Review Bakini - Melbourne

Arrived 7PM, restaurant was moderately busy, seated immediately, service was quick and attentive without being rushed. Meals were on the table within 30 minutes of ordering, portion sizes were generous, all of the dishes were fresh and delicious, would happily dine here again.

Maybe we misread the online menu, but we were only given an express lunch menu, so daydreams of seafood and pasta were dashed. Nevertheless, the chance to try pasta made in house is always welcome. We placed our orders and over half an hour later most of the meals arrived. My lamb ragu with rigatoni was a little dry for my liking. My colleagues found the cabbage with their risotto unusual but pleasant. The gnocchi with cauliflower and gorgonzola was the pick of the bunch. Classy surroundings and polite staff throughout our visit. If coming in a group, pre-ordering is a good idea for Friday lunch as the place filled and emptied within 75 mins.

Agree with other reviewers here, this cafe/bistro is classy with a lovely decor and it's also very clean and has a great ambiance with good seating areas both inside and out. However, we visited late afternoon today just for coffee. Sad to say while the place is impressive, the coffee at Bakini was terrible and given that the place was almost empty (see my photos), we were the only two people there, I don't understand why the service was so slow. I might give Bakini another shot one day soon as I come to this location quite often.

Atmosphere: 4 of 5 great sitting area. Visited at around 5:30 pm so it can be really crowded later on or weekends. Food: 4 of 5 the PAN ROASTED BLUE EYE (Jerusalem artichoke, broad beans, rocket & walnut pesto) was great and yummy highly recommended. Be careful of the small portion of you are really hungry! Staff: 5 of 5 the girls there are so polite so nice and approachable.

Got the 15 bucks express lunch. It was decent but I was still quite hungry afterwards (though I typically eat larger portions compared to most!)

I’m a local so this was normally my go-to place for a meal or a quiet drink, however I think I’ve had my last visit, and hence the review. If I were rating just the quality of the food, this would certainly be five stars. However, I’ve experienced very ordinary levels of service over several visits, and decided that I’d rather spend money somewhere that I feel as though I’m welcomed as an individual (versus a couple or group). Certainly not the worse dining/drinking experience I’ve had, however there is a great opportunity for this place to improve on service. Maybe I’ll try it again in the future, not sure. In the meantime, there are many other places local to eat and drink where staff are more pleasant.

Had the Gnocchi and really enjoyed it. All the other meals we had were also of great quality. The waitress was extremely nice and attentive. Would definitely come here again. Thank you for the nice dinner.

Poor experience overall. Shocking service. There were only 2 waitstaff working and the place was packed. It took forever for a waiter to come and take our orders. When ordering, one dish "without mushrooms" the waiter said don't worry it doesn't have mushrooms even though it says Porcini mushrooms on the menu..... what the? We were sitting up the back and could then see our food sitting in the open style kitchen getting cold for ages. The chefs kept dinging the bell to no avail. When it finally arrived it was indeed lukewarm. One order on our table was incorrect completely but they decided it wasn't worth another long wait. One of the waiters seemed to just disappear for ages as well. Will not be back, horrible horrible service.

Popped into Bakini for a work meeting and had one of the sweetest chais I’ve experienced, it must have been powdered. I was quite impressed with the ambiance of the restaurant and was glad to have discovered it. No doubt I’ll return for lunch

Located at the ground level of Mantra on St Kilda road is this nice and cosy bistro come wine bar.<br/><br/>They had a good variety on the menu and there is quite a good range. We went with the spagetti alla vongole, and the cottoletta alla milanese which was a nice pistachio crumbed veal rib eye.<br/><br/>We really enjoyed the crumbed veal rib eye as it was sous vide and the veal was cooked to perfection. The portions were reasonable and was just right.<br/><br/>We ordered salad on the side and it was light and refreshing.<br/><br/>Overall, we enjoyed our meal at Bakini and the ambience and decor were sleek and elegant. Perfect for a night out or just the start of the weekend.

Will come back for:<br/>+ Zucchini gratine<br/>+ Beetroot salad<br/>+ Sirloin steak<br/><br/>Tucked up next to the Mantra, and clearly geared towards the office crowd around the area for lunch, we popped by Bakini for a quick bite for dinner on a Saturday night. The staff were friendly and accommodating. And we ordered a whole bunch of dishes to share amongst the 3 of us. The portion sizes of all the dishes were generous, however, I wished that the dishes came out more temperature hot. Most of the dishes also could do with a bit more seasoning (nothing a little bit of salt and pepper couldn’t solve). The pasta dishes were a little disappointing, the gnocchi not as pillowy as I’ve had elsewhere and the ingredients made the dish a little mushy, and the spaghetti vongole had an uncooked texture that wasn’t pleasant. The steak though was perfectly cooked, super tender and delicious. The beetroot salad was a nicely mix combination and great accompaniment. And the zucchini gratine was nice and temperature hot and went well with the steak. Overall, a few hits and misses tonight.

