Review Cicciolina - Melbourne

Alex Cavallety

This restaurant it’s unbelievable! I came here in 2019 and I loved it! today, after few years ago, I found still operating and serving the most delicious food. Thanks to all the great and kind staff who make our experience beyond of good. I recommend 💯 percent

Tovia Va'aelua

Beautiful authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of St. Kilda. Ordered the sardine pasta for mains and the tiramisu for dessert. Partner in crime went with the sticky pudding which also looked good. Fast and friendly service who made you feel at home. Highly Recommended.

Dirty Haz

Upmarket vibes As we walked up to Cicciolina I noticed a famous rapper from shepparton eating out the front. Good signs from the get go. We entered to a warmly lit area with some interesting artwork and a cosy feel. First was 2 espresso Martinis which impressed us with quantity, the quality was on par. We started with the foccacia which had Gorgonzola and anchovy. It was amazing. Followed by the beef tartare which was a treat. Mains were 2 pastas and chips. I ordered the chips as I'm wary in nicer places that mains are generally smaller but these were proper servings which I enjoyed. My ragu pasta did no disappoint and the Mrs loved hers swimmer crab pasta. The only constructive things I would add is that the hot chips could have been cooked a little longer until more crunchy and my swivel chair needed some wd40. It squeaked whenever I turned. But let's be honest you don't go out for a nice dinner for the hot chips. Great meal overall but a bit expensive to have regularly. Expect to spend close to 200 for all that and a couple drinks. Good spot for a special occasion. Will be back.

Warren Tate Speaker Coach

Love this place. A great pop in place before dinner at Cicciolinas or for a drink and nibbles, there is a great selection of share plates (the meatballs are amazing). They also have Bog and beer nights (bolognese and beer or wine). The staff are always friendly and you can choose from the main menu if you desire. Love the atmosphere. It’s easy to find, down the lane way behind the restaurant.

stephen garth

Such a great place to eat. Magnificent food, reasonably priced, and portions that were the perfect size for us. The waitress we had was fantastic (i wish i had asked her name) but all the staff were just as good, as i have this thing about watching how staff relate with all customers around the room. They know their job extremely well, and ours was friendly, switched on, and always one step ahead of what i was thinking. If i was the owner or manager of this restaurant i would be extremely proud of this professional team. Thank you for a most enjoyable evening, and i would happily eat there again, hopefully very soon.

Omid Master

Major attitude if you don’t tip despite a quick meal at the back bar last Sunday. The pork belly pasta had average flavours and wasn’t crispy which I’d expected. The New York style attitude was fine especially until leaving when the eftpos machine had a massive tip request. Being a Sunday and expecting staff get paid well and having just sat at the bar for a short while I passed on the tip. The waitress got angry gave us major daggers walked off and didn’t say anything when I said thank you and goodbye. Now I’m uncomfortable to return to my local Italian…

kira kosh

I just moved to st kilda, I’m a huge foodie. So so glad I found this place. I went here with two friends, who like to try different restaurants with me. We were all so impressed. The food and wine was amazing. Beautiful venue too.

Swell Traveller

Before COVID hit last year, I had the intention of dining at the famous Cicciolina in Acland Street. Sadly no. BUT...Great things come to those who wait! After my first day of employment after two years, I treated myself to lunch here. A stalwart of St Kilda since 1993, booking is recommended in these post-COVID times, but if you are lucky, like me, walk-in seats might be available. Bookings can be made via their website and are the preferred method. There is a lovely picket-fenced area outside or the moody, intimate indoor tables or private back area that seats 10-20 people to choose from. Their menu offers modern and traditional Italian fare, using seasonal produce with V/GF options available. The servings are generous, tasty and prepared/cooked with passion and care. The prices are medium-high, but you get what you pay for - no issues here. They have a superb, renowned wine list, and the bar allows for the consumption of many cocktails and bar food. Recommendations: [Only had entrees today - gives me an excuse to return for the mains and desserts - which looked amazing too!] Cicc bread and butter (serves 2) $5 - still warm and crunchy, but oh so soft inside! Tuna carpaccio, watercress, lime, baby capers, chargrilled sourdough $28.50 - melt in your mouth tuna. Be sure to eat a bit of everything together, and the pairing of these items will make sense! Suggested accompaniment: Da Luca Prosecco DOC NV Veneto Italy $14 a glass - smooth, not acidic - divine [I had two glasses, but would have preferred a bottle]. Fritto misto – soft shell crab, calamari, zucchini, orange, green chilli, aioli (GF) - this was a 'special'. A large serve, best shared. An interesting selection of flavour profiles, which will delight your tastebuds. These are hard-working restaurateurs, chefs and wait staff. There is limited time for chit-chat as they are so busy, whether it be their lunch or dinner sittings. They are also sincere and caring individuals who kept my computer glasses safe and sound after leaving them behind. Bless, and thank you. I look forward to visiting again to complete my menu exploration.

Ross Philpott

Delicious perfectly executed pasta and prawns, really making a difficult time special

Aaditya Bajwa

They know how to make pasta sing!! The most simple of ingredients with the perfect amount of everything else and pasta cooked to perfection. I've never had a bad pasta dish here and the special on the night with prawns, cherry tomatoes, basil, garlic, wine and olive oil was fresh, simple and yet so amazing at the same time. Staff are always super lovely and Jax is a star!! What better way to end the evening but with a selection pf sublime desserts - would go back just for those!! A true gem in the St Kilda streetscape of dining options..

Keira Wood

We’d like to express regret that the, who seemed to be, owner, or someone in management, had little time and such a disinterest in polite conversation when we sat down at an outdoor table this afternoon. It’s such a shame people in business can have such a negative outlook on life and their customers. We hope he has better days ahead. We went to Abby Road instead where the owners were hands on and so engaging.

Ashleigh Michelle

Love everything about Cicciolina! My partner and I both opted to try the pasta, he had the meatball ragu and I had the orecchiette. Both were super tasty and tasted authentically Italian. Service is great too, staff are very friendly, hospitable and efficient. It's lovely sitting outside in the heart of St Kilda on a hot summer's evening. Cicciolina is a must try when in the area or simply craving Italian!

Ads Davies

gastronomic combinations that taste fantastic. I think it’s the best italian restaurant in Melbourne. Real gourmet stuff like brains, anchovy salad and anchovy pannacotta as well as your staple home made pasta and steaks. Only downside is tables are cramped.

Kon Tsigaras

Superb! Food was unbelievable and so was the atmosphere. Good wine list and the service was impeccable. It’s the wrong side of town for me but I’ll definitely be back

G Craske

Great food and service. To top it off, comfortable seating inside. I cant understand why restaurants have such uncomfortable seating but not this place.

Kevin Fernandes

friendly staff and awesome Italian cuisine, loved the risotto, never disappoints, a must visit whenever around st kilda. it's around the corner and can be easily missed

Judy Junyan Qi

Love it! A good traditional rustic Italian restaurant that is not always about pizza and pasta! Came here on a Sunday Lunch, the place was packed. Waitress are so friendly and welcoming that it feels like home! Tuna Carpaccio are sooo goooood! so is the Venison! First time tryer TICKED!

Lupita Wijaya

Ordered a spaghettini with baby spinach, olive oil, garlic & chili. The taste is fine, just a lil bit greasy for me. The service is friendly. Cozy ambience.

Foodinfocusz

Love the atmosphere at Cicciolina for a start and then the food and of course the friendly staff, especially the Irish lass who has a wonderful sense of humour! Don’t know why it has been so long since my last visit as I loved it then and still do! Unfortunately, we only had time for a quick bite to eat and it was just as good as I remember. Guess that’s why it’s been around for such a long time, since 1993 actually!

Bursting Wholemeal

Cicciolinas is a popular Italian restaurant located on Acland St, St Kilda that has been around since 1993. It has a rating of 4.2/5 star review on Zomato. Most people like the “premium Italian cuisine”, outstanding service and the central location. But my experience has been vastly different to those of most people, I had been a regular customer at Cicciolinas, but once our waiter messed up my order and served me Spaghetti Bolognese instead of Spaghetti Napoli, (which was especially bad for me because I'm vegetarian). This mistake cost me a lot because the meat was also green looking like zucchini (one of my favorite vegetables), so I ate it first and said that it tasted bad and my mom tasted it and told me that it was meat. I spat it out with disgust and went to the bathroom (to go to the bathroom you have to ask a waiter to give you the key and you had to walk 50m) to vomit. Later that week, my doctor diagnosed that it was salmonella food poisoning from off meat. I would suggest that next time you want to eat Italian don’t go to Cicciolinas

Jayesh

Premium Italian Dine, expensive 80 to 100$ for 2 with minimum order, food isn't that impressive , however a good place for a business meet discussion. strategically located at Ackland street. so if you wish to eat Italian and st Kilda, then you may visit the place if you have enough and surplus money

Harrysingh Rawat

From the minute we were welcomed by the delightful Irish waitress, we were made to feel very special. The service was superb and the food and wine outstanding. The soup was excellent and calimari and pAsta thee best we had in Melbourne. I would recommend highly fir a special lunch or dinner.

Rita

Cicciolina is an Melbourne Institution - it has been around a long long time in St. Kilda. It had been years ago since I was last there and wanted to see if it had changed since we were in the area. No phone bookings for 2, we were lucky to obtain a table immediately. The table was in the corridor and whenever anyone came or left the cold wind was felt. However we accepted the table. Not a huge selection of wines by the glass but we managed to find a nice Cabernet Sauvignon and a Shiraz, both Victorian. The waitress were run off their feet but they managed to attend to us swiftly, especially when we told them that we had to be leave at 7.15pm to be at the Opera. I ordered the Salmon Linguini with the Salmon, capers, spinach, leeks and lemon. It was cooked well but had absolutely no flavour whatsoever and the leeks and capers with the spinach was very salty. My partners Lasagna came in a small bowl and he said that it was overloaded with cheese and lacked flavour. Clearly Cicciolina has changed and I would rate it a 2.5 - average.

T. Speirs

The service was terrible, both the waitresses were extremely rude. The coffee was okay but Im afraid we definitely won’t be going back!!!!!!

Simmyeats.Melb

Cicciolina is an Acland St must do, it's been years since I have been here. As expected the restaurant was booked out when we arrived so we sat at the back bar where we enjoyed some wine and an antipasto dish. The restaurant is very cosy and quaint with different artworks and picture frames on the walls. My steak with salad was very enjoyable and the steak cooked well however it would of be nice to have the option of a sauce with it. My sister and her husband mentioned that they didn't enjoy their salmon pasta as much as they usually do, apparently it wasn't as flavoursome as it usually is, the risotto's that the other guests ordered were a real hit. I think a pasta or risotto dish is the way to to go here.

Gerd

With the passing of Scheherazade along with the rest of the old guard, Cicciolina has become the grand dame of Acland Street. My memory’s playing tricks, I’m sure it was larger years ago, but the service is still as professional, the food a solid representation of Italian/Euro bistro fare, and the decor harks back to bohemian times. Without going into details : We had fish, pork belly and shoestring fries finishing with cheese and a raspberry desert. A small carafe of a good Pinot and a couple glasses Rose. It’s all a bistro should be, professional, competent, friendly, noisy. Also, the kitchen uses no tweezers, foams or smears, so there’s that too...

Tommi Taylor

This is a sweet little restaurant on Akland Street St Kilda. had a simple Amatriciana pasta dish that was bursting with flavour, a rocket salad and oysters. This is the perfect restaurant to go to if you want a casual delish and authentic meal. The staff were delightful and very knowledgeable, it did feel like a feel almost like a fine dining experience even though it is a casual restaurant. 10/10 would go back for a date night

Megan & Deon

Ate there on Friday night before a show with a friend. Started with a beautiful bottle of Rose that the waitress recommended and was followed by one of the most memorable meals I've ever eaten. Loaded with anchovies, capers, prawns, butter, spinach and a herbed crumb it was divine. Followed by great service this restaurant is a must and I can't wait to go back!

Yummy Mummy

This was my second visit to Cicciolina. An expensive restaurant which I typically don’t mind as food is my life but unfortunately it was memorable for all the wrong reasons. I ordered the snapper fillet, with saffron gnocchi, chorizo, scallops and heirloom tomatoes. My first mouthful was gritty and unpalatable. I was eating dirt! At first I thought it must have been an olive tapenade but no it was a mouthful of dirt. The scallops were microscopic not that I ate the rest of the meal. Not what you expect for a $40 plate of food. When I let the waitress know I expected genuine remorse and regret instead it felt as though she was annoyed at me for bringing it to her attention. If you’re going to charge the prices you do, wash your produce properly, it’s simple! Not impressed and I shall not be returning!

Jo Eyweights

We have been here several times for food and drinks and it is always great. Often very busy too. Great vibe and great service. The cocktails served here are a must try as well.

