We were very privileged to be apart of my best friends wedding here caterinascucinaebar and I can honestly say this is one of the best reception I've been to.
The service was immaculate on point, very professional. Made you feel very comfortable.
As for the food blew us away, fantastic flavours, presentation and excellent portion size.
Thank you Caterina and Marcelo for providing a service we will remember forever.
Gracie
No other restaurant could ever compare to the ambience and top quality of this place and of each meal that is served here. The staff are well versed and Caterina is the hostess with the most. A very special dining experience :)
Caterina’s has been around forever. The food has always been good - I’ve had the best prawns of my life there - and the service excellent. Maybe it was a busy Friday but it has slipped a little of late. The food was still good, classic Italian fare but not done as well. The pasta was almost stale and swimming in oil. It’s still good and it’s still good value but I hope this isn’t symptomatic of a general decline.
Fantastic dining experience. Food was delicious and the service is impeccable. We started with the octopus and scallops and for mains we had the duck long pasta, rabbit risotto and pork belly. For desert we shared the lemon tart and chocolate mousse. All dishes were perfectly balanced and the produce was fresh and cooked to perfection.
Easily one of the best restaurants in Melbourne. The restaurant itself is a beautiful and ornate space that transports you to Italy. The food is excellent: specials list is so long it could comprise an entire menu, and the care and thought that goes into each dish is truly impressive. A Melbourne treasure for sure.
My all time favourite Italian restaurant in Melbourne, and a must visit every time we fly over from interstate. To say the menu is extensive is an understatement to say the least. Knowledgeable, on the ball staff recite a host of specials with explanations, without missing a beat & the service we’ve received each time has been nothing short of exceptional. My favourite aspect (other than the delicious food) is the ambience & decor of the place - it very much feels like you’ve been transported to a real trattoria somewhere in Italy which just adds another dimension to the whole experience. From superb hand made pastas (the gnocchi are like fluffy clouds), to the seafood and meat dishes (full of flavour each time), I honestly cannot fault the food. The only issue is trying to decide what to order! An absolute must try if you love authentic Italian cuisine.
😱Lizzie's first impression: I have walked on Queen st many times but never noticed this underground restaurant until I was taken there.
🍩Lizzie enjoyed: The ambience of this place is like no other. The menu has a large variety and I was so impressed. I tried the chorizo risotto and it was amazing. For entree i tried the scallops and they were cooked perfectly.
🍅Lizzie did not enjoy: my octopus entree was a little on the dry side which was unfortunate, nonetheless the flavours were all there.
🎖Lizzie rates overall: A great place to try something new things as all the dishes have great flavour to it.
Absolutely delicious food with brilliant service. The menu is great - but the specials are superb. Such a wide variety of options to choose from. You won't be disappointed.
Who knew that a set of stairs from Queen Street leading down to a basement space could reveal such a lovely Italian restaurant and bar. The venue has a completely old-world feel to it with its homely trinkets and classy decor. Staffed by some of the friendliest ladies, including the owner herself, Caterina, every customer is well looked after the entire time. Food is sensational, with both classic and contemporary dishes listed on their modest menu, as well as off-the-menu varieties available upon request. Both of my visits here so far have been extremely enjoyable. I particularly love their risotto, any of their al dente-cooked pastas, scallops and decadently plated tiramisu. Definitely would recommend tasting some of their fine wine, and finishing with a grappa or grappino!
Just enjoyed an amazing meal at Caterina's - it was a lovely touch that Caterina provided the overview of the specials (after 21 years) and was deeply involved in the service. I had the Beef Carpaccio which had a certain freshness and elegance that I have never tasted elsewhere. For mains, I had a Beef Raghu for with egg papadelle which was amazing. One of my colleagues enjoyed a plate of Blue Fin Tuna which was fresh out of the water on Saturday - amazing! The wine list is next level - had a couple of bottles of Papale which was like velvet - perfect structure and complex tannins! Highly recommend this place!
