!

Its a pleasant place with nice decor and good service. The gnocchi gorgonzola was appealing on the menu - a rich sauce on soft gnocchi dumplings sounded great - and it was. It certainly lived up to expectations.

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.

Another one of my favourites - Lupino for gorgeous hearty Italian dishes.

Lupino is definitely my favourite Italian bistro in the city. What’s not to love? The bright and cosy interior, the quick service and most importantly - delicious hearty Italian food.

If anyone were to ask me where they could find good Italian pasta, I have to say Lupino would be a good bet. Beautifully cooked hearty food aside, there’s something simple and honest about Lupino that makes it one of my top picks for a Friday lunch

the feel of the place - it’s relaxed yet seductive, and the gorgeously simple and wholesome Italian food they plate up that I find comforting.

Salad of prosciutto, grilled peaches, goats cheese and basil. It was the most exciting dish we had and it was delicious. I loved the sweetness of the peaches with the salty prosciutto, and those gorgeous char lines stamped onto the fruit.

It was simple and fresh and there was plenty of it. The pasta itself was delicious. It may look messy, but what it lacked in presentation it more than made up for in flavour.

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

Lovely pasta encasing a bouncy, tasty chicken filling and a sweet, tomatoey soup with oozy bocconcini. Such a comforting and homely dish.

The spaghettini was beautiful. Huge, plump and succulent mussels, clams with a bit of texture, chunks of fish, sweet prawn, garlic and olive oil. It was salty and tasted of the sea and the waitress brought me some fresh chilli oil to add some heat which was an addition I loved. The only problem is I like things quite spicy and by adding oil to a dish already well oiled meant that towards the end of eating I was beginning to feel a bit too oiled!

A great little restaurant almost hidden away on Little Collins street. Friendly service and good food.

I was really disappointed with the pizza offers in Melbourne so I got to this place Lupino, modern Italian bistro, dark dim lights, strange music selection including Bob Marley, an extensive menu, kitchen under the command of chef Marco Lori, same mastermind after Australian Good Food Guide one hat award winning Becco

Rustic, intimate, small but well executed menu. Great for dates (in my opinion).

The atmosphere at Lupino is pretty casual and relaxed. Service was quick, efficient and unobtrusive, but not too formal. I felt they've nailed the bistro style on the head. The menu is minute yet quite varied. There are good meat and vegetarian options for entrée and main and a number of dishes to share. We started with a fine crust rosemary and garlic pizza served with chilli oil. Crispy and well seasoned. Garlic and rosemary pizza ($14) I have to say I didn't really like the look of the arancini balls when they came to the table. They were really dark and looked overcooked. My impression changed as soon as I had a bite. The rice was perfectly cooked and moist. I really liked the gooey, stringy cheese you got with each bite. Arancini balls ($3.50 each) Next