Richard V Hughes

Best place in Melbourne!! Literally the greatest Italian menu you can find in Australia. Staff are what makes this place too. Recco meant highligly

Eric L

Went to Cicciolina for my birthday dinner. We had the eye fillet steak, pappardelle and pork, vegetarian risotto and the linguini. A few things stands out. The service was great, we got seated quickly, the waiter was very friendly and told us about the establishment which was 24 years old. Food wise, steak was well cooked and the dishes were flavourful and and the portion generous. Special mention for the pappardelle and pork from the special menu, which reminds me of the dish I had in Italy and also the sticky date pudding. Everyone agrees that this was the best sticky date pudding they've eaten. I forgot to take a picture of the sticky date pudding as dig straight into it.

Vinny M

Delicious food, generous servings and fantastic service in an intimate setting. It's no wonder this restaurant has been a consistent favourite over the past 24 years. A special mention for the pappardelle in red wine ragu and sticky date pudding. Yummm!!!!

Quinn

Been here for a lunch with my family. I'm not a huge fan of Italian cuisines and despite all the foreign with the menu, the staffs are very helpful and gently guided me through everything. The whole experience was a pleasure. My family really like entree dish 'brains wrapped in prosciutto', I love the crispy texture outside and very fatty, soft brains wrapped inside. Also, the dish is very well-seasoned. The medium rare eye-fillet was delicious. I wish there were more meat and less on the bread. However, overall, it was a decent lunch. Highly recommend it.

Christopher & Marian

Not a five because of noise level which could be toned down with a bit of adjustment. Food was outstanding. Service was polite and attentive. Range of wines, spirits and beers wonderful. On a busy lunchtime on Sunday don't expect a peaceful meal. Seating arranged to fit maximum people in this space. The seats are extremely comfortable and swivel if needed in different directions. Definitely Italian Cuisine that couldn't be faulted. In the heart of a wonderful part of Melbourne. If your a visitor to our city please do yourself a favour and visit Cicciolina and many of the exciting shops nearby. The tram goes directly to this section of our beautiful city.

EatBeHappy

Had a first date here and it was a relaxed environment where we could chat and enjoy a nice meal and wine I enjoyed a lamb pasta special and I fell inlove with the rich flavour of the dish after one bite !

GG

Shared a bottle of Prosecco and few small Share plates, The tuna carpaccio is and will always be my favourite dish. The service as usual is spot on , charming with a splash of whit! Love this place.

BonBonV

Cicciolina's is one of the last remaining jewels in the epicurean crown of Acland Street, St Kilda. Always packed so delighted to walk in and get a table for two for lunch. Service is perfect. It's a crowded, lively place though and the old fashioned black vinyl chairs take up a lot of real estate, comfy though they are. My friend opted for a special of grilled whiting with roasted artichoke and Israeli cous cous with a delicious seafood sauce, the fish topped with sour cream and caviar. I went for the simpler dish of spaghettini with spinach, chillies and garlic, accompanied by a radicchio, endive and pear salad. We cleaned our plates. It's great to know Cicciolina's has kept up its high standards, no wonder it's always packed out. Thanks folks.

FoodieMania

Had a great dining experience here. Wanted the crab ravioli but they appear to have change their menu (maybe on occasion). Instead we had other options and the chefs did not disappoint at all. We had the linguini vongole and the cauliflower risotto with burnt butter for our mains. Desserts were caramelised banana, cream and chocolate tart, and profiterole with cream and chocolate ganache. Everything was so yum that we cleaned our plates. We could not really fault the food - so fresh and generous. Flavors worked really well also. And cooked so well. Prices are reasonable. Wait staff were very welcoming. The restaurant was completely full but we didn't have to wait long to be seated and our meals came out really fast - that was impressive considering how busy it was. If you're in a group of 3 or more, it might be better to ring and book a table if it's during "lunch time" crowd. Great ambience too with interesting artwork on the walls. We shall be back. Hopefully they'll have the crab ravioli we can try next time we're in or something similar. But we are happy to try the other dishes on the menu.

Pinch Of Bacon

We loved the food here!!!!!! The service was great - the staff had big personalities that matched the big flavours of the food. A lucky find for us given that we were hungry and just happened to be walking past - sometimes fortune does smile on the hungry 😉

Justin Lowe

Best Italian we've had in a long time! The mushroom risotto was absolutely amazing. The food was so good, we even had a cheeky dessert or two (highly recommend their sticky date pudding)

Flowerbutton

After walking past a million times I finally went to Cicciolina. I always relate this place back to the Melbourne gang land wars, and it definitely carries that vibe with the low lighting and old fashioned decor. I instantly approve. The service was fine - nothing outstanding but nothing missing either. The food was delicious. We had the beef cheek risotto, the lamb, the cauliflower and pomegranate side, a creme brûlée and an affogatto. Everything was cooked beautifully, the cauliflower was just heaven. So flavoursome. The creme brûlée was also really beautiful and light, set properly, and tasted fresh and citrussy. The only let down was the wine. We ordered a Pinot with an entertaining name and this was a mistake. Otherwise we had a lovely, intimate date night and would definitely be back!

Paul Delaney

So so good great service and the food is so yum the staff were very friendly and very accomodating price was good also wasn't cheap but I don't mind paying a little bit extra when the food is amazing can't wait to go back again

Martin Morgan

0/5, Fail, what a dark crammed cave, with abrupt arrogant staff. The food of angel pasta and snapper kept me on the toilet from 3 am to 6 am that night. The food was average but worse was the after effect for me, never been so sick. Health authorities need to check the kitchen and cool room. Very disappointed. Believe they are trading on their name from previous highs.

Dean Pahek

I have heard a lot about this place and have heard people say it has been around since the dinosaurs roamed this planet, so I thought why not give it a go on my night off work. Arriving to the address I was surprised by how unnoticeable the place was and would have 100% walked past any other time. Entering the restaurant I noticed how tight the dining room layout was instantly and how homely the decor felt (not what I was expecting) which was nice and would be very energetic in a full house. Was given a table from a waitress who was very basic with customer service, didn't explain anything on the menu or the menu board on the wall, lucky enough I was sitting across from it. Ordered the eye fillet (medium rare) and sticky date pudding and they were both excellent however I personally think the potatoes were over cooked and the steak was undercooked, which for the price of the steak it should be bang on. Sticky date I couldn't pick anything wrong. I'm not a fussy person nor do I review many places but I like to believe if a place has such a strong following and does charge near top dollar it should be close to perfect. I do not rate this place down because of the food, it is the customer service I have a problem with.

ToorakM

5/5 - I have walked past here oodles of times and as we had a toddler free day we came and sat inside - lovely homely decor with great staff today 10th November. We ordered the marinated olives which are hands down the most flavoursome olives I've had in a restaurant. The main we shared of spaghettini with spinach, garlic and chilli - they portioned two serves and it was perfect. The cauliflower, pomegranate, currants and yoghurt was full of life and had the most beautiful smell and flavour. Everything was top notch here. Seriously good food and service. The best? Under $50 for a 5 star lunch. This is obviously the best choice in the area by far.

Eric Juebner

Get a new Manager something wrong with the approach she has a very bad approach and attitude The food is good but would not go back into that unfriendly terrain.

Tomas

Though this is not a every day type place I have been fortunate enough to celebrate a few special occasions here. Delicious Italian food and fantastic wine selection make this one of the stand out st Kilda restaurants for years now. It's easily one of the best Italian restaurants In Melbourne. The service is As you would expect from a fine dining establishment like this one. The waiters are mature and know their menu and wine selection inside out. The have all been doing this for a long time and are proud of what they serve and happy to explain the menu or make suggestions. Being vegetarian I do not often have problems in melbourne finding good non-meat options however the (very) few options this place offers are terrific. I wouldn't go so far as to say they have exceptional vegetarian food but when I went with a vegan on one occasion they were still able to cater. Though I wouldn't go here often (pricey) the handful of times I have been have been very nice.

The Epicurean

This is an old school restaurant. It gives the vibe of a typical Italian restaurant in Rome. Tables are tight with lots of dark wood ambience. With a low-key entrance, people might not even realise its presence. Very busy even on a Monday night. Walk-in only. The souffle crab was light but deliciously rich. The duck was the best dish hands down. Perfectly cooked. The roast lamb special was quite a let down. Chewy and not great. The raspberry brulee and balsamic ice cream were probably the most interesting dish. Who would have thought to put balsamic in ice cream, and the flavour was really strong too! And raspberry brulee was also quite unique. Strangely, the taste on their own is too strong but in combination actually complemented well. Not my favourite though, probably wouldnt order again. Service was okay. Not particularly refined. Overall, a decent Italian but doesn't stand out in any particular ways. No urge to go back anytime soon.

Two Sheds

Fantastic lunch here today. Lovely space, sensational food and great service. Nothing much more you'd ever want to be honest. Entrees magnificent. Barramundi main truly wonderful. Hard to know what to highlight as every part was good. The fish itself, the cous cous, the asparagus, the mussels - etc, etc. Wonderful wine list too. What a fabulous restaurant, and what a great day.

MelbourneMiss

Not having been in Melbourne since the 90s, I wasn't aware that Cicciolina was an institution - well that was made pretty apparent immediately upon entering due to the severe attitude from the waitress. Yes, the food is good. Excellent, even. However, at the price point it is, it would want to be. But I don't need an arrogant attitude just from asking a simple question politely. I don't need to be made to feel like an idiot. Regular readers of my (now 450) reviews will know that my attitude towards service is relaxed and I will cut a lot of slack, but without going into the details the attitude from the waitress was at best arrogant, and at worst downright rude. So would I recommend this restaurant...well, the food is definitely enjoyable. The seating is very squashed and it gets really loud. Some people enjoy that energy, others don't. The sticky date pudding is absolutely sublime, but the recipe is in the broadsheet cookbook (preview available online) so you can now make it at home. Obviously Cicciolina have enough patrons and have been very successful. But for me, I don't need my meal served with a side of attitude.

La Plum

My favourite restaurant did not disappoint last night! We had blue swimmer crab soufflé and tuna carpaccio for entré which was outstanding. Followed by Atlantic salmon linguini and mushroom risotto. These were rich and perfectly balanced dishes. Highly recommend.

Seasidefoodie

Never disappoints. Great food, personalised, warm service... Love this place. The back bar is the perfect start to the evening with a bottle of red.

Sienna Thompson

Melbourne institution. Service is great and pasta is delicious. We recently went with a large group for a birthday and they could not have taken better care of us.

GoodFood4Me

I thought at the time I had the most delicious lasagna I had ever eaten and that was saying a lot. Unfortunately the lasagna repeated on me and I was crook all the next day. We popped in here last night and the place was bustling and alive with laughter and beautiful conversations. The waiting staff were very attentive and friendly. The coffee was smooth and the truffle yummy.

Shazzamataz

This place is brilliant! Service is impeccable, friendly and knowledgable. We had eaten a little snack before coming here but still managed 3 courses! Delicious but not overpowering or too filling. Roast chicken soup and Tuscan seafood stew were absolute highlights! Fresh and delightful on all accounts! Would visit St Kilda just for this venue!

StKildaYum

Hands down the best establishment for italian food in the inner south east for as long as it has been open. Every time i come here i am blown away. The atmosphere is beautiful, the service is impeccable and the quality of food is second to none.

Zhitian Zhang

i came here in a late afternoon because my best friend and I were looking at a recipe in the broadsheet cookbook. Since it's out there with the recipe, i kind of expected the sticky date to be one of the best in melbourne. And it was very very delicious. Steaming hot pudding with vanilla ice cream, along with butterscotch sauce, is my favourite dessert in the winter. Although I must point out the service was very poor. I have observed there were a few chances where the waiter(or the waitress) can bring us menu and water or at least hello but they just walked past a few times. The place was not big and at 5 pm wasn't even too overwhelming for two staff on the floor. They seemed very warm to the table they have been serving tho. Maybe just me, i'm not equipped with the right accent;-)

Laura

I go here for the spaghetti bolognaise and a glass of red, great every time. Service so and so, but it doesn't matter. A great place to watch the people of Acland street.

Martina

We didn't have a good experience here. Food was very very salty and waited for a very very long time so we didn't want to send it back. Staff was friendly however I wouldn't return for the food.

ARAGANTOR

Been wanting to eat here for ages... Sadly my long wait tonight was a disappointment. Had to wait for a table so had a drink in the bar at the back.. Service was lacking. The lady behind the bar seemed flustered with orders. And the bloke on the register had the personality of a gumboot. It didn't feel nice. Once seated in the restaurant our meals took over an hour to arrive despite it being later in the night and the place not being full. The food.... We had the pasta with lamb Ragu and salmon Linguini.. Both were lacking taste and quite bland. Basically for me...the food and service disappointed.. Which was surprising considering it's rated so well...and not cheap. Unfortunately I left knowing I wouldn't be back...