Incredible food, atmosphere and service.<br/><br/>We will definitely return in the near future and I’m already considering hosting my birthday here.<br/><br/>Thank you for a wonderful evening and experience.

Maybe we misread the online menu, but we were only given an express lunch menu, so daydreams of seafood and pasta were dashed. Nevertheless, the chance to try pasta made in house is always welcome. We placed our orders and over half an hour later most of the meals arrived.<br/><br/>My lamb ragu with rigatoni was a little dry for my liking. My colleagues found the cabbage with their risotto unusual but pleasant. The gnocchi with cauliflower and gorgonzola was the pick of the bunch.<br/><br/>Classy surroundings and polite staff throughout our visit. If coming in a group, pre-ordering is a good idea for Friday lunch as the place filled and emptied within 75 mins.

This place is our regular and for real pasta this is exceptional.Staff are always polite,prompt and professional.Great relaxing atmosphere winter and summer.Keep an eye out for the special deals as they are such a rare experience in fine restaurants these days.Thanks always for the amazing food and friendly service.

Ordered pan-fried Barramundi($16 lunch option) as a Fri lunch which I hoped to be good, but the fillet was way toooooo small, and could barely see any puree. Disappointed.

The restaurant itself is quite nice, the music was nice and relaxing like jazz. However the food does not match the atmosphere. The pasta was made on site and tasted like it which was good. However, I ordered the lamb ragu and it lacked depth and flavour. They were quite generous with the lamb and portion size however it didn't quite satisfy me. When I was served the lamb ragu, I could still see the pasta water in the dish. It was not creamy. Given that this was an item on the express lunch, they would not have as much time to delicately prepare the dish.<br/>The other dish that was ordered for the table was the chicken Parma. The chicken was seasoned too heavily with salt. When you bite into it, you can only taste salt. It was horrible. And the chips were not salted as well and you could tell it was frozen chips. At least have the decency to cut chips from fresh potatoes. Waste of money and time. Don't come here

Had a buffet breaky here. Has your classic hot food and good choice of yoghurt and muesli and fruits. Neatly presented and plenty of food. Good start to the day

Came here on a Friday afternoon,We made a reservation online and when we reached there the staff advised there was no reservation and were made to sit out where it was a bit chilly.They advised they have no online system to reserve tables. We asked for take away boxes as the portions were big enough for us to finish them.We literally had to ask 2 different wait staff 2-3 times and were waiting for a good 5-10 minutes to finish off and go back. Absolutely not going there again. We have been to this place earlier but had a very good experience the last time but this time it was absolutely shitty.

Came here with 3 friends on a Saturday night for dinner. We started with some antipasti platters while we were finishing our first bottle of Soave. My main was Casarecci with Lamb Ragu and it was quite tasty.<br/>Considering that the food wasn't top notch I think it's fair to make the overpriced call. On the bright side service was very attentive and friendly, great night out and a good range of wines. Thank you for having us!

Been here a few times. The ragu I had was quite solid. This place is ok. I really struggle eating around here as there is so many ok restaurants. Nothing outstanding to date

Have brought corporate guests to Bistro Bakini for work lunches and even organised our employee work xmas party @ Bakini. Found all occasions to be simply excellent & carefree. Exceptional food, great service, and the perfect environment to take attentive guests. Have been spot on service for each occasion, and i will most definitely be returning for the delicious food...

Friday night Jazz is a winner and a great way to head into the weekend. Stopped by Bistro Bakini last Friday to enjoy happy hour with a mate and stayed for longer than expected. Food on offer was smashing and a step up from our normal after work drinks fare. We'll be back!

Had a wonderful lunch here today! Gorgeous sunny Melbourne winter day, able to see the trams roll by from the lovely big windows at Bakini. Enjoyed a lovely selection of light and crispy calamari with lime chilli aioli, mushroom and taleggio arancini, bacala croquettes, slow cooked veal and porcini with house made tagliatelle and finished with mousse al cioccolato - decadent and devine ! Chef married the autumn produce and flavours beautifully!! Service was welcoming and attentive!! <br/>Will definitely be back!<br/>

Best little Bistro. Being a seasoned travel but only a third time Melbourne visitor, I was a but lost when I found myself on the outskirts. However, to my culinary and socialite delight, the Bakini Bistro more than made up for the distance from the CBD. I had the culinary good fortune to have tasted both the current and previous menus, with the favourites being the Duck (from the current) and the melt in your mouth Lamb (from the old). The staff build the atmosphere and all make you feel as if you a long lost family friend. A new favourite on my list, a 'definitely' will re-return, and a highly recommended to any that ask.

