Review Caffe E Cucina - Melbourne

The food was absolutely delicious 😋. I really liked the way they done their pasta. The texture was different from most fresh pasta dishes. I regret not selecting their signature pasta dish (ask them about it because I forgot the name). I saw another diner eating it and it looks amazing! We got vegetarian friendly pasta and I definitely think they nailed it with the flavor. It's hard to come across vegetarian food that tastes this good! The creme brulee was divine. It had a smokey flavor for the sugar candy. Apparently they have a romantic rooftop setting but it's only for 2 diners at a time. We have me , my son and my husband. Also, they don't have a kids menu, but our waiter was super friendly and she's good with kids.

Stumbled across as we walked down Chapel St shopping. Welcomed with open arms, greeted with beautiful italian accents and service impeccable. Food that soothes the soul!! Highly recommend!!

Simply amazing place. The cocktails were divine, the meals were cooked perfectly and perfectly portioned. The meals tasted fresh and delicious. The waiters were the best. Down to earth, professional, easy going, very attentive. Loved it

Very authentic Italian. It's an experience. Great service and food.

The service here was fantastic, and the food was delicious. The staff are all incredibly accommodating, allowing us to enjoy the romantic atmosphere to its fullest. The pastas where incredible, and it's clear that quality ingredients are used. A must visit if you're into that sort of thing. Very genuinely italian

Its a really nice restaurant with great food and great service. the actual restaurant itself is nothing fancy at all - very small. I've been to a lot of restaurants all over the world and I just couldn't believe how expensive it was. $92 for a steak. $17 for a glass of the cheapest red wine (which was very nice but costs the same price for a bottle outside). Maybe I'm tight I don't know.

Being half Italian I'm no stranger to Italian cuisine and Caffe e Cucina did not disappoint 😀👌⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The food is exquisite. The staff very accommodating. We got lucky enough to be served in the small balcony. Its the only table (can only fit 2) so our date night was extra special The wine selection is fantastic and it was an overall satisfying experience. 5/5 will go back again

My partner and I decided to dine in this extravagant restaurant. She’s a lovely lass and I wanted to give her something special.<br/>We walked in and the waiters are talking in Italian and displayed a certain sense of arrogance. I’m a fairly forgiving bloke and tried to understand the menu after we were seated. The menu was explained in such a cryptic manner that I had to get my monocle out and give it another bloody read!<br/>We ordered the calamari which was ok but nothing really bloody extraordinary. We had a seafood pasta that came in a bloody bag which we just thought “Blimey, let’s just scoop this up and grab a Parma for the drive home to Yeppoon.”<br/>It was quite expensive but Christ let’s just call a spade shall we and not pretend we are in bloody Italy for Christ sakes.<br/>I don’t mind paying but I really felt I was fiscally molested by these bloody pricks! Not again mate!!

Each time we visit Melbourne this is one of our favourite restaurants for dining. Great Italian cuisine with daily specials as well as the regular classic and seasonal menu. The waiters are welcoming with fantastic attention to detail. Intimate and cosy, with terrific atmosphere of approeciative diners.

Wow, what a place! We have been living merely a block away for two years, and feel deep regret for not going sooner. The food is incredible - we tried the antipasto platter, the calamari, and the rigatoni bolognese special, and were not disappointed. <br/>One reason we haven’t visited earlier is due to the price point, but compared to a similar restaurant a block or more down we have been to a couple of times, I wish we had started visiting here. <br/>Besides the food, the service is second to none. The staff are attentive, knowledgeable, and have that element of making you feel special. Can not wait to visit again!

An institution. Classic Italian food and drinks. Personally. I love the coffee here and have their pasta. Staff are great and standards are always consistent. Never change

Served by the rudeness waiter with an accent that won’t allow me to take away my unfinished pasta. Paid $90pp and deserve better service. Then they have the decency to ask for a tip

Very delicious past and very friendly staff. <br/>The decoration is also amazing! Love the style!

Absolutely HORRENDOUS! Do NOT go to this restaurant. <br/>I have been twice in the last two weeks & had bad experiences both times.<br/>The first time I went with my family. Funnily enough my family black-listed the place a number of years ago but after reading the reviews here decided to give it another crack. Awful service & a $40+ seafood marinara pasta with NO SEAFOOD! <br/>The next week I went with my partner & two other friends. I wasn’t keen to go back but the other party wanted to try it.<br/>We had the 6.45 seating on a Saturday night. Around 10 minutes after we were seated we ordered our drinks, entrees & mains. The wait for the drinks & entrees to come out was fairly long, but that was okay because we were catching up & chatting. They come out, we eat them straight away & wait for our mains. Once again we probably waited - 25 minutes. No problem - we were still chatting. Then once finished the waiter brings over the dessert menu & orders us to make a decision because ‘there is only 10 minutes until I need the table back..’ Offended we placed our order (regretful we did!!) & the dessert came out about 5 minutes later. As he placed the plates down he told us we ‘only had 5 minutes to eat it.’ EXCUSE ME?! 5 minutes later we’re half way through our desserts & he brings over the bill & asks us to pay. $400 for dinner- can’t split the bill. My partner started to get quite angry & urged him to split the bill given he was kicking us out! <br/>After paying we continued the remainder of our desserts before he came over & asked us to leave. I expressed how rude he was & he advised ‘the website said it was a 2hr searing.’ <br/>I understand the website might have said that but as a waiter it is his job to manage our order to ensure we are able to eat our food within the 2hrs. <br/>We ordered promptly for each meal & ate in a reasonable time. The wait for each course chewed up the time we had to eat it. <br/>Our entire party of 4 has black-listed this place. Absolutely disgusting. We’ll continue to go back to 38 Chairs - they actually give us time to eat what we order. <br/>I don’t expect to pay $400 for dinner & be SHOVED out the door. <br/>Your waiters are disgusting.