Maher Massoud

Absolutely rubbish service. The waiting staff are rude. The food is very average. After having the last sip of my wine glass, the waitress grabs it out of my hand and says, "I'll take that before you break it" While serving the food plates, the waiter reaches across to reach the person sitting next to me, slides the plate to that person while his stinking arm pit is almost in my face. After finishing the bottle of wine, we ordered two glasses of wine, waited for approximately 20 minutes before having to remind them to bring us the wine, At the end of the meal, we asked for the bill. The waitress brought over the hand held EFTPOS, set it to the "tip" screen and proceeded to say " you know what to do with that"... Needless to say my was "zero". This was the worst restaurant experience ever. They were rude, the seating was cramped, the food was below par and the atmosphere was absolute rubbish for the price. There are much better restaurants around. Don't waste your time on this one. A dinner should be a great experience with good service. Score out of 10, I give it a 2.

Brittany Duce

Favourite restaurant of all time! The staff are fabulous and so accommodating! The steaks melt in your mouth and are cooked to perfection. Everything about this place is amazing! The chefs are so lovely and go out of their way to make your experience one to never forget! Thank you!!!

Aman Bhalla

Was there earlier today with 2 other people. After having a look at their "hardly anything to choose from" menu, went up to the counter to place an order as my other 2 friends had already ordered, the waitress yells at me, "go back to your table, this is a restaurant and we come to the table" to which i calmly replied that i know its a restaurant and i just wanted to make your life a little easier by placing an order here, anyways she comes to the table and i order penne in napoli sauce and get whats in the photo, bland, no taste and $20!!!!!!! What? Did i get that right, $20 for this rubbish, i could literally count the no of pasta bits on my fingers,the other pastas we ordered were all just too bland, shit attitude and real bad food, i doubt they write all the good reviews themselves

Hamlet

Heard good things about this place so thought I would try it for myself, my golly I wish I didn't! I ordered the scotch fillet served on a bed of kale. There was more fat then meat making it a mission to cut through. The kale was drowned in butter, oily,sloppy and flavourless. My partners fish was overcooked and tough. Both our meals were bland and there was no love put in, just slopped on the plate. Overpriced and extremely disappointing! Absolutely disgusting!

David Hewitt

Always amazing food. Authentic Italian. Love the freshly made pastas and variety of specials. Full body flavouring. Decent wine list. Good service. Only downside is no reservations. Luckily there was a bar out back. For this, I would wait.

Conisseur

This Italian restaurant ticks all the boxes with regards to service, very good food and even sticks DOC rated Italian wines from the Piedmont r region in Italy. Our waitress recommended the brains wrapped in Prosciutto as an entree and we were blown away as we are not into offal.

Edward Schweitzer

Food is very good in a classic Italian style. Wine list is solid and has a good import (italian) section. Service is ok. Prices probably equate to the level of food fairly. Good date spot. Don't take bookings.

Sandy Spud

Consistently great food - love the Anti Pasta platter for around $20. Had the calamari from the Chalk Board this visit plus the roasted kipflers from the side menu. Wine list is extensive & not over priced. Had a dry rose so good we got another bottle for the table.

Kelly Toft

Best restaurant in St Kilda. However no Tiriamasu for desert😔 boo hoo! Waitresses with a personality & love the history & artwork in the back bar! Could never have a bad meal or glass of wine at this place!

Billyt488

Fresh tasty Italian cuisine, a little pricey but well worth it. One of my go to places when I have visitors. Shame they don't take bookings.

Simon

This is definitely one of the all time Melbourne greats. It is perfect for a beautiful romantic dinner to celebrate a bithday, engagement, promotion or anything really. The waitstaff are all amazing, the perfect balance between attentive and leave you alone to enjoy yourselves (take your jackets as you walk in, have them ready as you leave.. that sort of thing). The lighting is dim enough to make everyone look attractive, but not dark enough to render it impossible to eat. The drinks list has a perfect selection between staples Coopers Pale and more interesting beers and solid wines. And the best part, the food, just incredible. I only wished I could have tried multiple items on the menu because it all looked amazing. I had an Eye Fillet which was perfect, a side of potato gratin was cheesy potatoey brilliance as was the fried cauliflower salad. My partner had the Dory with soft shell crab which was excellent. The ladies on the table next to us were raving about all the pasta dishes including squid ink with calamari and a duck ragout.. it's a shame you can't order it all!!!

Jimsghost

Still my favourite restaurant on this earth. I have honestly never had a bad meal here and consider it to be one of the best dining experiences possible. Simple, intimate, exquisite.

Onara

Comfort food with a modern twist. Delicious, friendly, homely. Staff are on top of their game, and the kitchen and bar produce consistently delightful flavours

Fish

Back Bar: Do yourself a favour and grab a bunch of your friends and head to the Cicciolina Back Bar! You won't regret it. We nestled up with our group of 7 in one of the many booths and were treated to an exhibition of food and wine. The menu, while not extensive has some of the best comfort food you can taste. Cheese platters, spicy meatballs (unbelievable) and the antipasto platter couldn't be faulted. All very reasonably priced too, meatball were $12.50 for a serve of 6 with bread and they were some of the best balls I've come across. A bit of spice but not too much! The wine flowed all night with a wide selection available. This spot is a hidden gem of St Kilda and is such a cosy spot to settle in for a good night out. As is usually the case in this area, the crowd was quite mixed but added to the atmosphere. Will head back here with any hesitation at all. Front restaurant: This is now one of my favourites. I'd walked past and peered through the door or shutters many a time and was always super interested in what this place delivers. On a warm Wednesday night we landed a table for 4 at around 7.30pm without a booking and settled in with the help of the wait staff. The place has a great buzz and dim lighting to add to the atmosphere. Menu and specials were explained and we ordered a carafe of red wine. I love the complimentary crusty white bread and butter which can be replaced once you finish the first serve. For mains, my special barramundi fillet on a bed of gnocchi was spot on. The seafood pasta and matriciana were also handy. Steak looked the good and was presented beautifully. Service was seamless and out water glasses were topped up all night without any fuss. We wanted the night to carry on so we obliged to the dessert menu. The creme brûlée and chocolate pudding were impeccable. Coupled with a piccolo this was the perfect way to finish off a great dining experience.

Michelle Peng

Had the wagyu beef followed by the sticky date pudding. Both were delicious but that sticky pudding, wow! Definitely got to try it when you're there!

Yang Qi

fantastic food！cute waiter and waitress！lovely dinning environment. Must go and try！i tried tuna carpaccio，lamb shoulder spaghetti and chocolate pudding. yum！yum！

Kristie Cronin

Loved it. Great food, great wine, great atmosphere which all leads to an awesome night. Restaurant is noisy but cosy and romantic at the same time.

Mr Percival

Clever Cooking with Great Produce. Two for dinner last night and first time visit. Right in the middle on the Acland St strip, you could walk by and easily miss it. The restaurant is small, noisy and tightly packed ..... very similar to those found in regional Italy or France. We were early around 6pm and the place was already very full. They don't take bookings and the table turnover is fairly prompt. Most of the diners appear to be locals and known to the friendly table staff. If a table is not quite available there is a bar at the rear of the arcade that you can wait in with a drink or two before they call you when it is ready. The Italian menu has plenty of variety and this is supplemented by todays specials. We went with main and desert and all were excellent. Chicken breast cooked perfectly ...... full of flavour and still moist (which seems to elude most kitchens these days), accompanied by smooth mash, marinated mushrooms and brussel sprouts. Prawn pasta was full of flavor, generous with the prawns and pasta cooked perfectly. The anchovie was subtle and the sauce light and delicious. Deserts were also smart with a mandarin panacotta and a great baked quince with treacle and apple pie ice cream. The folk in the kitchen clearly purchase quality produce and know what they are doing. The wine list is very good and prices are reasonable. Enjoy!

Jen Brennan

Go!. Love this place!!! Delightful food and wine!

Raukura Huata

Great food, great service and an excellent wine list!

Alisha

Heaven found!. Where should I begin? Greeted at the door by a very friendly staff member and seated within seconds. The service was attentive and unobtrusive. We were a group of 4 women, out for lunch which can become a little vocal! Our meals were delicious and the silence at the table when our meals arrived spoke volumes. After every delicious morsel had been devoured, we fought our way through an incredibly yummy array of deserts, I can personally recommend the creme brulee, the crack of the toffee top was perfection. We will most definitely be back.

Eat.more

December 10, 2014 eatingdiaries Birthday weekend began with a relaxing massage at Aurora Spa, situated in The Prince Hotel. A short stroll down the road, we continued an indulgent weekend with lunch at Cicciolina. Having heard about this place often, but never venturing inside the dark dining room, I was excited to see what the fuss was all about. Walking in, the swivel leather seats were a novelty, albeit the tables squished close together in the dining room. There were several family lunches being held, which emphasised the homely atmosphere. Having spied sweetbreads on the menu, it was hard to go past these crunchy morsels, the creaminess wrapped in a crisp eggplant and prosciutto parcel. Lying on a bed of aioli and sweetened onion, it was a decadent and rich start to our lunch. I chose the special of calamari linguini, with kale, sweet corn and squid ink crumbs. A lovely clean dish full of spring flavours, the pasta was cooked al dente, with the sweetness of currants and crunchy topping. I usually order tomato based pasta but this was nice lunchtime surprise. bf obviously went for the venison, one of his favourite meats, with beetroot, kale and yoghurt. Really liked the look of the plating, and I'm a big fan of the sweet multi coloured beetroots. The dessert menu certainly looked enticing, but we were too full and satisfied to go for anything more. Cicciolina, you were worth the hype, and I can see why its a mainstay on Acland St.

LoveSunday

Crab Souffle Heaven. The Blue Swimmer Crab Souffle is one of the BEST things i have eaten in this whole world... A decadent, heavenly, taste bud sensation... The staff are professional and attentive. The wine goes down super-easy. It's a special place...

Wendy

The actual best. The food is outstanding. Just can’t get enough of this place. How can any other Italian restaurant compare ?! They don’t. Not even close. I can’t rave about the good enough. So many big beautiful flavours. How does one make something taste so amazing. Will keep eating here till you change the chef.

Shunter29

What a shame. The service was fantastic but the meal was terrible. Over priced for what was served up. I will be staying home to cook my own meal before dining here again. I'm not surprised there were plenty of spare seats.

SB91

Delicious food!. Abosultely beautiful food. Best chicken breast dish I've ever had at a restaurant. Will definitely go back to try the pasta. Love it!

Decisive Cravings

Cicciolina’s has been a Melbourne institution since the early 90′s. Their kitchen has a seemingly simple and pure ethic – serving good food all the time. The cuisine is modern, seasonal and always flavoursome. Some say it’s romantic, others dine here for a special occasion, the rest are locals or fortunate enough to eat here regularly. The service is always exceptional with charming, knowledgable staff that make your experience pleasant and memorable. A heart warming bistro for lovers of intimate and comforting atmospheres. The Back Bar next door is also a lovely place for a pre-dinner drink, a quiet morsel or dessert, and perfect for the beginning’s of a courtship. Trading hrs: Monday to Saturday: 12 midday to 11pm, Sunday: 12 midday to 10pm. Back Bar: Monday to Saturday: 5pm to 1am, Sunday: 5pm to 1am. Menu link: http://www.cicciolinastkilda.com.au/food-drink.html Bookings: No bookings but you can have your name placed on a list

Jar-Fed

Scotch fillet isn’t our first choice cut of steak, both of us would usually order an eye fillet, it is quite a large serve of 350g, however both of us do enjoy a good steak from time to time. We were divided over the steak, Elaine thought it was amazing from the first mouthful, melted in her mouth and was up there with one of the best steaks she’s eaten! Glowing review! I on the other hand was not impressed.

Epicurean Of Southbank

Throughout the extended dining experience service remained consultative and patient. Head chef Michelle Elia has devised a smart menu where the fundamentals of Italian cuisine can shine and when served in the cozy confines of the dining room, or even the back bar which is open on weekends, makes for an experience within itself.

Sdk1806

Premium eye fillet char grilled to order (medium rare – obviously), served with a roasted potato fondant, wilted spinach and a basil and olive oil paste ($40.50). This chommer doesn’t indulge in fine meat even close to as much as he should. Although, saving it for special occasions ensures the ‘wow’ factor remains in tact. Tender, well portioned and full of meaty juice makes for an epic piece of steak. After you have enjoyed this slice of heaven, The Chommery suggests heading on down to either Bistro Thierry in Toorak or France Soir in South Yarra, which also serve excellent fillets.

The Melbourne Savage

With bookings not permitted you may have to spend some time waiting for a table in the back bar but the atmosphere here is equally seductive.

Popcornandtoast

Cooked beautifully with just the right amount of bite, the risotto was fragrant with truffle oil drizzles and juicy tender mushroom slivers

May Watson

Cicciolina provides a resoundingly enjoyable meal. With that and the vibrant Acland Street evening atmosphere in mind, it is not difficult to understand the affection showered on it by its devotees.