Fantastic food. I have eaten at bakini for two weeks and the food and service has been beyond reproach. I have travelled from the UK and the service and quality of food was exactly what I would expect. The service was fantastic, Marcello,rodrigo and Manuel made me feel right at home.

Best Italian Bistro On St Kilda Road!. As a lover of Italian food I was very much looking forward to coming to this restaurant for a corporate lunch and it sure did not disappoint. Working on St Kilda Road, it was very close and convenient for us all to attend. Upon entering we were greeted by the friendly staff and seated immediately. We all ordered drinks to start with and they were served chilled and immediately. We started with our entrees' to begin with, I ordered the Calamari with green chili and lime aioli and it sure did not disappoint! I finished this course of within two minutes! My colleague also ordered the sauteed mussels and they looked like heaven! We then had our main courses which was the seafood linguini with garlic and chilli, within a few minutes we had both finished our meals. To end the experience we ordered the panna cotta dessert to share, as we were both full to boot and it was delicious and was not overpowering at all with the orange segments. In the end we were both to full to move! If you are looking for a great Italian eatery on St Kilda Road, do not miss this! Great for lunches and dinners!

Wait staff are rude - very much make you feel like you are putting them out by being there. Regularly muck up or forget orders. It's not cheap but in the end it's the shockingly bad service with a side of attitude that means I wouldn't go back.

Went there for lunch today with my daughter and her husband - the waitress looked like she was hating her job - she had very unfriendly approach - she finally took our order - about 20 minutes later they bought out the other two meals but my risotto was nowhere to be seen - I heard the waitress say to one of the waiters - they miscounted and didn't make enough. I realised they hadn't cooked my risotto however there was no apology or explanation and when I asked they said it was coming. Soon after they bring out a plate of slop with uncooked rice - I asked for something else - again no apology - when we paid the bill they charged me for the risotto which was $1 dearer than what they gave me And still no apology - won't be going back - terrible customer service.

The menu is the product of a collaboration between award winning Executive Chef of Sydney’s Out of Africa, Hassan M’Souli, and Executive Chef Buono.

Dined at Bakini Friday night had a great experience service was great from time we walked in to the time had our coffee wich was excellent <br/>the Italian waiter recommended<br/>the pumpkin risotto it was great creamy light and tasty and the tagliatta Di manzo was juicy and tender finished with the tirumisu not too sweet perfect the barman made an awesome negroni<br/>What can I say Bakini thank you for a great night <br/>Ps keep up great work<br/>Joe uva

Very happy customer!. I had dinner here last week, and returned for breakfast the following morning as I was so impressed. I have eaten here before and it was wonderful so I returned this time and again it was amazing. <br/>The food is excellent and the service from all of the staff is as well, they are always friendly and make sure that my experience is enjoyable! <br/>I will definitely return next time I'm in Melbourne!

Really quite terrible ... Food was fine, when it finally arrived, but the service was shocking. I had breakfast here as I was staying at the Mantra hotel next door ( which as a side note was pretty good for the price ) ... But the servers at Bakini had simply no idea what they were doing, spent more time arguing between each other than doing their jobs ( which was fairly entertaining ) and being generally rude to all the customers. This is the first review I've put on urbanapoon and I only bothered because it was that bad. Really hope their manager/owner sees this and takes some action ... So bad.

Worst experience ever - Avoid at all costs. I was literally told "nah mate, closed" at 10pm when website states 11pm trading hours. Awful service, objectionable behaviour from the manager, I will never return and not recommend unless you like to be treated badly. This business does not value it's customers and most certainly deserves only failure when it's competitors work so much harder at exceeding customer expectations! Stay away!

Very very good ,great hospitality and friendly service from the two italian boys. How about the food?! A big WOW...seafood linguine and slow cooked lamb were so tasteful, to die for! I live local and i've tried different restaurant in the area, no doubt Bistro Bakini is the best one by far. MUST try!

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Address: 568 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne 3004 Ph: 03 9521 7774 Website: www.bistrobakini.com.au Twitter:  @bistrobakini Facebook:   here Instagram:   @bistrobakini Last Thursday night, I was lucky enough to attend a preview dinner of an upcoming Mediterranean feast featuring an amazing fusion of Moroccan and Italian Cuisine. Bistro Bakini is an established premier restaurant located on St Kilda Road and is considered one of Melbourne’s most acclaimed Italian restaurant, headed by Executive Chef Luigi Buono. Together with award winning Executive Chef of Sydney’s Out of Africa Hassan M’Souli and Bistro Bakini’s Executive Chef Luigi Buono, they are hosting the Masters of the Mediterranean Degustation dinner at Bistro Bakini and offering a sensational 8 course degustation dinner that fuses Italian Cuisine with the aromatic Moroccan cuisine. King Salmon Carpaccio served with Preserved Lemon and Harissa Emulsion Don’t be fooled by this innocent looking dish – whilst it looks all delicate and pretty, it in fact packs a whole punch thanks to the harissa emulsion and preserved lemon. The thin slice of fresh salmon carpaccio is paired with finely chopped preserved lemon pieces that gives it that tangy citrusy taste; while the harissa gives it the spicy twist to the dish. I also love the addition of the salmon roe that bursts on your palate. Grilled Kefta on a bed of cucumber spaghetti drizzled with red capsicum puree This was a light dish. The grilled and aromatic kefta balls are skewered together with grilled grapes and placed on a bed of fresh strands of cucumber spaghetti and creamy pieces of bocconcini. It is then served with red capsicum puree. The red capsicum puree has a light tangy taste and the amount served was probably more of a cold soup than a drizzle in my opinion. I’m not complaining about it either – I wish I had more of the puree to slurp up!