The atmosphere here was lovely and food plentiful and delicious. I can definitely see myself coming back again. That seafood linguine in the baking paper was to die for

My husband and I went last Saturday night to celebrate a personal milestone. Total bill was over $150 with two mains, side salad, dessert, two cocktails, wine and coffee. We had friendly and polite service but there seemed to be no consistency with the waiters who served us. My husband did enjoy his mushroom gnocchi with the truffle oil and I did enjoy the seafood linguini however the big disappointment for us was the dessert. I love dessert and I love panna cotta! It was a disaster! It had an indistinct taste, too much gelatine and had a pasty consistency! To top it off the accompanying caramel sauce was burnt. I didn’t want to ruin the night by making a direct complaint so I kept hinting to the waiters by leaving my dessert barely touched and I asked the waiter who served the dessert what flavour the panna cotta was supposed to be and he didn’t know and said he would check but never returned. The main waiter with the large earring kept coming to the table to refill water but never asked how our dessert and dessert drinks were going. He was happy to take a coffee order. When we asked for the bill he didn’t mention the hardly eaten dessert at all. So disappointing to end on a bad note. I would instead recommend Italian restaurant Da Noi on Toorak Road for better service, farm fresh food and a quieter atmosphere where you can actually hear each other talk.

Loved the service. Loud vibrant restaurant. Food was amazing. I had the marinara and would definitely recommend.

I have no idea how this place could get this rating, I had the Seafood Linguini and to my horror out came my dish with packet pasta, not even homemade, when I questioned the waiter she said that was common with a few of their dishes. What self respecting Italian place, especially an overpriced boutique like this doesn’t make its own pasta. Unbelievable

Don’t worry about the seemingly higher than usual prices here, the food, service and atmosphere is top notch and worth it! The staff were just absolutely lovely and attentive, and there is something truly amazing about freshly cooked pasta with rich ragu that just can’t be beaten!!! Yum yum yum!!!

All the staff speak in Italian to each other.. when you walk in the door, it's like you've hopped off a plane in Italy. Old-worldly, soft lighting and darkly-stained wood panels line the walls. The service is excellent and attentive. "Semi" fine dining without any pretentiousness at all.<br/><br/>Veal on the bone was the stand-out, for me

What a delightful dining experience we had here. I can’t rave about it enough. The service was outstanding. The food was amazing, the homemade pasta was so soft; and the beetroot tagliatelle that I ordered was incredible. My bf and I came here for a fancy date night, which was perfect, and we will definitely continue to return from now on.

Best overall meal and experience I’ve had in a while.<br/><br/>Great atmosphere. Fantastic and warm service and beautiful food. The tiramisu is to die for. <br/><br/>Have already recommended to my friends and cannot wait to be back!

Came to this quaint little cafe for lunch on a Sunday. Service was excellent. Ordered the carpaccio, seafood linguini and tagliatelle with lamb ragu. All 3 dishes were delicious especially the seafood linguini! Definitely recommend coming here :)

This place takes you to the heart of Italy! This restaurant is great for dates and special occasions. <br/>The wait staff are extremely friendly and the ambience is lovely. <br/>The food is hearty and delicious, especially the ‘linguine di mare al cartoccio’ which I can’t pronounce but is seafood linguini with the lot (king prawns, calamari, mussels, clams, scallops) baked in parchment paper - a must try!

Amazing dinner in an authentic italian restaurant. We tried the specials and the seafood linguine ot was perfect! the wine was good and the waitress very nice

I travel to Melbourne regularly for work and always try and fit in a meal at Caffe e Cuccina. The ambiance, staff, food and drink selections are fantastic. It’s an authentic Italian experience when you’re first greeted by the staff (who all have Italian accents) to the menu choices down to a negroni as an aperitif! If you’re looking for the ultimate Italian dining experience ten this is the place for you! bon appetit

I think Caffé e Cucina may be slightly losing its spark and energy after 30 years . Of the dishes I had recently none were absolutely nailed with each seeming to lack seasoning and a bit of execution. Most notably the semifreddo was very icy and not creamy as it should be . Feels like a restaurant going through the motions . Hope it regains some of the love !

Traditional Italian restaurant. Great food. The ragu was amazing. Service was attentive and impeccable. Had an ‘old fashioned’ with a crystal clear ice cube. Great touch. <br/>Don’t get me started on the coffee. The best long macchiato I’ve ever had. Made the way it should be. Normally I add sugar but the flavour of the coffee was so smooth I didn’t need it. Even bought a bag of coffee beans for home. <br/>👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥃🥃🥃

I'd give 4.5 if it was possible. The food is fantastic (really fantastic!), but what makes this place is the staff. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and went out of their way to accommodate us. Our night here felt like an authentic night in a chilled Italian village.

Caffé e Cucina is one of the pioneer of authentic Italian restaurants established in South Yarra, Melbourne since 1988. The vision is to introduce the concept of Italian hospitality in Melbourne and bring the authentic Italian food to Melbourne. This charming and intimate Italian restaurant is a long-running success story on South Yarra’s busy Chapel Street.