Mr Smith

First up we share the famous Cicciolina crab soufflé. I have been recommended this dish by so many people that it had cult status in my mind. Unlike many dishes with high expectations this certainly delivered – so much so that one between two was definitely not enough. Word of advice two diners equals two crab soufflés. Period. The soufflé itself is quite dense compared to most soufflés you may have experienced however this seems to suit the dish well with tender crab meat intermingled with the delicate flavour of the soufflé mix combined with a knockout sauce – if it were possible I would order these takeaway upon disembarking the 96 tram and eating them like an apple on the way home... Next up we ordered two pasta dishes. I was a little surprised at the limited amount of pasta dishes on offer at Cicciolina and although both were excellent, I expected more choice and would have preferred this over the larger amount of meat based dish options on both the menu and specials. The better o

FoodieAboutTown

An institution since 1993 there is something a bit naughty about Cicciolinas! From the naked outline on the website to the blatantly naked artwork on the walls of the restaurant and her sister are certainly channelling their namesake! To quote Wiki; “Anna Ilona Staller (born 26 November 1951), widely known by her stage name, La Cicciolina, is a Hungarian-born Italian porn star, politician, and singer. Staller continued to make hardcore pornographic films while a member of parliament. She is famous for delivering political speeches with one breast exposed.” A staunch favourite on Ackland amongst the cake shops, there is a funky bar at the back and restaurant on the front. Bookings only for lunch! The menu is traditional Italian with pastas, risotto, steaks and more! The specials board screams wonderful local produce and the wine list has a diverse selection of great wines! We go for a couple of Natural oysters from Pitt Waters Tassie to start and though they are shucked they have lost t

Please Sir Can I Have Some More

For years I have been waiting to try the famous Cicciolina's. Arrived early, greeted by friendly staff that took us to the uber sexy back bar, polished off a bottle of wine, informed that our table would be a little longer...but because we got there so early it was only 7.30, perfect time for dinner. After reading numerous reviews I had to try the crab souffle. GO THERE, ORDER THIS, ORDER TWO, DO NOT SHARE. It was amazing words and pictures don't do this dish justice.

Minda Barley

So as late discoverers of this gem, we made up for it with two visits in a short space of time.

Minda Barley

Have to say that at this point Cicciolina was fast becoming high up on our list of favourite restaurants and this was only after entrees.

Melbourne Lifestyle Blog

After however many years I had lived in Melbourne, I had never been to Cicciolina. I had tried. I had even spoken to the staff and tried to queue (the policy is for no bookings). But it was no use. It was always too full. I was always too hungry. That was until last week. Strolling through the lovely streets of St Kilda one evening, we pondered what to have for dinner and seeing a table right outside in the barmy evening air, I knew it must have been fate. For those non-Melbournians among us, Ciccionlina is an institution. And it has been this way since chef Virginia Remond opened it 20 years ago. With the same name as the Italian porn star, I had imagined being seduced by tomatoes, salt and olive oil. How deliciously wicked. Instead, I ordered the vegetarian pasta that had been a special for lunch that day (there were no vegetarian pastas on the main menu). We also had chips and salad to share. The pasta was a spaghettini with wilted spinach, chilli and mounds of garlic. It

Fatboo

Strangely, this dish turned out tasting very Asian

PiCi And BC

Its regulars swear by its superb, produce-driven cuisine and its chic, lively atmosphere - it is an establishment that is said to epitomise the best aspects of St Kilda.

Angel Khong

it looked old and run down, felt highly uncosy as it was very cramped, and uncomfortable as the seat was much lower than the table.

Sarah Kemp

Cicciliona is a small, cosy, dimly lit and very atmospheric up market Italian restaurant. When we arrived there was a 30 minute wait so we decided to put our names down and have a drink in the adjoining bar

Petit Miamx

Cicciolina don't take bookings like many restaurants in Melbourne, so the best bet is to arrive early to secure a table. By 6:30pm of the night we arrived, the restaurant was already full so the waitress took down our names and directed us over to the back bar where we could have a drink or two while we waited for a table to be available. It didn't take too long before we were seated at a cosy table for 2. Apologies for the awful photos but I forgot my camera and had to make do with my inept phone camera (sigh). We started off by sharing the Soufflé of Blue Swimmer Crab meat which came highly recommended. The creamy, silky champagne and chive veloûté was wonderful with the delicate sweetness of the Blue Swimmer Crab meat. A really light and tasty way to start the meal. Soufflé of Blue Swimmer Crab meat, shallot and lemon thyme served on a champagne and chive veloûté Feeling like something simple, I had the Risotto which was rich full of earthy flavours from the of shitake mushrooms and

Emily And Saskia

We recently headed across to St Kilda for a meal to celebrate my birthday and Mr M & Saskia's brother, W's birthday. W's birthday fell on a Monday this year, always a tricky night to find a restaurant that is open. S suggested Cicciolina, the St Kilda ins

Greedy Diva

There's something incredibly addictive about this place. For me, it epitomises Melbourne. A friendly mix of laid back, simple but stylish atmosphere, fab wine list and beautifully executed Italian dishes. The pastas are superb, and on last visit I tried t

Master Radish

I just couldn’t continue my European food odyssey without a trip to the temple at which Melbourne food lovers go to worship. Yes, children. I’m talking about Cicciolina. The biggest pain about Cicciolina is that it doesn’t take bookings. So we went to the

Monkylicious

Sadly. Yes. Sadly, this is where things slowly went downhill. We were assigned a grumpy waitress who seemed to brush us off all the time and forgetting our requests for more water.

Dean Winter

Love it

Smarty_pants

Pasta Superb.... When I want a decent pasta I always go here. I never disappointed with the pasta here. The linguine it absolutely superb. The beef carpaccio is great as well. It is a bit on the pricey side but well worth it for top notch italian!!

Rocco

Limited menu and pricey for Pasta. $30.50 for pasta mmm , It was nice but it's pasta! I guess we are paying for real estate here.

Bel85

Lovely restaurant. Have eaten here twice and both times the staff were friendly and accommodating of dietary requirements, even offering to do dishes from the lunch special menu at dinner time to allow all diners an option. Would happily go back again and again

John

Divine. This was a lovely treat, I had never been myself before, everything was perfect, every dish delicious, it was a wonderful experience, the flavour in every dish was remarkable, definitely one of my favourite restaurants now, the service was good, everything was divine, looking forward to coming back.

T6z

Maitre de snooty. Great food Good general service Maitre de not too friendly or welcoming A smile costs nothing He was streesed & ignored most of the members of our party. Not a good front person

Mike Ed

Don't believe your own BS. Bring a lunch if you want to eat here, because you'll be pretty darn hungry by the time the food arrives. Consistently slow service and waitstaff who have got the customer service thing around the wrong way. Bad, bad attitude. But then St Kilda has been white shoe territory for a long time, so I guess these haughty madams are preaching to the choir. Food is OK if and when it arrives, but 20 percent overpriced. Atmosphere was good back in the pre Secret Life days, but now strictly BrizVegas. A wasted trip.

Allycat22a

Revisit on the cards. Haven't been for a long while. A visit is long overdue. Really enjoy this place.

Eating Around Town

The best steak. Whenever I crave steak I know I have to come down here. They best scotch fillet steak in my eyes. I love this place. The ambiance, the people, the service. Everything's great.

66JLJ

Melbourne Institution. Great good, great atmosphere & always a great time! A Melbourne institution. Sometimes a bit of a wait for a table for dinner, but theres always the bar behind...

Luke Martin

Amazing. This place is amazing! Great food and service. The eye fillet and sticky date pudding are incredible!! Love the back bar too if you just want a drink or some dessert. Love it.

Giovanniomar85

GREAT VALUE. Every things was pretty good. the service was quick enough and staff friendly. Food very tasty!

Larzapan

Always reliably fabulous!. We've been coming here for years. The food and service is always fabulous. And the back bar is great for an eat and drink. So lucky to have this lady in the neighbourhood!

Daryljames

Bit Expensive but Always Delivers Good Food and Service. Cicciolina's is a great little restaurant. It is not fine dining and not the sort of restaurant that I would go to regularly for a meal (bit expensive for that) but the food is invariably interesting and good and the Chefs specials on the blackboard menu are constantly changing. Love it !

Ldonald

Absolutely fantastic!. I love this place. My girlfriends and I come every year for my birthday and it never disappoints. Went for lunch last Saturday and had the crab souffle for entree - delicious! A beautiful and rich papardelle with pork, fennel and chilli sausage ragu for main which suited the cold weather outside the door. Couldn't fit in dessert but absolutely loved everything we had. Service is impeccable. Could not recommend it more highly!

Matthew Counsel

Birthday Dinner. Went to Cicciolina last night for dinner with my girlfriend. The waiters were friendly, the food was lovely, we had the steak and chicken. Nothing really stood out, was pretty much what I expected, lacked a bit of atmosphere.

Ms Seaside

We dined here on the recommendation of our cousin who is a local regular. As they don't take bookings, we popped into the rear bar whilst waiting for a table. On the recommendation of the sweet barman we sipped down a few espresso martinis before moving into the restaurant which was absolutely delightful. The polenta dish was to die for . The steak was cooked to perfection and melted my taste buds. The sticky date pudding was by far the most scrumptious dessert I have ever set my eyes and mouth on. The staff were attentive, professional and prompt. Our water glasses were never left empty. The blonde waitress was charming and couldn't be more accommodating. We will be back to this establishment in a heartbeat.

Lady Nights

I can't believe people use this site as a tool for nasty behaviour. I don't need to read about people's issues with hospitality staff every time I use urban spoon. If you're going to be a nasty piece of work with nothing constructive to say then keep in to your self. You are the one that's a disgrace !!!! And you're really really sad. Get a life people. I want to hear about what you ate. Any way. Back to Cicciolina. I had a wonderful time here. It's the second time I have dined at this iconic establishment and I found the bar and the food and the service to be spot on. Just like last time. Thanks for the lovely experience

Internationaljethostess

TALL BARMAN IN BACKBAR A DISGRACE!!. We (the locals of St Kilda) have all frequented Cicciolina over the years and to our astonishment the owners are hanging onto a barman who is the rudest person who seems to treat everyone the same way. We've experienced and heard so many stories about this person who doesn't seem to understand or care about customer service at all. Unfortunately you have no choice but to put up with his rude demeanour whilst waiting for a table in the restaurant He ruins the whole experience of going out and enjoying yourselves. It goes beyond responsible service of alcohol he needs to go!!! He is a disgrace!

Ryan Fernandez

Quality food, quality service. It has been a large span between dining experiences at Cicciolina's, but regardless every time I go back there, the quality of the meals, the wine and the professional service is far above others. I don't expect every time to be perfect, but they are making it hard to stay away.

Caffineali

Good food, good atmosphere and great great service, the waitresses were very 'aware'

Likefood

A decade of fantastic and going strong. I've been coming here somewhat regularly for around a decade and it never disappoints. It's sitting well atop my list of favourite Melbourne restaurants and has become a benchmark for fine dining and is a great place to come back to after eating sub par meals elsewhere as a reminder of everything that's right about eating out in Melbourne. And the service is right up there with the food. A perfect mix of fast, relaxed, attentive, distant and informed, while also being incredibly friendly and unpretentious. You always feel as though you're having dinner at a best friends place, who also happens to be one of the best chefs in Melbourne. It's probably worth mentioning also that many of the waiters have been there for as long as I've been going there. This has to be a testament to it being a great place to work, and it shows. Thanks Cicciolina for keeping up the awesome standard and not losing sight and getting too big for your already massive boots after all this time. Looking forward to many more years here!

Simmy A

Back bar very disappointing tonight. Rude service. Felt like we were imposing.

Michael

Wonderful food and night, but rude waitress...... I decided to go to Cicciolina on the recommendation of my best friend. It really was terrific; food, drinks and atmosphere. One irritation though, was the short-haired bespectacled lass got a little bit terse when I asked if it would be possible to get a candle for the table (it was my wife's 33 birthday after all). The response I got was "No. We don't do that here. If you don't ask you don't get" WTF? I did ask! Should have complained to management, but didn't want to sour the night.

Food Rambo

Every now and again you find an unexpected gem and this was a diamond find. The food blew me away. The service was warm and friendly. The wine was great and atmosphere superb.

Marymichaels091

Always good. Amazing food. always a favorite if you get a table

Josephine

I have been coming here for 8 years, this night was my last one. The guy in the bar was so rude that we had to leave. I am sorry to say this Very disappointed and sad...

Gabrielle N

What a wonderful dining experience that was last night. The food was fresh and delicious, the cocktails were classy, the wine list was extensive and the service was exceptional. I loved every second of it and will be back again and again.

Li Li

Best sticky date pudding ever. Great food & simple. The sticky date pudding was def the highlight. Never had one as moist as this one.

Catherine R

What a wonderful place. We went with our 4 and 5yo girls... They made us feel very welcome, arranged a smaller dish of spaghetti for our girls, gave us extra bread, and the food was delicious. What a treat... Coming from Perth where families dining out are made to feel a little leprous! Will be back next time we are in st kilda.