Disclosure: I was invited to dine as a guest of Bistro Bakini Do you guys find yourself thinking about your weekend plans…on a Monday? I do. All the time. As a fervent scheduler, I love putting things into my calendar to look forward to throughout the week, and of course on the weekend.  So although I have plans this weekend already, if you’re still looking for options for Saturday night, why not consider the Masters of the Mediterranean degustation at Bistro Bakini  An eight course degustation designed by Bistro Bakini’s executive chef, Luigi Buono and Executive Chef from ‘Out of Africa’ in Sydney, Hassan M’Souli, sees Italian food and Moroccan food coming together in one of the most unique fusions I’ve seen recently.  A quick chat to chef Luigi on how he would describe the menu, and I like his description of Italian techniques, with a lot of the rich Moroccan flavours.  For example, our first course at the preview for the dinner, a king salmon carpaccio, served with a preserved lemon harissa emulsion, is a relatively innocent looking dish, but unexpectedly punchy and vibrant in flavour. No gentle palate awakening here! The emulsion on this was absolutely everything, strong citrus and zingy, with the heat of the harissa coming up as well. 

The bircher muesli tasted of coconut, apple and cinnamon and was topped with a berry compote, mostly strawberries. The Bakini breakfast consisted of two eggs (mum chose poached), bacon, sausage, tomato, mushroom and sourdough toast.

I have been staying in the hotel above bistro bakini for a few days for work normally I would head into the CBD for dinner but after discovering this little gem id rather head downstairs. The staff are great such a good bunch of people especially the Italian boys (didn't get there names) if your keen just to pop in for a beer, cocktail or a bite to eat the relaxed environment is impressive can't wait to visit again.

Impressed- I'll be telling everyone. I stumbled across Bakini looking for a good coffee along St Kilda road, the waiter suggested I come for dinner and showed me the menu and I came back that very night.<br/>the service and atmosphere was sublime, 2 young Italian men, very professional and charming escorted my husband and I to our seats. I loved the open kitchen. I had the seafood linguini, the food was pretty good and came in a speedy fashion.<br/>we had such a laugh the staff at Bakini they really brought theatre to the place, as I looked around everyone was smiling and enjoying the vibe..<br/>I must say that as a weekly diner at top restaurants around Melbourne, as far back as I could remember none could compare to the atmosphere and service from Bistro Bakini.<br/>I will definitely be spreading the word<br/>we had a very good laugh with the .

Poor breakfast offerings. I ordered an eggs in any way with toast for $9, with bacon and sausages on the side (6 dollars a pop). The eggs were a genuine disappointment, I had mine scrambled. They were rubbery and came out cold, had a softened arterie like appearance and generally were a bit difficult to swallow. Bacon looked and tasted as if it had been relaxing in a hot Bain Marie for the last few hours after being initially overcooked, and also came out cold; this was accentuated somewhat by the piping hot sausages, which were thumb sized and had a very strange aniseed type flavour, but were not quite chipolatas. Tea came in a small pot containing enough water for 2 cups but only one tea bag (not even loose leaf with a filter), and was lukewarm to start with. Would not reccomend, the ingredients at McDonalds are served fresher at breakfast time...

Duck Gnocchi. Wow!!!! Homemade, delicious flavours, melts in your mouth! What more could you ask for!!!<br/><br/>Impeccable service to add.

My partner and I stayed at the Mantra St Kilda for the weekend and after reading the reviews for Bistro Bakini on good old Urbanspoon, decided to give it a try. My partner went downstairs to order takeaway and returned in 20 minutes with bags and bags of delicious, hot, fresh food. We had the antipasto to share as a starter and did not even make a dent. Easily enough for 4. We both had pasta for main-seafood linguine and lamb oriechette-and can't fault either. Finally, we shared the Italian doughnuts for dessert and again, could have easily divided with another couple. My fiancée also noted that the staff were friendly, helpful and attentive. All in all an overwhelmingly positive experience, my only complaint being that we are too full to do much more than cuddle on our romantic night away!