This is close to the best Italian in Melbourne . The staff are superb and the food great<br/>The veal is one of my favourite dishes and selection of entree very good<br/>

With all these reviews, I was not expecting the disappointing night we had here. The food we had did not match the price tag however the biggest let down was the service. Rude, arrogant and dismissive service by one of the main ground floor waiters - he didn't take long to make an impression, for all the wrong reasons.<br/><br/>$350 later, would've been better off just going to Chapelli's down the road.<br/><br/>SERVICE: 1.5/5<br/>It's been a very long time since I've experienced such rude service at a restaurant, cafe or even fast food outlet. I don't like to focus on the negatives so let's recap on the good points as well...<br/><br/>The Good:<br/>- Seated without delay as per booking<br/>- Specials were explained<br/>- Glasses of water were topped up throughout the night<br/>- Orders were taken down efficiently and meals arrived in good time<br/>- Serving sizes were good<br/><br/>The Unacceptable:<br/>- 1 waiter turned up the Italian charm which just came across as patronising.<br/><br/>**Side note to all waiters** It is best not to touch patrons (shoulder, arm, back or otherwise) unless they've given you cues to do so. Extremely awkward and uncomfortable!<br/><br/>- Another male waiter (short fair hair with expressionless face) was just rude and abrupt in his service. Despite this, he asked us for a tip and rushed us out with still 20-30mins left in our seating time.<br/><br/>- 3 waiters switched from speaking in English to exchanging comments in Italian infront of us while ushering our group to leave. Rude is an understatement!<br/><br/>- Scraps of food and balsamic vinegar dropped off plates onto clothing of two of our guests. They just dismissed it.<br/><br/>- When clearing the table they expected us to pass them plates on other side of table as they "couldn't reach". Just couldn't be bothered taking a few steps to the other end in my opinion.<br/><br/>FOOD: 2.5/5<br/>Average is an adequate description.<br/><br/>Ate:<br/>*Seafood linguine<br/>*Handmade pasta noodles with creamy mushroom sauce and truffle oil<br/>*Entree calamari<br/><br/>+ Serving sizes<br/>+ Presentation was as expected<br/>+ Calamari was enjoyable<br/>+ Condiments/seasoning provided upon request<br/><br/>- Bland!<br/>- Minimal seafood in the linguine. Large serving due to the mountain of linguine itself which wasn't to expectation at $40.<br/>- Handmade pasta noodles were hard and chewy... unless that's the authentic style, then I'm at fault for ordering incorrectly<br/><br/>DECOR & AMBIENCE: 2/5<br/>Dark, cramped and quite noisy. I think they're going for the romantic intimate ambience but missed the mark. Random pictures scattered on the wall next to tables, did nothing for the decor.<br/><br/>KID FRIENDLY: I wouldn't return so certainly wouldn't recommend taking any kids here.

4.5 Caffe e Cucina takes you on a journey through Tuscan fields, Florentine Piazzas and Venetian streets with their top notch Italian dining and authentic atmosphere.

Gorgeous authentic Italian restaurant on chapel street. Staff were lovely and food was excellent. The complimentary extras of bread and olives were lovely and the meals themselves did not disappoint. For entree we shared the beef carpaccio and then for main I ordered the barramundi with a side salad. Everything was fresh and tasty. Would definitely come back.

We were delighted to be invited to Caffe e Cucina in South Yarra, which recently celebrated its 30th birthday. This romantically lit restaurant had great vibes, with jazzy up beat Italian music playing, and colorful pictures adorning the walls, it’s the perfect destination for a couples dinner and small groups. There is an upstairs area for larger groups or for when downstairs is booked out. It’s great to see patrons being greeted by name and hear about their favourite dishes. <br/><br/>Massimo seated us and asked us about wines that we like and selected to our tastes a Pinot Grigio and a Pinot Noir style from Northern Italy and Sicily regions. It’s great to have someone knowledgeable of a region make recommendations. The wines were lovely.<br/><br/>For entrees we ordered the flour dusted calamari, it was the most delicate calamari I had in quite some time. It was light and just melted in your mouth. Sen bloody sational! Paired with rocket that was not bitter and a delicate mayo that didn’t detract from the flavour, it was a perfect combination. They have perfected this recipe in 30 years of serving it. <br/><br/>We also had the Beef capriccio with radicchio, pinenuts, Parmesan and a warm creamy Parmesan sauce. Again this entree was perfectly presented and the beef was sliced incredibly thin after being originally being rolled in Italian herbs. A wonderfully light and tasty dish.<br/><br/>For mains we ordered Passatelli pasta with truffle, lemon, breadcrumbs, cheese and mushrooms, this pasta had a wonderful rich truffle and mushroom flavour. Extremely flilling, we also had a delightful caprese salad with herbs and sticky balsamic.<br/><br/>The 14 hour slow cooked beef cheek was a heavy and intensely flavoured dish it was served with wonderful truffle mash. The meat was fall apart tender and there was a perfect amount of accompanying sauce. <br/><br/>For dessert we shared the saffron panna cotta. This combination of almost savory flavours of saffron and basil completely transforms when the elements are eaten all together with a touch of the toffee sauce, the sprinkle of icing sugar and toffee with basil. The nutty cookie/biscuit adds a lovely crunch, I don’t know how they came up with this unique combination but the flavours work as a whole.<br/><br/>Staff provided an incredible level of service and rapport and knew the menu to the highest level of detail. <br/><br/>An really great evening was had. Thanks so much for inviting us down.