Food Lover

Sets the standard, this is what other restaurants should aspire to.. Great friendly service and great food that simply let's the ingredients speak for themselves.. I would highly recommend anyone to enjoy the cicciolina experience. Will definitely be back again and again..

Pig And Frog

Where is your original sticky-date??. I used to come to Cicciolina's late nights with girlfriends to pour over broken hearts whilst devouring your delectable sizeable wedge of sticky date submerged in the most sublime butterscotch sauce. Where is this dish???? The last time I visited with my husband we ordered one to share and received a small round pudding that had a dollop of sauce which, whilst it still tasted amazing, didn't live up to expectations considering previous visits. The sauce to pudding ratio is now completely inadequate!! Bring back the wedge drowning in sauce please! (BTW, taste-wise was still delicious but not sure I would now coin Cicciolina's as 'best sticky-date pudding in Melbourne'.

KaraokeKlazzik

One of the better meals I've had .... I can easily rank this the best "Modern Italian" place I have dined in for the last several years! Superb selections, scrumptious meals, knowledgeable and very attentive waitstaff, a tad expensive but you are paying for QUALITY in every sense of the word! My Partner and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves - a very delightful dining experience! Highly recommended!

Sophia Howarth

Fun, great food, great atmosphere. Always a pleasure to eat here, the atmosphere is always pleasant with the staff aiming to please and really providing a great service. Over many years I can't fault it. Food is spot on for a more informal restaurant with prices to match. Love having a drink at the back bar too. A great lunch or dinner venue, or impromptu meal. I'll be back.

Morningpoppy

Delicious food and excellent service. I had polenta to start which was beautifully presented as well as tasting wonderful, and lamb rump for main. Definitely one for a repeat visit!

Aj

We went here last night and the we got a great service with great food. Staff was very helpful as well. We are vegetarians and they catered for us well. Would visit again.

Johnbrobertson

Not Happy. Took what I thought would be a secluded table for a romantic dinner to celebrate my partners birthday on Melbourne cup day, ordered a bottle of wine and our meal. Meal arrived practically immediately and had to wait with it getting cold before wine arrived. Our table was unfortunately next to one where an ex comedian was sitting, who was drunk, loud and obnoxious. A reputable restaurant would't have allowed such an individual in, but I guess so called celebrities can behave as they like. The only good thing was the food, albeit a bit cold while waiting for wine to arrive. Won't be coming back.

Redthing

Went there yesterday for lunch. Lovely. Had the spaghetti vongole. Very nice balance of flavours. Had a glass of pino gris with it and it was one of the best I have had. They are generous with the crusty bread too, bringing out more without us asking. Bit pricey (glass of wine $11) but both food and wine of high standard.

Frankll09

Try the Pasta. Love the Pasta. It tasted just like my mum cooked it. Pretty Cool

Crdav1

One of the best restaurants in Melbourne. I love this place, beautiful decor, great wine and delicious food. The crab souffle is the best dish. Best to get there early though as its not un-common to have to wait at least an hour to get a seat on the weekends.

Janineskyer

Reservation for two. Cicciolina is my restaurant of choice for special occasions. It's romantic, personable, beautiful food and private. The menu is always changing yet reliable, I loved the latest ragu they had on the specials board and the Beef Cheek Ravioli is a favourite. The Jamon Fig and Beetroot salad is a nice dish to start because it's refreshing and light.

Jingles

Crazy Amazing. Came here for a Friday night dinner at 10.15pm, 45 minutes before the kitchen supposedly closes, to avoid having to wait for a table. The ambience was very dark and intimate, the tables were quite close together from other diners as well. Slightly awkward when you can hear every one else's conversations. The prices are steep but you absolutely get what you pay for. My partner had the rare veal and proclaimed it was the best veal dish he has ever had in his life!! I had the orechiette chicken ragu and let me just say, pasta has never tasted this good! Dessert was this party in my mouth stickydate pudding!! It's not often restaurants serve sticky date pudding with a moat of butterscotch sauce, and it's not often they make it as good as I do =P. Service was so friendly and efficient. Like previous comments, such a shame you can't book.

Justanotherwaitress

A++. Started in the bar with wines and tapas. Didn't wait too long for a table in the restaurant. Food was great. Service was fantastic. Atmosphere was lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed my evening here. Would recommend.

Italiano

Great food - modern style.. We were there last night -This place has changed a lot over the years. The lunch menu has more of the traditional Italian favourites and the evening is modern Australian. . The staff are very friendly but not intrusive. My request for an item off the lunch menu was accommodated without hesitation. Good wine list and they do great dishes with fish. Very generous portions - which made the price more acceptable. The tables are very close together and at times it is noisy. Strong rich flavours dominate the menu (garlic / oils), which I prefer. A great spot before a show for dinner, good energy. Not the best for a quiet one on one. The lasagne has button mushroom and prosciutto and basil , great fresh pasta. A good spin on an olde fav. Veggo's give this one a miss. Carnivores, make the time to drop in.

George_Renee

Food Delicious, space small. We loved the food here and it has an excellent choice of beverages to choose from. However, we found space was a bit of an issue.. we felt like we were on a table with the people sitting next to us - the gap was basically non existant. We would recommend going, however, don't expect to have much space around you or to have a quiet romanitc dinner for two....

MelbourneFergie

A Musical dinner. We had the most gorgeous dinner at Cicciolina last night with the talented John Hoffman, in town for shows this week at Bennetts Lane. Try the Steak with Truffle butter! Out of control!

Ross_belinda

“Consistently great food and excellent service. This is one of those rare species of restaurants where the food and service has been outstanding over many years. Can't book, but there is great 'waiting' bar (with snack food available). Never disappoints.

Tonyam11

Old fave. Never disappoints this place! Great food great staff and great bar for continuing drinking late into the evening....

Peterdunnings

Very Cool!!. Cool , trendy little venue with great food and staff that smile ! Great day out in Melbourne for Lunch thank you :)

Minnie

Excellent Service!! Foodies Recommendation!!. Where fine dining meets decent sized servings. Went there on Sun 18th. Staff were absolute professionals and very thoughtful. The food was remarkable! They had us at the entrees and did not disappoint to follow with the mains- had the Salmon Fetttucini and the Risotto. 10/10!! The pics on the wall were definitely conversation starters:)!!

MalvernCustomer

Always wonderful food and exceptional service. Have been going here for years and never had a poor meal or bad experience.

Blacklabel

My blue swimmer crab soufflé was a bit soggy and my salmon linguine was too salty. There isn't that much to chose from on the menu the bar is a real posers hang out overall quite good but a little too pricey for what it is

Greg From Perth

Terrific food, wine & service. What more do you want? Oh yes, it was good value.

Tonyofiz

Still brilliant. Another great lunch at one of my faves!

Siobhán Pillai

Ah Cicciolina! It's so cosy, the food is ALWAYS spot on and the staff are brilliant. I'm always so happy to sit in the back bar with a bottle of wine and wait for a table - simply because I know the reward!! Seriously, even the bread is amazing. I've been here for work lunches, family get togethers and the occasional date... It's been the perfect venue every time.

Ross Elliott

Magnificent meal & wine list. Crab soufflé unbelievable. Eye Fillet steak sensational. Great reds. I'll be back.

Tragic_old_trout

Great food. It's places such as this that make coming back to melbourne a treat. very good, polite service, good prices. keep it up cicciolina

BAL

This is a restaurant we return to often. The food is consistently good. A specials board display changes regularly. The staff are friendly slick and professional.

Mendoza

Sensational. Magnificent food, Excellent wine list and perfect professional service. Seriously what are you waiting for?

Brad

If this place can treat it's customers with contempt and still get accolades it says more about the stupidity of people than anything else. To be told by a waitress that risotto has to be made with cheese even with a lactose intolerant customer who's been making cheeseless for years is an insult. The only thing they were prepared to do was green salad. WTF. AND THE ATTITUDE. It made me think of the fable about the emperors clothes. Doesn't anyone get that this place is shite?

J-Rod

One of Melbourne's best. FIrst time back in 5+ years and thankfully it hasnt changed! Cosy setting, great service and beautiful food. Luckily we only had a 10 minute wait for a table. We had the Jamon and Tuna Carpaccio for entrees, with the Tuna a sand out. Mains were both steaks, one of each type, and maybe the best I've had in Melbourne. Desert of the chocolate self serving pudding was possibly the best thing I've ever tasted! Easily one of Melbourne's best restaurants!

Deb Shazam

YUM!. A group of 4 of us had lunch here on Monday (public holiday). Great atmosphere - bustling, small, Italian restaurant - warm and cosy - felt great straight away. The bread (free) - light and fluffy with crusty crust - heaven! All 4 of us had pasta (different ones) and everyone loved their meal. Generous portions, extremely flavoursome and interesting menu made for an excellent lunch. Staff were friendly and efficient! Will definitely come back again. If you want something different from the standard St Kilda café fare and vibe this is a definite winner!

SBMTH

Pretentious. Went in last week for dinner was told the wait was 2 hours!! (highly doubt it just snobbery!) So we went into the back bar for some cocktails and the cumbersome bartender was nothing but rude! He didn't seem to know how to make any of the cocktails requested and when we asked for Midori Illusions he told us to go back to Sunshine!! I will never be going back I can't imagine this place will be around for long!! #nothappy

Puddin

Excellent. Great food, great service. Always worth the wait.

Becels

One of Melbourne's Best. Still one of my favourite places to eat - it is intimate, relaxed and serves some of the best pasta in Melbourne. The service is always impeccable, and the same wait staff have been working there for years - always a good sign! It is one of the best restaurants in the Bay Side area. Word of advice is to get there early if you want a table straight away. We usually get there no later than 6:30pm, earlier if you are going on the weekend. But if you do have to wait the back bar is great. Treat yourself and try Ciccolinas - I promise you won't regret it!

BNCI

Favourite restaurant in Melbourne! Always walk away from this place totally satisfied.

Sarah Stone

Yessss. Best past i have ever bloody had too good loved it!

Phineas

Good old fashion Italian food done well. Always!!!

Matt Young

Great food again as always. Although you forgot our drinks at one point, but I'll give you a free pass given credits in the bank.

Maebee

Favourite. This is one of my all time favourites! Always great food and fantastic service.

Frank

Love this place a personal fave. SERVICE attentive but relaxed and food wine awesome.

Escargot

Cuddles. Grab "The Red Telephone" and make a lunch reservation at Cicciolina. I have eaten here at least 50+ times - maybe 100!! It is our favourite local and for 15+ years have been enjoying dinners/lunches in the comfort and care of great waiters and chefs. Service is Sublime. Wine list is Exceptional. Food....., Perfect. Cicciolina is the standard, which up against, I judge all my meals in Melbourne and around the world. "ONWARDS!" A

John Moltisanti

Superb. A fine mix of modern Australian and Italian dishes. Just lovely.

Froodette

Ok. After going for over 10 years - I can't fault the place. The BEST vongole in Melbourne. Crispy pork belly is astoundingly good. Great wine selection. A Melbourne institution. Cannot recommend enough!!!

Richard

Iconic. This place is a bit of an Acland St institution. We happened to be passing last Sunday right on opening time for lunch and were in the rare position of being able to pick a table. The restaurant has a no bookings policy so it can be difficult to get into. Anyway, once in you will find this place is well worth the effort to get in. This place does "simple" Italian fare and it does it beautifully. When you see that bowl of pasta you wonder what is so hard about that but very few Italian restaurants do it as well as this place. A bottle of red, a bowl of the best pasta in Melbourne and a passing Sunday parade, what more could you want. Come here for a quintessential Melbourne experience.

Muriel Matters

Timeless classic!. This place is a Melbourne treasure. The food is classic Italian-Australian, always ingredients-driven and no funny business. The staff are well-informed, polite and friendly, and seem happy to be there. The wine list is excellent. Cicciolina's risotto forever changed my understanding of what heights that humble dish can achieve.

Emma

Cicciolina is our favourite restaurant for a romantic lunch. We come here often and have never been disappointed. The staff are friendly but also unobtrusive and the food is always fantastic. We always start with Chardonnay and oysters, which are always fresh and flavoursome. For mains, I have tried many of the dishes and have always been happy with my choice. There is always something adventurous to choose from the specials menu, which changes weekly. My only criticism would be that the mushroom and truffle risotto disappeared from the regular menu as this was one of my favourite dishes. A lovely dining experience.

Matty Mac

Best Back Bar. An institute in St.kilda. Great food. Definitely get the crab entree. Love the bar out back too.

Roger Bosustow

Always excellent. Never disappoints, always busy but there aren't many places to be waiting for a table than their back bar. The mud crab and carpaccio are personal favourites.

Bluebird

Class!. Amazing food and ambience, never disappoints. Guaranteed great night.

Katrinabrett

Great food, rude service. Great food. Very rude waitress. Directors response to our complaint was condescending.

Carlo Z

Simply The Best. I Love Cicciolina. Have for years, and still do. The food, service, menu and artwork are fantastic. Keep it up!!