The only good thing was the food! Thank goodness we enjoyed the meal. On arrival we asked a waitress for a table for 4, she had to put her mobile down so she could tell us to speak to the waiter!! Once seated we waited about 10 mins before anyone came near us, once we placed our order we then had to ask for a drinks menu...... What a joke, we ordered 4 cocktails... Our meals came before our drinks! When we called the the waiter over to cancel our cocktails he was extremely dismissive and showed no interest in us at all. The owner showed up with a lame apology and offered us a free vodka shot- we took him up on the offer as we are 4 very thirsty girls ! As we left the owner was out the front doing shots with friends!!! Don't need to say much more- never done this before and would never return to Bakini- service the worst We have experienced for many many years.

Came here for dinner on a Friday night and was pleasantly surprised. Nice decor; buzzy atmosphere; live music; excellent negroni; great menu and wine list.<br/><br/>The croquettes, scallops and gnocchi were all very good, like really good...<br/><br/>Washed down with a silky smooth chianti - perfect.

Surprise. After it was selected for a work function, i did my usual urbanspoon search and after seeings its rating, didnt have high expectations. I was wrong. <br/><br/>The food was beautiful- everyone basically polished their plates. I ordered the Swordfish which had a beautiful tangy sauce to accompany the meaty but perfectly cooked fillet. <br/><br/>The other dishes ordered were the trout salad, lamb gnocchi and steak. <br/><br/>The service was the only thing holding them back. We had a could waiters and there was a mix of service - from warm and helpful to just rude. <br/><br/>I would definitely go back if i was in the area again.

Always good. I have had business lunches at Bakini several times, food always fantastic and the service is always top shelf. Great atmosphere. Double thumbs up for lunch.

Went for Sunday brunch. Terrible dinning experience. Staff were incredibly rude! Meals were not as ordered and the woman working was blaming us for the mistake. Walked out and staff didn't have a concern, offered to pick up our plates before we had even left. Dont know how a place can operate like this. Would never go back.

What a find - Bistro Bakini. I spent two weeks in Melbourne recently and I must say that Bistro Bakini was an amazing find. Staying not far from the restaurant I visited the first night. The staff are welcoming and the service was great. They have a good selection of wines and the food was fresh and well prepared. The presentation was faultless. During my stay I visited Bakini regularly. I strongly recommend anything on the breakfast menu and the coffee. For dinner - I highly recommend the soup, risotto or steak. You can't go wrong.

Fantastic Service and amazing food. Whenever we are in Melbourne we ALWAYS visit this restaurant. The service is outstanding and the staff always make us feel special and important. Love love love the food for its fantastic presentation, taste sensation and just down right delicious. Totally worth multiple visits and we will always be back. Thanks guys for providing great food, wine and service. You Rock!

Poor service and try hard fine dining! There are hundreds of other restaurants that do this better. Overpriced for small servings that didn't taste good. Don't go!!

Not too sure if I like this place or not yet.. had the gnocchi, which was lovely, however, it had quite a watered down broth with it, and there wasn't much flavour besides the lamb ragu. cocktails were alright.. our waitress was lovely, fair bit of personality which is always good! 2 things making me hesitant if I'd come back.. 1. prices.. value for money doesn't seem applicable here and 2. seeing staff doing shots of alcohol at 7.30pm is interesting to say the least! I don't need or want to smell the alcohol on your breathe as you serve me. yes, you are a bartender, but hey, we all know what vodka tastes like.. especially 4 times over!

Overpriced and average. I went to Bistro Bakini recently as I was staying close by and found the service slow and the prices over inflated. We got the tiniest of portions for nearly $30 per meal which I find unacceptable as the food was nothing special. <br/>My food took nearly an hour to arrive and my partner's food took even longer and we were the only people in the restaurant. What a joke. I would not recommend this to anyone. This place has a strange atmosphere and is just a rip off.

Disappointing. I ordered a main course for about $32 and got served the smallest cut of eye fillet steak I have experienced - it was about 50-75 grams if that and while cooked well it was an average piece of meat.<br/><br/>The staff agreed to mention it to the manager and chef but no apology. It is the 4th visit to the restaurant and it will be last the last 2 meals were average.<br/><br/>It puts itself forward as a serious local restaurant - I dont think so<br/><br/>Bill

Food great, staff attentive. Had to wait a long time for food, there appeared to be a communication issue between front of house and the kitchen. Had all the drinks wiped off the bill, so can't complain. I would come back and eat again.

Fantastic afternoon at this establishment. Great food, great service and great place to discuss business. Best antipasto plate I have had in a very long time. I'll be back.

Fantastic modern italian food. Prices good. The venue inside is fanastic. Dont be fooled by the outside. Service 7/10 ..they are very italian. Food 9/10

Coffee was ok, not the greatest for melbourne. However soy latte was an additional 70c!!! That's ridiculous. Also breakfast way too overpriced! The 5 star hotels don't charge this much. Very disappointing. Staff friendly and very apologetic about the pricing though.