I was excited to finally visit Caffe e Cucina as I have been wanting to come here for almost a year now. Upon entering the restaurant I found it small , dimly lit but also very cosy, the vibe reminded me of the restaurants I visited back in Europe. I particularly liked the intriguing décor and the Italian pop art plastered on the walls. <br/><br/>We started off with the beautiful beef carpaccio which was thin , beefy and tender. The radicchio , rocket and parmesan with parmesan fondue were classic flavours that worked in sync with one another, the addition of the pine nuts was a nice touch and completed the dish <br/><br/>We then sampled the beetroot gnocchi with gorgonzola , crispy pork guanciale (which tasted a lot like a mix of prosciutto and bacon) and walnuts. Just like before the flavours were classic and married with each other nicely, the blue cheese was not overpowering and the gnocchi had a very subtle beetroot taste that was just enough to let you know it was not just food dye. The texture of the gnocchi was soft like pillows like they should be and we couldn’t get enough of them.<br/><br/>Next we moved onto the second pasta dish of the night which was a homemade passatelli with porcini mushrooms and truffle. Knowing this pasta was from the chefs hometown we knew we were in for a treat and the combo of truffles and porcini are always a winner. The pasta was somewhat unexpected, it had a bite to the texture and reminded me of Chinese noodles , I really liked it <br/><br/>The last main we ordered was the 14 hour slow cooked Ox cheek served on a truffle potato puree. The ox cheek was full of flavour and basically falling apart in our mouths, the truffle flavour was very delicate and I wish there was more of it in the puree . We paired the main with a caprese salad which was fresh and just what we needed to feel better about ourselves from all the carbs we had just demolished during the night <br/><br/>By now we were extremely full but there is always space for dessert so the chef brought out his stunning saffron Pana Cotta. This on its own was a weird one but paired with even weirder accompaniments it was the winning dish of the night, it was one of those you have to eat every element together dishes. The panacotta which was not overly sweet mixed together with the sugar work on top that was infused with rosemary, basil and other herbs along with the crumb and icing sugar made it a 10/10 dish for me.<br/><br/>The staff throughout the night were lovely and helpful, really knowledgeable and passionate about the food they were serving. We were extremely satisfied with the service, ambiance and most importantly food here. <br/><br/>Thankyou for having us !

A charming restaurant which is cosy and quaint, service was top notch.  We started off with beef carpaccio for entree, pastas for main and then tiramisu for dessert.  <br/><br/>Whilst the carpaccio and pastas delivered the tiramisu unfortunately did not.  We could not taste any coffee at all in the dessert, not even a smidge. The wine was spectacular but for the price we paid I would expect it to.<br/><br/>Overall a very pleasant evening in a lovely restaurant, I look forward to coming back to try some other items on the menu.

We ordered the Tagliolini, Tagliatelle and Linguine Di Mare for mains, and the semi freddo, Caffe E Cucina Affogato and Creme Brulee.  The food was great; the past was fresh, the meat was soft and tender and regarding the linguine the prawn was especially delicious and very generous in terms of quantum of linguine.  The desserts were amazing and beautifully presented.  The restaurant is very cosy and felt a little cramped.  Dinner bookings are meant to be 2 hours, however, the waiter hurried us within at the 1.5 hour mark (this was not mentioned previously) which is why I have given this restaurant a 3.5 and not a 4.0+.  Apart from that, the service is friendly and warm. So if you are looking to spend a good 2 hours (and not being rushed), I would think twice about coming to this place.

I go here all the time and have never been disappointed! This is a great restaurant for a date due to the dim lighting, beautiful Italian waiters and outstanding food.  The Seafood Linguine which is baked in paper is obviously a crowd favorite.

Oh WOW! Got a booking on the night! Restaurant has great atmosphere and staff are friendly and polite. The veal ‘Alla Milanese “ was superb. The veggie porcini mushroom pasta was delicious!

We love this restaurant which in my experience is the most authentic Italian Restaurant in Melbourne. I must be right because our lovely Italian waitress agreed with me!! <br/>Secondly all the staff seemed to be Italian although we didn’t meet the person who counts the most; the chef!! 👨‍🍳 <br/>In keeping with the ‘life prolonging’ (we need it at our age) Mediterranean diet, we had lots of olive oil, fresh bread and pasta. The linguini di Mara was exquisite.<br/>PS we were just introduced to Nicola the chef, and yes, authentic Italian and with his charm and good looks wasted in the kitchen!!<br/>

Have to love this place , this place has been there for 30years I recall? Just like old days and the food will never let you down . The size of the table is perfect for a date night with your lover . Have to save thank you guys . Well done

I am giving this place a 1.0 because there isn't a lower rating. Absolutely horrendous service and food.<br/>I came here with a friend on Saturday night. We were prepared for the prices, but not prepared for the rude staff or tasteless, bland food.<br/>The waiter lacked basic etiquette and did not allow us to look at the drinks menu before asking us what we would like. He then tried to up-sell us with a starter which we both refused on several occasions, without him relenting. <br/>I ordered the seafood linguini and my friend ordered the Morton bay bug pasta. <br/>It came and it was BLAND, tasteless and lacked any sort of eye appeal. <br/>My friend kept adding salt to try and get some flavour from the bland pasta.<br/>Once finished I asked if I could take the remaining 3/4 of my pasta home & they refused. I threatened to take the bowl with me if the wouldn't relinquish and he finally did. <br/>What a waste of money & time. This place has gone to the dogs.

Ah, where do I start. Beautiful restaurant, with beautiful food. Very cozy. One of the nicest Italian meals I have had in a very long time. I highly recommend this place to serious Italian food lovers. Oh, and the wine was just divine too. Wonderful wait staff, had a fantastic experience.

The best Italian Restaurant in Melbourne. Cosy, romantic, beautiful food, wonderful staff and a fabulous wine list. Booked a table online, it was our second date, arrived at Caffe e Cucina to be taken upstairs, was a little disappointed as I've eaten there before and love the atmosphere downstairs. Upstairs was just as lovely (I hadn't been up there before) and we got super lucky and got offered the balcony, which seats only two people on a single table. Wow! If you're planning a date night and the weather is warm, ask for the balcony! It was just awesome, private dining at its best, so intimate. Would go back in heartbeat. Thanks for a wonderful night Caffe e Cucina :)

This was one of my favourite locals when I lived in the area. The food is always delicious and the staff adorable. Great for a date or a catch up with friends.