Che

St.Kilda legend. Cicciolina has been my go to in St.Kilda since it started. I must have been here about fifteen times by now and never have I been unimpressed!

Rod Morris

As always food great, service friendly unobtrusive and professional not stiff... my local go to restaurant in st kilda.. consistency is the key

P-mac

Been twice now and the food is pretty darn good. The staff both times have been good too. It was very good first time and regular the second. Pricey too, but you are paying for the location really. But 2 things I absolutely hate. 1. The layout. I hate the toilet outside the building with the keys attached to garden stakes hanging near the door. So unprofessional really. 2. Not being able to book. There is nothing worse in my opinion. Every restaurant should be able to take bookings. It's not a good marketing ploy to think you can make people wait because you're amazing and having 50 people waiting for tables in the bar behind the restaurant is crap. If you think you lose the foot traffic business well then they should have booked.

Brenda Wang

Not as good but ok. Still ok just

Corrine

My hearts in Ciccias. This is still after over 10 years of dining here - one of my all time faves! Thanks guys wish I was still a St Kilda local :-(

Rob Bowen

Sensational food, service and atmosphere..

Lexi

I'm in heaven. Beautiful restaurant with beautiful food, absolutely delicious and we were well looked after! Lovely staff, but expensive. This is a perfect restaurant for an anniversary date. The Penne and pork belly were fantastic!

Jane Conley

Just had an amazing delicious meal here tonight to celebrate daughters 18th. Loved the food. Steak cooked to perfection. NO BLOOD Smooth Shiraz. Going to bed happy

Joseph Icken

Fabulous after all these years. Still love cicc! the girls have never been the 'coolest' on the block.. hence just a consistent great business / restaurant. Love the nudes on the walls. and the back bar.

Alistair

Been here twice and on both occasions have been offended by rude staff, particularly the bar staff. Seriously need to lose the attitude as it was all rather boring having the same bad experience twice. One to avoid, plenty of other decent places in Melbourne where the staff operate with a higher level of pleasantness and professionalism.

Mark Wright

Heaven, heaven, heaven. My favorite restaurant.

Brendan Cameron

Great little eatery with stunning food. love how you can't book. will def head back here in future.

Only Eat Local

Man alive! What is this website that allows such crap to be written, lies to be published and such trivia to be perpetuated?! And what's with people - you need to get the truth and get a life?! William - Desert venison ... What the hell is that? And Dave, this place would have THE freshest food of any other place in St Kilda , due to turnover alone. And good luck getting PIZZA in the back bar next visit...you might find some of that pretentious attitude that others have such a massive problem with (...??!) I've eaten here for 18 years. It's consistent, reliable, friendly, great food. So shut up all of you and foster children or cure cancer will you?

Dave

Very disappointed. We waited for years amongst all the hype that was Cicciolinas. I will say though that we ate at the restaurant and not the back bar. I knew straight up when I saw the menu that I was going to be disappointed. My wife ordered the angel hair prawn pasta which had a very oily taste and when the taste of the prawn repeats on you, something needs to be said about the freshness of the prawn. I had the roast lamb and again I question the freshness of the produce. The pasta was about $30 and the lamb $40. For these kind of prices the quality really needs to improve. But given the hype for this place we were really unlucky or the people that are writing these reviews and dining at these type of establishments really haven't got a clue what is and isn't quality dining. For Cicciolinas to be great, it really needs to work on its menu and have a menu that's easy to piece an entree and main together, look at the freshness of the produce and relook at their pricing. This restaurant is described as modern Australian/Italian. I'd drop the Italian part. The only thing Italian is the name. I will give this place another go but only at the back bar for pizza. I still need to see what the hypes all about. 2/5

Amit Gabay

Good food and wine. Love the salmon pasta

Eat&Review

So So. Went for lunch on saturday and found the food to be ok but overpriced for what it is. I paid $60 for a main of chicken and a white chocolate mousse dessert with coffee and wasn't worth it at all. Portions are small and didnt hit the spot at all. Won't be going back.

William

C'mon guys. Went there the last time a while back and got a desert venison, it was as dry and tough as the outback...too bad. Staff's attitude about this wasn't quite what they teach in customer service seminars (or what you would expect from a staff member who clearly has had quite some experience). After the Good Food Guide's coming review, probably not the only dry piece of meat that has been served here in the past year. I liked going there, it is nice. The food never was a letdown before, the drinks were neither. Wines are reasonably priced and nicely selected and I am sure that our next visit will let us forget about the last.

Amanda

Never fails to impress. I have lost count of the number of times I have dined here and I am never ever disappointed. I am pretty boring in that I ALWAYS have the crab souffle - then eat far too much of their wonderful crisp bread soaking up the sauce.....the duck is always amazing, their pasta's fresh and devoured in minutes.....service, fast, friendly, professional. One of my all time favorite St Kilda/Melbourne Restaurants.

Jonathon Dempster

Just because the Ciccolinas red carpet wasn't available for her that night I think the previous reviewers comments are misplaced! Unless you are the size of a house the chairs are comfy, service always fantastic and food constantly amazing. Took a 7 year old pasta fanatic there for her birthday last night who rated her meal 20 out of 10! Thanks to Barb, Simon, josey and rosemary for a wonderful night!

Anne

Too bad about the attitude. Food here was great. No complaints. However unfortunately found the service incredibly pretentious and rude, had a male waiter who seemed to hover incessantly near us, asking unnecessary questions, pushing us quickly to the next course and no matter how hard I tried to be friendly, could not elicit a smile out of the guy. So many places in Melbourne with equally as good food and no attitude....they will be getting my custom. On a side note hated the chairs (so uncomfortable and clunky) and hate that the bathroom is outside in a carpark...saw some dodgy characters hanging around when I went out there :S

Pepper Pot

I want to shout it out!!!. I've been there with my husband a few times. I've been there with the kids,every time was like an experience more than a meal. If you choose to eat a little out of regular meal times there will be no trouble getting a table. If not, be prepared to wait. The menu was vast, with fresh good quality ingredients used every time. The menu was impressive, the most impressive part were the combination of flavours and I must say the best creme caramel I've ever tasted. A good price range to suit most and the service was very friendly and attentive. May have to name our third child Cicciolina. Enjoy

Kate

Best steak in Melbourne. The only place to go for steak in Melbourne! We've tried other places and keep coming back.

Cynthia

Disappointing. Monday night and the restaurant is busy and the staff are helpful and professional and it all seems good. Had the Balmain bug with cumquat veloute and the difficulties begin. The plate is overdone. The highlight is the bug but it is off to the side, abandoned while some bit of creativity that includes mackerel and lots of watercress (nice) dominates the plate. $21. Then the orrechetta pasta dish--light creamy sauce with lots of lemon and sauteed calamari with spinach. The dish is nice, not special, but nice and the textures are more than the flavours. $29. This is a big serve but not so interesting. Then the dessert. BIG disappointment. The enthusiastic waitress talks up the special Bombe Alaska. I love Bombe Alaska. We discuss the merits of the dish and she convinces me I need to eat this one. It arrives. It is the latest 'style' as in the way Stokehouse Upstairs delivered it a few years ago--a slice through the 'middle' rather than the entire 'bombe' (in miniature or otherwise). There is NO soft meringue outside shell. It is a frozen slice of icecream with whole almond pieces imprinted randomly. The sponge and liqueur are negligable. When she asks, I say: fail. She shrugs and goes away. Hello. $15. A bottle of nice but not great wine $45. My partner's lamb loin (another special) looks beautiful but is tough. $39. His beef soup is good. $14. By the end we had spent $170 for two and it was just okay not exceptional. So disappointed after hearing so much about this place and wanting it to be just that little bit better.

The Underwhelmed

Over hyped. A busy place, foods nice, not bad at all but didnt live up to expectations................... underwhelmed

A Team

Had to wait about an hour before we got a table... But well worth the wait (and I HATE waiting)!! The food was unbelievable. I had the special, which was a rabbit dish. Never tasted rabbit that was cooked as beautifully as this dish. I cannot wait to return.

Wino 74

Full house, yet quick and efficient,. We have been there in Sep 2011, before I joined Urban Spoon, however they really deserve all the praise and the great rating. I am not sure why they picked the name of the blond bomb shell from Italy though, never the less it was a great experience and Vongole to die for. But foremost impressed me the swift and quick assistance from meeting, greeting and seating. We came with a wide pram, now we know better that that was a bad move for MEL, however the waitress couldn't be more helpful showing us the other entrance, tables and chairs got moved and we had a seat. Minutes later we had drinks, orders taken and just the two on the floor and the bartender managed perfectly to serve everybody's lunch. BNE, spend some time in MEL and learn how it's done.

Patrick Mitchell

Heavenly!. What an oasis this back bar is..no backpackers, no pints, no bright lights just gorgeous wine, food and booths..An old hidden gem!

Carmilla5

I'm always reminded within 2 secs of coming to Chich why I love it so much. First time: 13/2/1999. To meet a new g/f who turned out to be the one. 13 yrs & still going strong. We met here & spent 5 hrs here. Always come back. Best service, food & always a famous face or two. Thanks for continuing the superbness!

Sirlunchalot

One of the best. Had a late lunch here with a friend started with the anti pasti plate everything on there was tasty a great start to the meal. Wine was resonably priced and continually topped up which was nice (it also lead to a second bottle) For mains we had the lasagne nice while not being earth moving the other main pasta dish was better. All in all service was professional food was good would happily recommend to anybody.

Rachel

Unbelievable meal! Up there with the amazing melbourne restaurants - the chin chins and longrains etc. Ordered mostly off the specials board. Tempura zuchinni flowers stuffed with parmesan, ricotta, pine nuts and lemon zest, tuna carpaccio, caprese salad and seafood pasta - all absolutely fantastic! Great service, food, wine & atmosphere! A timeless restaurant!

Ald28

Great risotto. I have been to Cicciolino 3 times now and seem to be one of the lucky few to get a table instantly each time. Went again recently in a group of 5 and although it was a little tight we managed to get a table straight away. Some of us ordered a stuffed zucchini flower each which was a nice little entree and the others had a large green salad each. Both were very tasty. Mains were the mushroom risotto and a barramumdi dish. The risotto was delicious and the serve my very generous. My companions also enjoyed their barramundi. The wine was lovely and the one serve of sticky date pudding that we ordered was lovely. Out waitress was friendly if not a bit cheeky, and the service was very good. Its nice to go to a place with such a nice atmosphere with such tasty food.

L.C

One of my favourite European Restaurants. I'm a fan of risotto and they cook it very well here, with wonderful variations and service. On the expensive side but worth it for a special visit.

Francesca

Really nice. Went there last week for a friend's birthday dinner. loved it. great food, large servings. dessert was the absolute highlight. be prepared to wait a little longer though

Chef

Yum food, yum service

Kath

Love this place, some of the best steak going around. Been here around 5 times now, always a hit. Last time we went though, we had a weird waiter. We were sitting at the table for 10mins without so much as a menu or water (it was very busy) we didn't mind at all but when we asked to see a wine list, she carried on as though we were alcoholics. She continued to comment and make fun of everything we ordered, which of as a bit off putting but in all I think she was just being funny. Pity though, we would have ordered another bottle but didn't want to be ridiculed. Despite this, this place is great and will still be back. Also looking foreward to trying their new restaurant Ilona Staller, meant to be amaze.

Lincolnlad

Took my wife for a birthday dinner and had a fantastic time. Food was amazing and you can tell this is a top class restaurant. Will be back again to sample more.

Lily N

Mouth watering. In fashionable Acland Street you will find incredible food. Pricey yes but worth it. Perfect for a dinner date, I was impressed when taken here. Had the Lasagne with prosciutto and button mushrooms, really good!

Phil

Delicious ... Dinner last night was so tasty, had the vegie entree and it was incredible, followed by orecchiette pasta and that was to die for! Desserts were heavenly too, 10 out of ten to the best food consistently and pretty good service to match ! Cicciolina we will always be back

Simonpthomas

Not as good as usual.. I like the place, but I haven't been in a couple of years due to living overseas, and tonight was no good. We waited 1:20 instead of the 45mins we were told, our entree was forgotten, the linguine was far too oily and the rocket/parmesan salad was drenched in vinegar. The waitress didn't even ask whether our meals were ok or why we had not cleared our plates. Hopefully back to being great next time.

JLC

Delicious.... Went: Friday night in Jan. Positives: Food was amazing, service is attentive. Negatives: No booking, you have to wait in a bar that is behind the main restaurant.

Bigdan

Very nice evening. Very nice food and service to go with it.

Andresfcm

Stay for dessert!. We arrived for a spontaneous late lunch on Thursday and were delighted to be shown to a table immediately. The atmosphere was great, busy and buzzing and while the wait staff were generally polite, they could have used an extra person on the floor as they seemed rushed and uptight. The wine list was very good and we selected a German riesling which was perfect for a hot day, very refreshing and easy to drink. We ordered the bowl of warm olives with our bread as a starter which was delicious and followed on with tuna carpaccio which was light, fresh and tasty with a lime olive oil and capers. For mains we shared raviollo with scallops and sage butter, and the pork belly with apple and walnut salad, both delicious. A highlight was the chocolate pudding, definitely worth the 20 minute wait, served with cream.... sticky, rich and divine! Definitely recommend a visit and we will visit again.