Great experience. I have eaten at Bakini a number of times over the last few months and always found the quality of the food great and service excellent (also all at reasonable prices). <br/>The last time I was there I had a problem with my main meal (I just didn't like the taste). They saw that I left food on my plate and asked what was wrong, were very concerned that I didn't like the meal and determined to sort it out. I was offered a replacement entree of one of their specials (at no charge) and left very happy that the problem had well and truly been addressed.<br/>Great hospitality and great service. I will be back.

Love this place. New management is spectacular. They always make us feel incredibly welcome. We come here every Friday after work for happy hour. The food is delicious and amazing value for the quality!

A reformed and remarkable Bakini. As regular diners at Bistro Bakini, this has become our venue of choice when we take friends out for dinner or clients for a drink/dinner. Why? Quite simply,the food is quality, the staff are friendly, knowledgable and accommodating and the general atmosphere is most pleasing. There is a distinct difference since new management and the improvement is evident in many facets of the restaurant, not least in the staff who are efficient and courteous. This leads me to suspect that the previous commentary given by "anonymous" below may be the rantings of a disgruntled former staff member (who perhaps did not meet the work ethic expected by the new management?) particularly as this person has chosen to remain "anonymous" . I was very surprised that "anonymous" was so scathing in his review of Bistro Bakini,as my experiences there have been so different, and the many people we have taken there are similarly admiring of the new and improved Bistro Bakini. I have to question the validity of his comments if he prefers to be "anonymous"...Keep up the good work B.B, we look forward to further enjoyable evenings here.

FABULOUS RESTAURANT. Have had two fantastic evenings at Bakini in the last few weeks. The staff are fun and efficient. The food is excellent. The gluten free options are appreciated. The venue is super. Value for money makes Bakini a terrific place to visit. It is downstairs from Mint Melbourne Hotel. Thoroughlly recommend Bakini!!

Good to another bad restaurant. What can i say ..... this place was well kept known place on st kilda road! <br/>what has happen to the best italian chefs on st kilda they are no more, what happen to their cocktail lounge no more! Bakini "WAS" great venue with great drinks and food. <br/>I could walk in and the Bar Manager knew my drink he knew how i liked it, and he knew me and everybody else that walked though thoses doors! the wait staff new what i liked to eat and with nice glass of red. <br/>Now when i walk though those doors i see the head waiter drinking with his mates taking shots after shot after shot beer than back onto waiting ... VERY UNPROFESSIONAL! <br/>i see the restaurant manager just standing around the bar not care in the world bossing around staff member, while his trying to do his job. <br/>Bakini was a good place it had some great people there.... but now its lost everything ... <br/>the food now is boring .... service staff untrained, not knowledgeable about food and wines... <br/>i was very very very disappointed in my return to a restaurant that i brought my family and friends over too this past week... never again!

St Kilda Road takes an upturn. The folks at Bakini have taken on board the Urbanspoon reviewers comments from early 2012 and things are fast changing for the better.<br/><br/>I too went went it opened (early 2012?), though didn't dine as it all felt too awkward. (5 star resturant beneath a 3 star hotel). However!, In the last few months there is a new management team and there have been great changes. I'm now a regular! <br/><br/>The food is particularly good ($18-30 mains). The maitre'd is very welcoming and I look forward to further extension of operating hours to inlcude breakfast and weekends. <br/><br/>Despite being on St Kilda Road, it is sufficiently back from the busy traffic to create a calm and relaxed atmosphere in amongst the greenery. Outdoor seating also available for these hot nights. It can sometimes be a tad slow, but the staff are very happy to help when you've grabbed their attention. <br/><br/>Keep up the great work, it's a relief to finally have a decent dinner place along St Kilda road.

Absolutely fantastic. The food is elegant classy and tasty. The service is fantastic, staff are friendly and do ensure you are taken care off. would highly recommend this place for food, service, ambience, price

Great atmosphere, relaxing, funky and fresh. Delicious food. Love the homemade pasta.

Terrific Dinner. A last minute decision to have dinner at Bakini proved to be a great decision. The food was terrific, the service attentive and the prices reasonable. Will happily dine there next time I am in Melbourne.

I've been to Bakini quite a few times now. I work nearby, so it's usually for a drink. Andre the bar tender (manager) is a superstar. He's a cocktail magician. Also very patient and friendly. The last time I visited I had a pasta dish off the bistro menu. The dish was pretty good but the portion size was far too small. Very unsatisfying. Big plate, little food. Me no likey.