Authentic, delicious, fresh and pretty.<br/><br/>I would say the parcel wrapped pasta marinara (called something much more fancy on the menu) is the best I have ever had! Was very impressed!<br/><br/>The restaurant is tiny, the service is friendly and efficient (the waiters were all Italian so had a genuine, thick accent) and the food was simply beautiful.<br/><br/>We will definitely be returning to Caffé e Cucina.

Beautiful low lit Italian restaurant with relaxing atmosphere.Great location,excellent food. The service is impeccable. Excellent pasta with a great selection of wines. My bruchetta and risotto and lignuine devine.

It's not often you have a dish which completely transports you back to your childhood memory of indulging in fresh ragu made by Nonna. The menu is a mix of traditional done well and avant garde executed with skill.<br/><br/>Fresh handmade pasta in house with the chef patriotic towards 00 flour and no semolina provides a perfectly silky texture to the pasta, mixed with the slow cooked lamb ragu the dish truly emanates extreme comfort. Ragu is often a hit and miss by most Italian restaurants but Chef Roberti truly nails it.<br/><br/>The staff are knowledgeable and the service is top notch, some of the best you will find. <br/><br/>The owner is also extremely humble and entirely appreciative of his staff which he said truly make the restaurant what it is.<br/><br/>Definitely a place to revisit constantly to get your fix of feel good and wow.

I have been eating here for 20 years. The food is classic italian and never disappoints. The service this week was extremely poor. Had to ask where our mains where 45 min after entree. Another 15 minutes later went in and nothing had been followed up. Sitting outside we had no table service for over an hour? Happy to pay $40 a main but want attention at the same time. Lost opportunity. Could have been an extrà couple of wines.

5 of us had a booking for dinner here. It's a real cosy restaurant setting, a bit cramped though, with dim lightings. We were seated at a table upstairs. The waiter who served us was very friendly. The dishes were ordered were very tasty and I really enjoyed the beef carpaccio and the seafood linguine. We finished everything except for the salad. It was a lovely dining experience.

I like this place for three reasons. The wine is outstanding if you are willing to part with $20 a glass. The service is second to one. The food is consistently good even though the menu hasn't changed in years, there are always 4-6 specials.<br/><br/>What I don't like is the waiters being pushy about ordering sparkling water which is ridiculously overpriced and the alcohol markup being so high. I noticed from 2 bottles that there markup was about 350%. Pre drink and order the baked linguine, fois gras steak, or the calamari.

Caffeine e Cucina is a beautiful cosy Italian restaurant. In fact Iconic. My experience was amazing. The food was delicious and fresh. Simple menu and vibrant flavours. Service is prompt and extremely friendly.

Walking into Caffe e Cucina is akin to being transported to Italy. The waiters all speak the language and dress the part, the lighting is moody and intimate, the posters and trinkets adorning the place showcases the Italian culture, and the food is just a slice of Italian heaven. <br/><br/>The gastronomical delight began from the humble bread and went all the way through the entrees, mains and concluded with the sweetest ending with desserts. The polenta started us off with a bang. Fried to a beautiful crisped yellow square, topped with smooth luscious pate and cheese fondue, and kicked up a notch with shaved truffle. After a bit of a wait came the cappellacci - stuffed full of tender juicy veal, and topped with the most creamy and rich four cheese sauce. My partner's pappardelle was also an absolute delight. The "Italian hor fun" as he called it, was cooked al dente, and the delicate and refined flavours of the white base pork and beef ragu was the star of the dish. The only mediocre dish was the endive leaves salad, which seemed to be severely lacking in honey dressing, and thus missing the sweetness needed to balance out the tangy apple and slightly bitter endive leaves. <br/><br/>Finishing off with the traditional favourites - tiramisu and affogato, we couldn't be anymore satisfied. My partner did preferred the latter over the former, and I greedily lapped up all the tiramisu for myself. It was definitely a perfect end to an excellent meal.

Great food, very very nice polenta, the boar was Beautifully cooked, great flavour. Great stuff. I was served by Luca, very charming and welcoming young guy. I had a great time. Ambience is lovely too. Not overpriced for what u get

Went there one month ago, the place is very small and the tables as well. The food was nice but nothing exceptional. The serves are not very big. Overall nice food but will not go back. And not cheap for what you get.

Same menu for the last 10 years. Food is reasonably priced but wine is way, way overpriced. Hated the fact that they ask if you want mineral or sparkling water as soon as you sit down and then charge the earth for it!

Went to Caffe e Cucina for dinner and ordered a few dishes to share. Overall everything was fresh and delicious! My favourite pasta for the night was the Tagliatelle al Ragu Agnello (homemade Tagliatelle with Lamb Ragu). It was so flavoursome! Wine was also great and we received great service from the friendly staff.<br/><br/>This restaurant is also featured in the 2017/18 Melbourne Entertainment book. We received 25% off (up to $50) our total bill :)

Waiter was hitting on my partner while i was in the bathroom. The quality of food was poor. No where near the high price tag it. Will not be returning.

I have to say they got tasty foods, great service and nice staff. Have a wonderful night with friend. Will definitely come back again. Love the dessert as well

Definitely one of my favourite traditional Italian restaurants in Melbourne. Simple menu and vibrant flavours. Their beef carpaccio and seafood linguine is a must if you visit the restaurant! Service is prompt and friendly and we managed to learn a few Italians words from the waiters! 😜

Service - wonderful, very warm and friendly. Credit to all the staffs<br/><br/>Food- exquisite. One word<br/><br/>Wine list- plenty to choose from and sommelier choices are excellent! Cannot fault. Price and quality, simply perfect.<br/><br/>All in all, perfecto date place. Highly recommended

We visited for dinner on a Friday. The service was great, very attentive, and our meals were delicious. In our group we had the special risotto, steak, gnocchi and seafood pasta and sides. Loved sitting by the glass people watching. Cute restaurant and I'll definitely visit again.