Dom Behan

Had lunch at cicciolina today and was utterly impressed with the service, food and winelist. Got home and started reading reviews on urban spoon and was so so so disappointed to see so many bad reviews. What is wrong with you people, get a life for gods sake, who do you think you are, some sort of educated food critic..... If you don't like it your expectations are probably to high, because your not used to eating anywhere else but mcdonalds. My mother once told me if you don't have anything nice to say about anyone don't day anything at all. Urban spoon can kiss my arse....... I'm sure all you negative reviewers don't work in a job where a social media network can critique your daily performance. Just go and have a meal, enjoy it or not, but don't get on your almighty highhorse and think your the new John lethlean or Larissa dubrecki just because your spent more than $5.95 a head for dinner.

The Hungry Runner

In my Melbourne top 5!. I've been to Cicciolina several times, either in a group setting or with one-on-one, and I've always had a great time. Unless you can get there at 6pm, you'll probably start your evening in the back bar. Don't stress though, I'd actually recommend it. Take a seat either in a cosy booth or at the bar, order yourself a nice bottle of red (from their well-picked selection) and a bowl of assorted warmed olives. Partnered this started with the casual ambience of the place and good company and you'll be in the main dinning area not far past your first glass. The professional and attuned wait staff will transfer your bottles and tab to the front bar where the ambience continues as you nestle in just far enough from your neighbour to enjoy your own space. The quality continues to impress at this point, with some beautiful fresh (still warm) thick bread and butter to satiate while you peruse the menu (I recommend the duck, salmon linguini, squid-ink rissotto or any of the specials). You'll do yourself an injustice if you leave without trying either or both the sticky date pudding or a frangelico affogato!

Beverly

Terrific. My husband and I love this place. great food and a terrfific wine list( my husband said). I only wish you could book, Its a little noisy though we are getting older. Thank you for a delicious dinner. Excellent steak.

Marissa Tree

Great food, fantastic ambience but service a little lacking - was difficult to get anyone's attention to order anything. If you dont like waiting for a table, get there early! About 10mins after we sat the next lot of people were told it would be a 1.5-2hr wait. If you're not up for spending $80+ (each) for a main, shared entree and few glasses of wine, head to the bar for some simple, delicious bar tapas that are tasty and don't cost the earth.

Jeff Vale

Finally. Have eaten at the bar more times than at a table.... Then finally we got a table. Was well worth the expense. Great food and very creative. A special treat for a st Kilda dweller like me

Dinner For Two

That's how you make Italian. Very happy with the food here. Large pasta servings that there is no need for entrees unless you like to push your limits, because you will not stop until the plate is licked clean. Went here for a late lunch, ordered a pasta dish each with my wife, missed dinner that night. Service was the only let down, but a busy little place you would forgive such an oversight, when we did wave down the waitress the response was always positive.

The Crowes

Consistantly Amazing!. What an impressive place for all occasions. The food, service, staff and wine list are all fantastic but it is the feel and atmosphere that makes it so great. The back bar is a great place for a quiet drink to escape the crowds too.

Jo

Good, not great. My family came here recently for a birthday dinner. It was a Tuesday evening and not busy, so no problem getting a table. I have to say I was expecting something more. The atmosphere was a little bland, and although the food was mostly very good I wouldn't say it was fabulous. With all the hype and the high prices I think I was wanting that something extra that just seemed to be missing. Maybe it was an off night. Steaks and the lamb were given the thumbs up, my chicken pasta special was good, but not great and the apple tartine dessert was pretty ordinary. Although nothing to complain about, I don't think I would choose to eat here again. Perhaps it needed to be buzzing and full of diners. It was a pretty quiet night when we went.

Momma Bear

Always fab, one of my all time faves. Service a little slow but food makes up for it.

Bne-eats

One of Melbourne's best restaurants. Make sure you stop next time you are in St Kilda. You will not be disappointed. Excellent wine list, fantastic food (go with one of the chalkboard specials) and competent service. An icon.

The Hungry Scorpio

Best Gal on the street. There is a reason why this Acland street icon is full every night and in one word its LOVE. Cicciolina is most beloved amongst locals and travellers alike who flock here not for the flashy decor or latest molecular gastronomy techniques but for the hearty, plate licking seasonal dishes - Cicciolina will take a rustic favourite like roast chicken and put a modern twist on it and leave you wondering if you've really ever had roast chook before.. . GF's, vegos and kids are all welcomed and catered for here and the wait staff are on the ball, almost pre empting your needs. Their wine list is extensive without being pretentious and even if you have to wait in the bar area for an hour the bar snacks make the wait worth it. Its above average in cost so save it for that special night out with the girls or to woo the inlaws but worth every cent. Try it and im sure you will fall in love and make Cicciolina one of your best gals too

Alex Lata

Great atmosphere, both in back bar and in restaurant. Good food and good wine selection.

Old Style Chef

Best sticky date pudding with caramel sauce I've ever had!

Lex

Chaos. Noisy, cramped, crazy. But how we loved it! Fantastic atmosphere and the food is top notch! Carpaccio was a winner!

Jay

Good food - slow service. We went to Cicciolina a couple of days ago and the food was lovely. We were quite disappointed by the service though (particularly after having heard great things about it.) When we arrived we were told our table would be one hour max and we should have some drinks in the back bar. When we walked in it was busy but we were able to stand by the bar. We then ignored by every member of staff who entered the bar for nearly 20 minutes. We would have appreciated a "Hello" or "sorry we'll be with you as soon as possible" or even eye contact. But this did not happen. We had to literaly lean over the bar and stop the bar tender to get served. This started us of on a bit of a negative. We weren't even given a wine cooler for our wine when everyone else appeared to have one. After an hour and 20 minutes we still hadn't heard about our table and the bar was practically empty. I asked the bar staff how long it would be and low and behold we were taken straight to our table in the then very quiet restaurant. But, the food was good and the wine was very good. So I'm sure we'll give it another try. Perhaps we'll go for a drink somewhere else on Acland Street while we wait for our table though.

Aiken Drum

Why has it taken me so long to get here? Top class food, atmosphere, service. Will be back soon...

Andrew 'Cheddar' McGregor

Very busy restaurant and a one too many tables in such a small place. However the food, wine and service was excellent! Highly recommend to all.

Chanda Zendage

THE BEST MEAL EVER !!!!!!! We ate at Cicciolina on the weekend and it truly is a gem of Melbourne, everything about this restaurant is faultless especially the delicious fresh food. Fish with artichokes was outstanding as was the venison my husband had. We will be returning regularly, we love it. Do your self a favor and eat at Cicciolina

Sarah Higgins

Outstanding!. What can i say but awesome, awesome, awesome! Couldnt fault virtually anything. The food, service and surroundings were all top notch. If i had to be critical the place was very busy indeed but that only really added to the excitement. A+++

Tomaz

EVERY TIME WITH OUT FAIL! we have consistently had amazing food and wine and really professional service here and we just can't fault it. Dinner last night with my wife was truly delicious.The food ,I just can't rave about it enough.So long as the food comes out of cicciolina's kitchen I will never stop eating there.

Sandra

Two words .Black pudding !!!!! Ok one more word .Delicious.

Sebastiano Armeli

Great food

Sky

Institution. I have been going here for years and it never disappoints. Service is fast and furious and I often wonder how they do it.... but they always do. One of my favourite places for a bite to eat midweek

Suzie

We have heard about how divine the food at Cicciolina is for some time now and last night we finally made the trip out ti St Kilda ... And we are do glad we did ! The place was so busy , which to me is always a really good sign. We were greeted by a lovely barman who made us beautiful cocktails and then we were whisked off into the bubbly dim lit dining room. Service was fantastic and the food even better ,we shared a crab souffle and the pork belly and house made black pudding to start and they were both divine , who would have known blood could taste so good. Fish for main was also a winner lovely to look at and even lovelier to eat. Well done Cicciolina you exceeded our very large expectations.

Foodeee

Oh my god ..... We ate here on sat night and I have to say it's the best meal we have had in a long long time ! Best steak and especially scotch fillet in Melbourne hands down ! Salt bush lamb ribs souffle desserts wine service everything A 1

ET

Some good points, some bad points.. We had a great lunch at Cicciolina's a few months ago so were keen to try it our for dinner. Service was excellent and this carried the rest of the evening for us. We had one great entree of tuna carpaccio and one ok entree of pan fried calamari. We both ordered the scotch fillet medium rare and we both got medium to nearly well done. The side dishes were way, way too salty (and I love my salt) and garlicky (also love garlic). So the mains were a fail. The over seasoning also killed the very expensive wine we ordered. The wine was also not great, we had asked for some advice about italian varieties and got directed to the most expensive. We did not enjoy the bottle and it did not sit well with our food. Desert was lovely, really well executed. All and all, we wanted to make Cicciolina a regular but overcooked and over seasoned food for a bill of $350 means we will not be returning.

Andrea

Bollito Misto was magic - technically a triumph and also such a comfort dish. They just get it so right here. Excellent casual service and truly one of the great Melbourne locals.

Stm96

Birthday Lunch. Everyone was impressed.

Lisa Robie

Liked the sticky date pudding but ordered the risotto for main & it was too over powering with garlic and oil, couldn't taste spinach/mushrooms, but overly tasteless - plus no chicken or pumpkin option that any good risotto deserves! friendly staff & cozy restaurant.

FoodieMelb

Go go go!. Absolute star performer. Always right. Stunning food. Great service. Will come back a million times until I die!

Ellie

Amazing amazing amazing! Perfect for my anniversary, loved it! Best meal I have had for a long time

Fashion Foodie

I likey.. I have been going to Cicciolina for 9 years. And I've never had a bad experience there. A couple of bad nights maybe, but that was more to do with the choice of boyfriend at the time, rather than the choice of restaurant. But I digress. I like the fact that the menu hasn't changed since I've started going. I love knowing that I'm going there and already I've decided that it's either going to be the Leek and Blue cheese tart or Crab Souffle for starters - accompanied by the yummy bread and butter that staff are all too happy to keep it coming, then either the Baby Chicken or a main off the Specials menu. Interestingly, I don't bother with the pasta unless it's a Special and has chicken livers in it - I think their other dishes are superior. I'm usually too full for dessert but will give it a crack if there's even so much as breathing space left in my tummy. The wine list is fairly well rounded, and their cocktails are pleasing. Sure, I would never even bother turning up there after 6.15pm (when I'm hungry I want to eat NOW not in an hour and a half!). Sure it would be super if they took bookings. But then, Cicciolina is what it is and everyone knows so you just work around it. The staff have always been friendly and service efficient. It's not the best Italian food in Melbourne but to me, it's the food equivalent of a nice warm hug. And that feels good.

Renae Brennen

I have only walked into one other restaurant and started to plan my next visit because I couldn't possibly eat everything off the menu in one sitting! From the mood to the staff to the delicious reason you came, the experience is worth the visit(s) :)

Anne

Delicious, Authentic. Great, friendly unpretentious service. No frills and down to earth restaurant with authentic italian charm. Food was also impeccable and without pretension. Everything was very fresh and appeared to have been prepared with a lot of care. Felt like a home cooked meal you might have in Italy.

Noomer

IS this for real. Utterly disappointing. Been wanting to go coz kept reading positive reviews and everyone seems to "like it" for the right reasons. went last friday after carl barron, was rather hungry and cold you d think that would enhance the psycological flavour of whatever food that was to be consumed. not quite. for starters, the menu on the window was somehow rather different from the one we were given by the staff, causing further 5 mins of unnecessary hunger - i suppose that's understandable - it's all about seasonal produce and what's fresh on the market during a particular week. fine. copped it. the seats were unbelievably uncomfortable - helps with turnover i guess? tables were crammed together, people who weigh more than 60k would have trouble getting through to the wall seats.blatant discrimination against those cursed/blessed with sizeable ass. coziness can be achieved in many other ways that do not result in accidentally elbowing your fellow diners. Food wise, the capers in the salmon linguine was so overpowering that all that could be tasted was the sourness. not sure what the leek was doing in the dish either but its presence was tolerated if not ignored. the risotto with mushroom etc was utterly utterly bland. i don't even have other words for it coz it was so profoundly bland. dessert - sticky date pudding - didn't finish it - not because i was too full. in conclusion - i was unable to appreciate the greatness of the restaurant.

Michy

Great. I love this lace. Always very consistent & the staff are friendly.

Eleanor

My mother took me here to celebrate my finishing year 12 (many years ago now) and it was a very special meal. The steak was totally melt in your mouth with very yummy thin curls of (what I imagine now) sweet potato chips.