What is Bakini! My girlf.... What is Bakini! <br/><br/>My girlfriend and I work a cross the road from Bakini and we come in quite alot for drinks and meal! <br/>The new change to Bakini is ugly unwelcoming with all those tables! What has happen to couches? Another reason not to come to Bakini! Only reason to come Bakini is for its cocktails n micro brew beers! <br/>sorry Bakini we gave u a try and you have failed! <br/>time to find another drinking hole!

Stuffy. My fiance and I stopped by for a drink at Bakini one evening and were greeted by a waiter asking if we were part of the private party. We weren't, so we said no. He rudely stated "This is only for INVITED guests tonight". Not seeing any sign or other indication that it was a private party, it was an honest mistake. He could have said "I'm sorry, tonight is a private function. Please come back and join us on any other night this week". We have no intention of returning.

Surprise Package. Had an unexpected dinner at Bakini on Saturday night and was very impressed. From the moment we walked in was greeted and offered a pre dinner drink in lounge bar area with warm cosy leather chesterfields... the Fitout/layout of the bar/dining area was amazing with a fantastic looking cellar with some great Italian and local wines.... Service was impeccable and the staff very attentive.<br/>The highlight is having a clear view of the kitchen minus the glass you get in some dining venues... Amazing to watch the chefs at work. The Risotto and gnocchi was fantastic... The Pasta dishes were a real stand out and credit to the Chef.. I was informed that it was all made fresh in house and it tasted great...<br/>Bar area would be great for Friday night drinks and I will most definitely be back for more of the Risotto!

Don't Go not Worth it. I was there recently with friends, place looks great!<br/><br/>You can tell the management and staff don't know what there doing, when they get more then 10 people in the bar and 4 tables in the restaurant, the service is far to slow and all over the place.<br/>Its like everything falls apart.<br/>We sat in the lounge area, it literally took 30min for some one to come over, especially this barmen told us at the bar to take a seat and someone will be right over, we still waited.<br/>We were meant to stay for dinner but<br/><br/>We just left after our drinks it was not worth creating a fuss.

I can stop bitching about restaurants in Melbourne now that I have been to Bakini.<br/>Everyone I have been to Bakini with have agreed it's amazing food and the best friendly service. It's like a TV chef show, you can see the chefs cooking and how clean it is. The taste of the food is an excellent suprise and delicious. It's cooked to axact perfection by someone who always creates a dish like it's got to be the best every time.<br/>As soon as you walk in, the very friendly barman greets you with hello and a smile. i have been to restaurants all over the world and Bakini i think is world class and cheap. It's now my farvorite restaurant.

Won't Be Back Somethings Not Right. Four of us went for dinner after a friend suggested we should try it, the decor is amazing, wine list is good, however the waiter didn't know any of the wines, and we waited 45 minutes for wine to arrive and entree was already served? Not Good. Then we had to keep asking for our wine glasses to be filled? The food, average you can get better elswhere and cheaper, not enough choice on the menu, service is simply terrible! and far to slow. Who is running the Place? if they don't know they need to. As for our friends suggestion to try this Restaurant, they won't be back either.

What a Nice Bar.. if only. My girlfriend and i came to bakini few days ago for drinks and light snack. The venue in itself looked smooth but cold. The bar person came with the menu introducing himself and making us feel welcomed. <br/><br/>When we look though the menu, it was like bible, a lot of pages. The cocktail list was basic, nothing left to imagination. But I must say the Bar man came over sat with us and we told him the honest truth about the list. He was so helpful and asked us what we liked in our cocktails. He made my friend an apple sour which taste AWESOME! I wanted something a bit stiff, he made me a red wine martini, IT WAS TASTY! And we came back the next night for Pre Going Out Drinks.<br/><br/>The bar menu for food VERY SMALL 2 items, was hoping to have something like tapas with our cocktails. I must say the places looks like your in martini or high rollers room. The prices maybe a little high and have limited spirit stock, but the service detail on drinks is so so worth it.<br/><br/>Looking forward to my next trip to melbourne.

Bakini is a terrific dining experience. Delicious food, friendly staff and very comfortable surroundings. The best thing of all is that we could converse at the table without shouting and this is a rare event these days. A totally enjoyable night out.. highly recommended.

What an unexpected gem in the neighbourhood!! We were just walking down St Kilda Rd, preparing ourselves to settle for bistro style dinner on a Friday night when we came upon this place. The food was just divine! I highly recommend the lamb rump. And I was very impressed with their wines. The very attentive waiter was spot on with his recommendations for wines. I may be a bit tipsy, but certainly not exagerating when I say the Italian red & the Moscato D'Asti he recommended were to die for!! Don't even get me started in the toasted Italian meringue for dessert!! We will definitely be back here soon!

Excellent. We visited Bakini on a Friday night and had a drink followed by dinner. The venue is absolutely stunning and for dinner each dish was just amazing. Service was excellent. We will return!