A must do dining experience for any real foodie! Great service from the staff, all very welcoming and friendly - lovely Italian gentlemen.<br/>A true authentic Italian experience in Melbourne.<br/>The food was sensational, we had the lamb tagliatelle and the pumpkin gnocchi - impossible to fault either dish!<br/>Atmosphere and ambience is 👌<br/>Keep up the great work Caffe e Cucina team 👍

Now being an Italian myself, it’s hard to find a restaurant that my set of Nonna’s couldn’t cook circles around. However, Melbourne seems to have quite a few traditional Italian restaurants, one of which is Caffé e Cucina. The food is simple, the menu is only a few pages long and it’s not cluttered with every form of pasta and sauce they could name. The interior makes you feel like you've walked in off the streets of Rome, dim lit with posters and awards plastered on the walls and tables placed wherever they can fit. Finally, the people. If you want traditional food, listen out for the traditional accent, everyone at Caffé e Cucina is Italian which aids to the perfect European atmosphere. All they need now is for Chapel Street to trade their pavement to cobblestone.

Been wanting to try this place for quite some time. Finally got round to it. <br/>It wasn't as great as I had been hoping for. <br/>The food was lovely but not spectacular. You could find the same level of food at a cheaper establishment. <br/>What really let the place down was the wait staff. They took forever to serve us. We had to call them over to order, they were too busy talking to each other and all their 'friends' that walked past the restaurant. I felt very uncomfortable as if we were putting them out. Unfortunately won't be going back due to this.

My bf and I came here for dinner Saturday night. Service and atmosphere was so lovely, I felt like I was back in Italy. The wait staff were friendly and attentive and the food was amazing, not too sure why there are a couple of negative reviews on Zomato, this place is exactly what you'd think it is.

Been here multiple time with the friend and family. Always a nice place for chat, food and nice place with good scenes. I used Liven and got my $50 cashback! This place I recommend to people.

A nice Italian restaurant is always the perfect entree to a movie! When all we could find was a 9:40PM movie session at Jam Factory, we just knew that the stars were aligned for an Italian meal. Caffe E Cucina is one of the top rated Italian restaurants in the area, so the decision was an easy one.<br/><br/>Caffe E Cucina was opened in 1988 with a vision to introduce Italian hospitality to Melbourne. For a restaurant to be open for 30 years is a feat rarely achieved. Helen and I have witnessed numerous restaurants close down throughout the years, many which we considered of high quality. The restaurant business is truly cut throat, with everything having to work in harmony to have any chance of survival. <br/><br/>After visiting Caffe E Cucina I can understand how they stood the test of time. The service first and foremost was simply impeccable. Our dedicated waiter was quite a charmer, and had a constant smile that threatens to take your woman away. We experienced this service in Italy as well, the charm, the wittiness, and the smoothness. They make you look foolish for not tipping. Our waiter also remembered our whole order without writing anything down, and did not get one thing wrong. He was always on the ball to the point where our wine glasses were never dry, but we didn't even notice him pour the wine!<br/><br/>Helen and I don't place a huge emphasis on food authenticity, but if you're someone who prefers authentic Italian food then Caffe E Cucina certainly delivers. The produce from the cured meats to the seafood was fresh. I couldn't fault any of the dishes, there was nothing that steered me the other way. Picking any favourites here would come down to personal preference. I particularly enjoyed the swordfish carpaccio and linguine with seafood! The swordfish with the acidity from the grapefruit, pomegranate and tomatoes was fine tuned to perfection. An appetising entree that leaves you craving for more. The linguine with seafood was probably one of the best pastas I've had. Seafood already has so much natural flavour, so it's always best to let it shine. That's exactly what Caffe E Cucina has done. They haven't overcomplicated this pasta and I was rewarded with fresh clean flavours. The linguine was cooked just right resulting in great texture. The respect paid to the ingredients was evident in all their dishes. <br/><br/>Now I did notice a little outdoor balcony outside where I was seated. This was apparently the 'Rolls Royce' spot of the restaurant! It's so special that it only fits two people. Helen and I would love to give this balcony experience a go in the future, but it does lead me to my one and only minor criticism: $230 minimum spend! I understand that they may not want two people out there sipping on water for 3 hours, but $230 sounds a bit steep indeed...<br/><br/>Apart from this minor criticism which technically hasn't even affected me yet, Caffe E Cucina really is the place to be for Italian cuisine in South Yarra. These guys are without a doubt the real deal, and we cannot wait to head back! <br/><br/>P.S. Caffe E Cucina if you're reading this, I know you recently received a bad review from someone who didn't even visit your restaurant! I cannot believe what I read too, and can only describe the situation as idiotic. Hope you guys don't let this affect you too much, as you're doing a great job. Keep up the good work!<br/><br/>- D

The pasta is fresh and have a good texture. The risotto is really good. It's creamy and the flavour is vibrant. For the dessert, tiramisu is recommended. The cream is light and not too sweet. The combination flavor between cream, coffee and chocolate are balance.

We have been utterly disappointed after such great reviews. It took 40 minutes until we were able to order food. The waiter was pushy to order a bottle of wine even though we just wanted a glass each. You could also clearly feel that we were last priority on the waiters list, tables that arrived after us had food and drinks before us. The food was good italian standard but not worth the huge price tag- dont order the gnocchi though they just werent great.<br/>Wouldnt come back!