So today clients take me to Caterina's, apparently a Melbourne institution. I grew up in Sydney and frequently visited Machiavelli's and Beppe's. So to me it's on....show me the way guys.
We started with some calamari fritti, some meat balls (obviously I'm not choosing as the locals know there stuff). And it's define ....really good.
The mains are up, I have to order a Machiavelli special so I go with the Angel hair pasta, chill and Morton bay bugs....OMG it's delightful, perfect hint of chilli. We have share plates of beans, fries, spinach and an abundance of wine...see pics.
This is traditional Italian cooking at it best, superb hosts and servers, the owner comes over and asks if everything is ok. Such a wonderful touch.
If your in town and looking for some traditional Italian give this pace a try...I'm certainly going back.
Amazing experience
Amazing food and Pizzini wine
Amazing customer service
Amazing hospitality from Caterina herself and team.
Tops the list as one of my favorite dining experiences
Look forward to going again
Simply amazing. The decor, the service, the food & the host. Open Monday to Fridays for lunch, they appeal to more then just the suits. This is Italian at it finest.
Fully encouraged to embrace the long lunch, we did, We pretty much ate our way through the entrees, sharing as we went, and added a couple of specials too. Unfortunately that didn’t leave much room for mains, but we had the goat and weren’t disappointed.
An extensive drinks menu, including some special Italian beers to try.
Cannot wait to go back, thank you for a memorable lunch, a perfect way to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
Honestly!!! I am in awe🔥.
Been to many restaurants so far that have amazing food but this place is just 1000 times above the rest! Their food is sublime and authentic however its the service that makes it better!! I haven’t met staff that’s this informed about every ingredient that goes in each dish.
I am a pastry chef and Caterina’s is the epitome of what hospitality is and always should be.
Thanks n I’ll be back soon.
This is the second time I have had the pleasure of dining at Caterinas. . The place itself is like a museum of eclectic pieces of art. Outside of Italy this is the only “real” Italian restaurant I have ever found. . Caterina herself is an excellent host and you can hear the passion she has for her art and her food in her voice. I could actually go to this place and get her to take me around to her art pieces and listen to the story of what they are and how she acquired them .
Then there is the food , what can I say simply superb. I’m from Brisbane I come down regularly to visit my daughter , this will now be our place.
If you have not had the pleasure of dining at Caterinas , do it soon. Oh yea , they only do lunch .
I understand the hype - Caterina’s is amazing. I went for a solo lunch the other day and enjoyed a glass of white, some sautéed green beans (which were delicious thanks to lemon and breadcrumbs) and an incredible vegetarian mezzaluna with walnut sauce. I ordered the starter size which was substantial enough for lunch (in my opinion).
My only criticisms were that service was a bit slow which wouldn’t normally matter except that I was on a limited lunch break - all in, I was there for nearly 2 hours as I had to wait a bit to take my order. The bread complimentary bread roll I received was also pretty hard but maybe it was meant to be? Otherwise everything was great and I can’t wait to go back.
It was amazing!
Great food, perfect temperature, garnished very well and tasting incredible. Highly recommended ❤️
They only do lunch here but great food and service. I enjoyed the lunch there. They always have nice specials. And I recommend coming here a few times on different days to try out their regular menu and their specials.
Nice environment/atmosphere!
Hidden below ground level this restaurant is amazing. From the moment you enter you receive excellent service from knowledgeable staff. The tables are well spaced and you are spoiled for choice with the extensive menu. All our dishes were attractively presented and delicious - we can't wait to go back!
Forget about the hyped up Melbourne restaurants... this is the true Melbourne institution of Italian food. For those who have experienced the real soul of Italy, this a is place where you will rediscover it here in Australia.
Caterina's soul emanates from every nook and cranny of the rustic dining room, which transports you to Italy for the afternoon.
True Veneto cuisine served with an extra splash of love in every dish. A foodies delight, which is exceptional in every way.
A special thanks to Caterina herself which shows us her heart every time we visit. Thank you for showing Melbourne what being Italian is all about.
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