Amazing, all class for a great price. Went to Bakini with a few girlfriends the other week and had such a wonderful experience. We had the 4 courses for $65, which is a bargain considering they plate their food like a three hat restaurant. Plenty to choose from but I would really recommend the beetroot pasta with poppyseed sauce (so inventive!), the leek risotto (to die for) and the scallop and pork belly. we shared the desserts and they were all delcious, thouugh by that stage we were all pretty full! Highly recommended, beautiful venue and great service make it a no-brainer :)

Please make it a Bistro style!!. What a disappointment. I live on st. Kilda Road just metres from Bakini. I really need this type of restaurant close to me. Being single I wanted a quick meal one night last week - yes, you can have a meal here - but its a set menu -3 courses, 4 courses or 5 courses! Hell, I don't want that!! Is there no option to have al la carte? No!!! <br/>Also the decor is cold and very uninviting - please make your menu a bistro style - maybe even in the style of PM 24 - that would work and keep the main course cost around $30 - it will work well.<br/>Today I went tp Bakini for a double shot skinny late. That would be $5 please!! You are kidding. There's so many places for an average coffee - let alone pay $5 for one.

What a find!. Bakini is amazing. Great food, excellent service, a very pleasant decor, a good wine list - and all of it at very reasonable prices! And the tables are well spaced so that one doesn't have to shout to be heard.<br/><br/>It would be hard to disagree more with the posting that complained that the restaurant is too formal and too expensive for St Kilda Road. Everyone to whom I have spoken who has eaten there believes they are doing EVERYTHING right. Keep it up!

Having been to Bakini a few times now, I've really enjoy the food and the service. The pasta dishes have been standout for me, try the black truffle ravioli or the tuna spaghettini. My favourite dessert was recently taken off the menu though...bring back the tiramisu guys!!! The coffee after my meals has been consistently good too, will definitely keep going back.

Bakini experience. We live on St Kilda rd a few blocks away north of backini. I took my girlfriend there to celebrate our eighth month together… I was looking for a romantic place and I have not been disappointed. Very unexpected to find a venue of that caliber on St Kilda Rd. Come to think of it, I haven't experienced such place anywhere in Melbourne… I found their staff to be very attentive and at my service!… I kind of expected them to be a bit obnoxious because they dress formally but no! They made us feel at home. The food was exquisite, they use fresh products and the pasta… that black truffle! the open kitchen was quite an experience. My girlfriend and I made a bet that one of the chefs would swear at least once during our dinner. We were unlucky. Those guys are so good. They make everything look so easy. We had such a nice time…. Before and after. Bakini we're coming back!

Wise up boys, you're doing it all wrong. Bakini.... these guys just dont understand the market around them. ditch the penguin suits on the waiters and relax things up a little. You would be getting more business if you actually understood the business people around you and what they are after. <br/>People working in St Kilda Rd are looking for a place to eat that has good food, and your food may be okay, but you run this place like it is a restaurant from the 80's!!!! The fit out is good but the atmosphere you have created here is 'stiff' and unenjoyable. <br/>Change things up a bit, definitely lower your prices, create a better, more relaxed lunch menu that can also be enjoyed in the front bar area and you will get more traffic coming through your front door. <br/>it's almost like this is your first time in the restaurant world and understand so little about what Melbourne diners like. You're trying to be a 5 star restaurant in a 3-4 star hotel, it just doesn't go well together.... you want to last, start catering to the working crowd. at this stage you disappoint too much with your over priced food and waiters who need to lighten up.

Bistro Bakini is a modern Italian eatery run by a Greek, and pleases with its rustic and accessible cuisine. Sometimes its the owner or wait staff that can make or break a dining experience. At Bistro Bakini it was a case of the owner Stavros adding to the colour and pleasure of the evening. The World Loves Melbourne was invited to experience Bistro Bakini on St Kilda Rd on a blustery winter's night.

Blending the best of local produce with authentic Italian cooking, Bistro Bakini satisfies families and gourmet diners alike.

The few things I found lacking on St Kilda Road were food and a supermarket until I realised down the street, there was a mini market for those urgent items and a beautiful Italian restaurant downstairs! Unfortunately, the restaurant downstairs is not exactly a place that serves $10 pastas / pizzas. Bakini is quite the opposite, a fancy Italian restaurant with an open kitchen. It is the kind of restaurant that you feel obliged to dress a little. With the dim lighting in the dining area and the spot lights towards the end where the kitchen is, the kitchen is where the show is. Unfortunately or fortunately, there is no Gordon Ramsay in the house and the small team operates quietly and efficiently. The menu is not overly huge, a few pasta items, no pizzas sighted and a couple of meat dishes. After having a couple of beers with a old uni friend across at the Belgian Beer Garden, we skipped straight into the mains, a gnocchi with ragu, half a duck and a veal dish. I was quite surprised that