I spent my 10th year wedding anniversary diner here last night. We took the balcony private dining option for minimum spend $230. I have to say the service let us down. It started of well and then we were forgotten. My husband had to ask 2 times for the drinks list with at least 20 minutes between each time of asking. Then had to wait another period of time before the drink order was taken. The food was very good however the veal cutlet was very mid week (schnitzel like with salad). Creme Brûlée is amazing the best I have had. Just a shame about the service if it had been better it would have been 10/10. Just not value for money with the lack of service.

quick and friendly service ... bread was one of the best I've had in a long time ... crispy crust with chewy dough ... passatelli with zucchini and shrimps was above average

We could have been in Italy! Great atmosphere, food and service. The seafood linguine was amazing! Just a shame we were too full for pudding. We will definitely be back.

It's been over 20 years since I last visited Caffe e Cucina - it was one of my favorite cafes and despite my best intentions I never manage to get there when i visit Melbourne...I'm glad I managed it this time.<br/><br/>The service is quintessentially Italian - effortless, supremely confident, slick and charming. The atmosphere is warm and intimate. Beef carpaccio was melt in your mouth tender, linguine with seafood and taglietelle with lamb ragu were both intense in flavour and of generous proportions.<br/><br/>Little has changed in 20 years - and that's a good thing.<br/><br/>

What an incredible find. The waiters deserve kudos for the beautifully precise service. For entree we had the bruschetta with a mortadella/ricotta mousse and pistachios, natural oysters (very fresh, yum) and beef carpaccio with rocket and parmesan. All very authentic Italian flavours. For main we had Passatelli Zucchine e Gamberi and the Cucina salad. Accompanied by a Caruso cocktail (vodka, ginger ale, lime) which had the perfect balance of sweet and sour. Wine that was recommended by Mr. Caruso was an impeccable match for the pasta. All round, 10/10 and we WILL be back, thank you for a wonderful experience. :)

My husband and I found this place by accident and by chance we were allowed to dine on the balcony. I love the fact that the pasta is homemade as it is reflected in the taste of the dishes. The food is great and service on point.

Came here for lunch and were greeted with very friendly service. We sat down on possible what was the smallest table ever but we ran with the them. The food was old School Italian and delicious. Nothing more to say.

Came here for dinner tonight. We called ahead asking if we are allowed to smoke in the outdoor section and were advised that we can. <br/>The food was good (to start) and staff were friendly however, the pasta of the day was salty to the point that my friend had 2 spoons of it and left the rest (cost was removed off the bill).<br/>Despite being advised that we can smoke, a customer came and within two minutes of sitting down complained to the wait staff about smoking. Within a minute we were being asked to "move to the outside section", mind you, we were already seated outside so basically we were asked to stand in the street to have our wine & cigarette. Asked for the bill immediately and left extremely disappointed. If the person sitting in the outdoor smoking section is dissatisfied with the cigarette smoke, the wait staff should suggest he moves indoors, not ask the smokers to stand on the street. Definitely won't be going back there again.

Caffe e Cucina was a much loved restaurant of my youth. The new incarceration is not a scratch on the Maurice Tetzini version. Waiting staff with very poor experience and way too much cheap aftershave! Expensive and very average good. So many great restaurants in Melbourne. This is not one of them.

Gastrology recently indulged in Caffe E Cucina's pasta night where 3 courses (comprising of 4 different pastas) are served. We loved each of our pasta courses. The gnocchi di ortica ai quattro formaggi was of particular note. Pillow soft homemade nettle gnocchi was served with an indulgent four cheese sauce and walnuts for counterpoint of crunch. It was absolutely stunning.

Loved coming here for date night. I had the gnocchi which was delicious, creamy & tasty. My bf got the seafood linguini which he also said was great. Service was amazing, they looked after us & made sure we were always okay. Great vibes in the place ✌🏻️

very delicious Italian. well worth a try!<br/><br/>the carpaccio di manzo, the capesante gratinate, the tagliatelle al ragu di agnello, the linguine di mare al cartoccio, the calamari sant'andrea, and the bisteca alla fiorentina are standout dishes but you can also go with the dining experience of 3 courses. the tiramisu is also exceptional!

Always wanted to go to this place. I finally decided to bring my friend that just arrived from France. When the waiter came out, i understood he was in a rush to finish his shift and was really rude to us. Didn't even have time to try the food because he made us feel really uncomfortable and decided to leave. Really disapointing for a place where i'm sure the food is really good.

Amazing food, and friendly, polite, attentive service. Traditional Italian food and hospitality at its finest. Great night! Highly recommend.

Ok, This is our wrap. Cafe e Cucina has now been around for 20 odd years. It Continues to set and re-set the standards of italian cuisine. Period! Nothing worse than going to an "Italian Restaurant" and something as simple as a spaghetti Aglio e olio seems to be a difficult dish to make. In actual fact as an italian, if you cannot cook a spaghetti Aglio e Olio, you should not be allowed in a Kitchen let alone in a restaurant to cook for others. You should be prosecuted and jailed. People have died for spaghetti Aglio E Olio in Italy.  Cafe e Cucina, Don't ever stop doing exactly what you're doing and and continue to keep setting the Bar. Thank you for giving Melbourne people somewhere to bring our fresh off the boat visitors from italy to enjoy a simple Aglio e Olio, oh and Chilli. Nothing worse than going to an "Italian Eatery" place, expect a simple plate of pasta, and find it's been bastardised with cream, basil, oregano and whatever else the "chef" could find in the fridge to enhance the Aglio e Olio. Some people just don't get it. Cafe e Cucina, Thank you!

My favorite Italian restaurant <br/>Authentic Italian cuisine, I've been dining here for years and never been disappointed <br/>Keep up the good work guys 🍻

Nice little unassuming restaurant. Have been here twice and loved it twice. De finely a place to go to. Good quality Italian food done the way it should be;)

Great food, but that's what I'd expect for the price. The crispy skin salmon was cooked perfectly and the additional elements on the plate were also well executed. Unfortunately the slight let down for me was the marriage of the different elements which in their own right were nice, but didn't combine into "one dish" so much for me.<br/><br/>This is nit-picky, but at $88 for 2 mains and a side, I should be.