Vix

Love it!. Sooo good -my favourite restaurant

St Kilda Local

Updating required. I've been here several times over the last couple of years - and in general food is of a good standard with excellent staff and service. It is a little irritating having to go to their bar to "wait for a table" as it is mainly just a mean little trick to get you to spend more on drinks. However, that aside I do wish they would update the menu AND the specials - they seem to have been doing the same old stuff for years!

Stompy

I had a pre-theatre dinner here, arriving at about 5pm, so no trouble getting a table. Food was nice enough, but by no means the best Italian food I have ever had. Atmosphere was nice, but didn't live up to the expectations I had after viewing their website. Service was fine: prompt and courteous. We were easily able to complete 3 course meal and get to our show by 7.30pm.

Up.autkowsky

Always a winner!. Low key, yet special. Great food. Not pretentious. Nights at Cicciolina have always finished on top in my books. Like in many special places, waiting in the adjacent bar is part of the experience. Good variety on the menu and the specials board. My favourite: the brains! It's also very hard to resist the desserts. No bookings, so come in early or be prepared to wait! Impeccable service, not overbearing, always efficient. This place has never missed a beat.

Ilovefood

On a Tuesday night, my friend and I wandered into Ciccolina. We managed to get a table outside straight away. The service was excellent and the pasta was delicious. I could not fault it. I can't wait to go back and try the other items on the menu.

Waz

Get here early...!. ...To avoid disappointment of it being booked out. The wagyu beef carpaccio with pomegranates and balsamic vinegar was music to my mouth and washed down with an italian pinot grigio followed by a pink duck breast, well say no more. Cicciolina, it may have taken me until my 4th attempt to get a table for always getting there during peak hour 8pmish but last Saturday 8th Jan, my 6pm sitting was better than expected!

Honkie

Surprised, impressed!. Wow! i may of had the best pasta here in my life so far.. it was delicious. A bit pricey but worth it, the service & staff was fantastic and tentative but odd thing is we booked... must have changed recently. Definitely a fan!

DT_Sanchez

Worth the wait...if you have to!. We dined at Cicciolina recently after reading reviews in urbanspoon. We arrived and there was a couple of tables left for couples and were sat immediately. Service is first rate with the wait staff attentive to everything...bread....water and topping up the wine glass without any nods needed. Food is sensational and we wanted to savour every mouthful. We were not disappointed from the crispy and soft tuna fish cakes. Through the amazing Linguine pasta with salmon and capers to the wonderful chocolate puddings which had a crisp casing around the lava like chocolate inside. we cant wait to return.

SP

Lovely Dinner for Two. Food 8/10, Service 3.5/5, Ambience 3.5/5, TOTAL 15/20. My partner and I dined at Cicciolina's on Monday night, we only had to wait 30 mins in the bar before we were seated which was perfect as we wanted to enjoy a few drinks beforehand and my partner had never been to the bar or restaurant. The service was good, not great, but not bad either. We started with the Antipasto and Beef Capaccio ($20 ea) - both fantastic! For main I had the lamb ($38) which was divine, and my partner the steak which is was not overly impressed with, nice but not worth $40... unfortunately. Wine is very reasonably priced and although the tables were all close together we were comfortable. It was a very lovely night and we will certainly be back again.

Please Sir Can I Have Some More

Worth the wait. For years I have been waiting to try the famous Cicciolina's. Arrived early, greeted by friendly staff that took us to the uber sexy back bar, polished off a bottle of wine, informed that our table would be a little longer...but because we got there so early it was only 7.30, perfect time for dinner. After reading numerous reviews I had to try the crab souffle. GO THERE, ORDER THIS, ORDER TWO, DO NOT SHARE. It was amazing words and pictures don't do this dish justice. I cannot fault this place, the staff, the bread, the back bar, the espresso martinis were all scrumptious.

Cathy

It's fantastic~!. When the waitress lit the candle on the cake, everyone began to sing happy birthday to me. It was sooooo sweet!

Sally

Always a winner. Yum

GirlWhoEats

Great food...did feel a bit rushed. The tuna carpaccio is amazing and well worth the trip. As too was the goat's cheese souffle. Brains wrapped in proscuitto were unexpectedly divine! Worth a go :) Service was efficient if a little run off it's feet. Felt like we were rushed through our meal, staff seemed flustered, but otherwise ok. Have had better dining experiences there - maybe just an off night.

Ezio Hungary

Walked in to this restaurant with my friend as other restaurants around are fully booked. The door person was so polite every she had to deal with few customers which made me happy to wait for half and hour for my table. Love the romantic european style environment. Bread and water were always served while we were waiting for our main courses. Great wine list and great food. Love it. Definitely will be backed again.

Daniel

Restaurant is tiny and you will be bumping elbows all night so a quiet romantic evening is off the books here. The food however is awesome, the best risotto I have tried. The wait however is long and no bookings are taken.

Jake

Hype?. Solid performer excellent service, excellent wine list, food was good but not amazing.

WD

Not sure what all the fuss is about.. Food 7/10, Service 3/5, Ambience 3.5/5, TOTAL 13.5/20. Food was good, but nothing memorable. You could walk away and almost forget how the food tasted. We had the Salmon Linguini which was ok, nothing outstanding. The other main we had was the eye fillet on fried chat potatoes. The steak was a bit chewy, not as tender as I'd expect a $40 steak to taste. The complementing dark sauce on the steak however was very good and gave the steak its rich and bold flavour. It was probably the best thing about the whole dining experience. The side of chat potatoes was pretty average. Taste liked roasted potatoes served everywhere else. We decided to skip dessert and head on to the local gelati shop for some ice cream instead. Overall, I wouldn't go again. Not sure why the raving reviews about this place. Whilst it wasn't bad, it wasn't anything I'd recommend to anyone.

LKMELB

EXCELLENT!. Have been to Cicc for dinner over 40 times over the past 4 years and am always impressed. Really love this place.

Sanka

Well,well, well where to start. The waiters dropped the f-bomb while we were in earshot. And they referred to a customer as "the old bag on table 8". Food was nice but the meals were very small. Dissapointing.

Rc

Mixed emotions about this place. The actual restaurant is quite small and not much to look at, however the staff are very welcoming and helpfull when trying to choose a glass of wine from their extensive wine list. They do not take bookings so it was a 2 hour wait to be seated and the food was only average!. A little dissapointing.

P's Bottomless Pit

So, my lovely partner I visit for lunch. We are seated and promptly order the French cider. The waitress feels the need to explain why she put ice on the table for the cider, in a patronizing tone "sone people like ice in cider" yes, we understand that thankyou for treating us like16 year olds on a first date. I order the pasta vongole, my partner says " pasta with clams please" and is promptly corrected " ahhh it's vongoleeeeee" When this arrived it was gritty and dry. Service was patronizing, and I'm sorry but I don't want to watch all waitresses and chef chewing on bread like cows

Aly

Favourite in St Kilda. The eye fillet is the best I've had in Melbourne - It's amazing! The staff is relaxed, unpretentious and friendly, and the atmosphere is little and cosy. It's pricey, but great for a special night out.

John Wintle

Set back in one of Melbourne's most colourful suburbs, Cicciona does not dissapoint. The food and service was good, and the waiters knew their wine. The menu was Italian with French influence. Again not good if you're dieting- unless you are having a cheat night!

Droftim

A regular treat. We were in again last week and scored a table immediately even though it was the start of 'peak hour'. We always love the food and find the staff relaxed, knowledgable and almost always good fun. We don't wait for tables because there are plenty of other options within walking distance, and if I wanted to sit in a bar that's where I'd go. We'll be back though!

Rachel

Absolutely marvellous. A sparkling diamond in the Melbourne fine-dining firmament. A haven of excellent service and delicious, stylish food on the otherwise trashy Ackland St strip. Cicciolina's is a treasure. Go there as often as you possibly can.

Missy

Mrs reliable. I used to go to "Cicc" a bit years ago and went there recently for a late night super. Don't expect fine dining Italian style food, this is not what it's about. It was hearty portions of pasta and meats with ample sides of vege and salad. The service was efficient and professional. It's a really reliable choice and perfect for one or many. Go early or late as there can be a wait in "peak hour".

Peridingo

Cicc has let complacency reduce what used to be a great dinner become a liitle too ordinary. It's stil better than most.

Lisa Sutherland-Fraser

Always perfect. Been going since my anniversary 11 years ago, where we first met. On this occasion (6.3.2010) it was again perfect. From the warm welcome as you come through the door (we are regulars but not regulars they would recognise) to the beautiful white crisp bread avec divine butter on the table within minutes, water without having to request it, you feel as if you are truly 'being served'. They have their black menu with all the old favourites, sometimes a few changes but mostly the new stuff is on the blackboard. Started with a kir Yarrabank Cuvee which was scrumptious then I had the baby roasted chicken with a mustard/garlic sauce, leeks & potatoes. This was a mouth orgasm, I lingered over it for 1/2 hour. Mez had the spanner crab laganelle, also splendiferous. Dessert of chocolate tart, peanut base, salted caramel icecream & chocolate tuile finished off with coffee & mocha. Was I happy? Was I sated? Was I content? Yes yes yes. Love Cicciolina from the first time and love it now. Consistently a great place to eat, great service, thank you!

Wine Lover Girl

Cicc in the ditch. This restaurant was a favourite of mine and my husband's. The service has always been casual but professional. Unfortunately, the last couple of times we went were a real let down. Although the service was still good, the food was not of a hat status. The quality of the food was indescribable. We had to ask the waitress if the place had changed chefs. Perhaps the prospect of their new restaurant is taking the attention away from Cicciolina. Hope to see its feet back on the ground soon. It is safe to say that this wine girl won't be back anytime soon.

Andie

It's sexy, intimate and worth the $. Great wine, service and nibbles... And that's jut the back bar as you wait for the fine restaurant out front.

Mark QN

Great food, great service, treated children really well, no problem with speed of service, (it was 7pm on Wed night)...Go eat and enjoy

Kat

An oldie but a goodie. I have never had a bad meal here and I have eaten here a lot. This place is fantastic for serious foodies. Its no fuss and efficient, dont expect to be fawned over by the staff, they are way to busy but their professionalism and skill is outstanding. The menu is set and has been for many years but they have a large amount of specials that add great variety. Personally though I stick with the menu. They cook food off it like it's the first time. I find their food is often light and fresh in flavour, more delicate than labored.

Nell Raphael

Love, love love it. A Melbourne institution, the perfect place for a long girls lunch.

Chindogucci

Long lunches at cicciolina are the best. Love it.

Fox On The Prowl

Yummo. The food is beautiful but it takes a long wait to enjoy it.!!

Tony C.

Fully agree with Cedric. The long wait is not worth the overpriced food. Pasta is soft with too much sauce, specials are scarce in quantity... been there three times to give a second/third chance: same result. Enough for me

Cedric

A 3 hour wait for nothing special food and on a Thursday nigtt! And yes, we gott there early too. You have to be kidding.

Madhu

Take your vacation here!. The best long, boozy, playing hooky from life lunch in Melbourne! Leave work early and spend the afternoon here. You'll go back tomorrow rejuvenated with better ideas. The food is great, some ideas don't seem to get their full expression and I can't quite see what the chefs are getting at, but damn, when the kitchen gets it right they so get it right. And they always do at least once a visit. The oysters with the roasted tomato gazpacho...I'm an oyster purist and usually won't eat them with anything but lemon on them, but slather me in that gazpacho and call me an oyster. I'll die happy! Cicciolina is one of those places with that indefinable something often called atmosphere. However I only go here for lunch as it's insanely busy in the evening and I don't feel the vibe then. However, obviously many, many people think it's the bomb at night, so don't take my word for it.

Amanda

Great food the most amazing antipasto any where in Melbourne . Just go early that's the trick

David

Usually great, this time OK. We have been to Cicc a few times. It is always hard to get in, and if you don't get in, there aren't too mayny similar standard choices in the area. My partner and I were a bit disappointed this time. Though the service was good, as was the ambience, it was our meals that lacked. I ordered the lamb rump speacial. The lamb was very good, but the ricotta gnocchi that came with it were very dry. My partner ordered the mushroom risotto. It was way overseasoned was actually very ordinary. Glass wines were limited and either low quality or quite expensive.

DanielB

The food is only surpassed.... ...by the wonderful staff. Two words...crab soufflé.

Mike B

Great lunch. Busy, and a great place to watch the world go. Pea and ham soup followed by Porcini risotto was an excellent choice. Friends had the crab soufflé and were impressed. Nice wine list and the only average dish was the cheese platter which we all thought a bit spartan. Very friendly but professional service- thanks Jaqs!

Claire O'Kane

We started of in the back bar which was amazing- good selection of wine, although some are well overpriced, and fabulous bar food. In the main restaurant, it's cozy and atmospheric when a simple, small menu. Best waiter service in St Kilda with great quality food at a reasonable price. I highly recommend dining here over anywhere else in the area.

Bradley Hunt

If u want to be treated rudely by staff and choose from take it leave it menu then this is the place for you. Guys you deserve better.