It was the experience of dining with friendly Italian staff and a friendly ambiance more than the food. The Parmesan ice cream with raw beef is a must try in the anti pasti section. I'll go back

Great homemade pasta ragout, coupled with great ambience and staff<br/><br/>Small little place but don't be fooled has great food<br/><br/>Thank you for great service

Sad to see the old girl so poorly loved. The food was bad. A great classical Italian menu cooked with little love or care, gnocchi was very poor, Vitello Milanese was a shadow of the dish you get in Milan and the seafood pasta was adequate. Still a nice spot to sit and the Italian service is fine but this place was once great- far from that now

My meal linguine marinara was a little dry but nice. Filling too. Plenty of seafood but a little on the dry side. I would have liked a little more of the seafood juices which would have made the pasta more enjoyable. Overall a great institution food was good service was great!

My partner took me their for my birthday. It was actually quite nice, the service was friendly. The food was nice and not too heavy. I will definitely come back.

Servizio molto premuroso.<br/>Ambiente, sicuramente un buon rinnovamento<br/>Il nostro tavolo sembrava una seduta spiritica :)<br/>Il food buono come sempre nelle ultime visite

Italian food institution. Caffe e Cucina is one of those Melbourne restaurants that immediately transport you to Italy for the price of a plate of pasta. The 'buona sera' welcome when you arrive, the dark panelled dining room, and the Italian-speaking waiters all combine to present a charming Italian effect.<br/><br/>I came here with a friend on a warm Monday night without a booking. There's an advantage to early dinner - even super popular places like this usually have a spot or two before 6.30pm.<br/><br/>I have loved this place every time I've been here but it wasn't quite as good this time, mainly because the menu was too heavy for the balmy evening we were there, although the usual high quality remained.<br/><br/>I love osso buco and cotechino with lentils but not on a 27 degree night. From the small menu I settled for a barramundi special which l was told was oven cooked. It was well prepared but came doused in broth, another wintery touch, when l had expected a baked piece of fish with vegetables from the description. A bit of a disappointment because it didn't meet expectations. Perhaps the more accurate description was lost in translation between the kitchen and the waiter. Nonetheless the fish was perfectly executed if poorly described. I'm also pretty sure there was no mention of the fried bread chunks that accompanied it either, which were left for dead by the terrific house bread, provided on arrival and eaten with pleasure.<br/><br/>My friend loved her special of orecchiette with pancetta and cauliflower instead of the more usual broccoli, and so did seemingly everyone else around us who ordered the same dish. We shared the house salad, a staple from the start in 1988, which matched simplicity with satisfying success.<br/><br/>I'm putting my disappointment behind me and giving C&C its due. It really is an impressive food business and is worthy of your custom.

as someone who travels to Italy often and loves italian food, caffe and cucina is simply outstanding!!!!!           will definitely go back again

Old school Italian with atmosphere which can't be replicated. Excellent for date nights. Great selection of Italian wines. Best pastas in south Yarra.

Amazing dining experience! Now I am Italian and hardly ever eat Italian food out however I Had a dinner here last Friday night and from the moment we walked through the door the service was outstanding. Staff are so attentive to every need and not pushy at all. The atmosphere is warm and rustic feels like you are back in Italy. Now the food!!! From the antipasto, to the Calamari (the girls I dined with said they were they best they have ever had) to the mains could not fault it!! Dessert though is another level! Never have i tasted a tiramisu like that! Delicious. So authentic and also loved how they had a good range of daily specials. Couldn't fault it. Will Definitely be returning.

I came here tonight with my parents to celebrate a belated Father's Day. I stumbled across this restaurant whilst searching on Zomato and was immediately drawn in by their Basil Gnocchi and their Seafood Linguini which has many positive reviews. I was excited to try these two dishes and had planned this dinner since two weeks ago, hence I was overjoyed to finally dine here tonight. <br/><br/>With both my parents and I, the third dish we ordered was the Osso Bucco which is one of those dishes that you can't go wrong with but unfortunately this was not the case. This was mum's dish however I felt that it was unfair for her to eat something that was so disappointing that I ended up giving her my dish. The meat appeared to be nice and soft whilst cutting into it which I am sure is why the chef let the dish go out but upon eating it it was a very different story. It was tough, dry and chewy, even the meat around the tendon was close to being inedible. There was so many times during the night where I wanted to just leave the dish half eaten however having grown up being taught not to waste food I tried to finish what I could until it came to the point where I was just overwhelming appalled by how tough the veal was that I couldn't eat it any longer. At this point mum came in, adamant that we swapped our dishes back and she finished it off. The mash underneath was also nothing spectacular it lack a creaminess and was in fact quite grainy. <br/>On the flip side however, the service was impeccable. The staff were very attentive and cheerful however when it came to telling our waiter about my disappointment of the Osso Bucco, he didn't quite give me the apology I was hoping for- a "you should have told me early so that I could have done something for you" was given which I responded with the fact that even if the kitchen was happy to make me something else I don't believe in wasting food. The other dishes were spectacular, they were tasty and filling however the Osso Bucco had let me down so much that I don't think it was fair to not have received a proper apology. I can't fault anything else and I didn't want to write this review however I'm just greatly disappointed with this fairly easy dish to cook, and the poor reply I received from our waiter. I would have loved to say that I enjoyed my dining experience at Caffe e Cucina tonight but with such a poor dish, my night was somewhat spoiled.

Escalate service as food! The gnocchi was incredible, and the accompanying wine went perfectly with the recommendation of staff. Beautiful atmosphere and impeccable service. One of my all time favourite restaurants, and keep coming back for a good reason!