Review Carosello - Moonee Ponds

Ideally located , Carosello is the most popular Italian restaurant in Moonee Ponds. Offering deliciously prepared wood-fired pizza's and traditional pastas. The menu has a variety of Starters, Grilled meats, Pastas, Mains, Sides, kids meals and a variety of drinks. The setting is welcoming and nicely decorated, with indoor and outdoors eating area. The service provided by staff is beyond excellent and food is not just served in a reasonable time, but it is also very well presented. Carosello is definitely the go to place in Moonee Ponds when it comes to delicious Italian food, great service and fantastic ambience..

Food never disappoints! Our favourite. Menulog made us wait almost 2 and half hours for delivery. When I rang the owner who spoke empathized. For that I would add an extra star if I could.

I love love love this restaurant! This is my fifth visit. Friendly staff and amazing food! If you want to go to an Italian restaurant in the Moonee Ponds area, I recommend this restaurant:)

By far one of the best squid ink pastas in town. Excellent friendly and attentive service !! Will definitely come back to try other items on the menu

Great food. Can get really busy. Be sure to book.

A friendly and warm experience. Staff are attentive and lovely. They treated us and our 2 year old daughter like family and it was only our first time. Food was gorgeous. Nice cosy environment. We will definitely return. 5 stars ⭐️

Nice place for quality pizza and pasta, well-sized servings, friendly, welcoming staff.

First time dining here and definitely not the last. Service was excellent and the food delicious. It was my husband’s birthday and the staff went the extra mile by placing a sparkler on his dessert and singing happy birthday. A lovely touch.

I am a new customer this evening, ecstatic with this find! I had a gluten free and vegan margarita pizza, I added olives and artichokes... my friend had a fruit de mare with anchovies and we both went to heaven. Carosello are my favorite for gluten free vegan pizza on a Tuesday in the inner north west delivered by uber eats, hands down, happy customer :)

Some may think a bit pricey depending on what your average price / budget is for meals but worth every cent for not only the food but the service also! Will be making more regular appearances for dinner. First experience could not have gone Any better. Did I mention how delicious the food is and how friendly and polite the staff are?

Cant highly recommend Carosello enough !! I've been wanting to come down for a while, and finally got the chance to come! Wow! Totally amazed by the beautiful food we were served worth every dollar, and the hospitality by the staff was amazing from start to finish even though they were so busy, they were just lovely!! Thank you Jordan for having us in your restaurant ! Can't wait to come back again soon!!! ��

This is one of our favourite Italian restaurants in Melbourne. Carosello has never ceased to amaze us with their delicious array of dishes, beautiful ambience and extremely lovely and passionate staff. They are not only very friendly but also known for their excellent customer service. Highly recommend this place <3 <3

I had the Polpette with spaghetti and it was amazing. The Creme Brûlée was to die for. Nice gelato as well. Great food experience. BYO wine also. Service was excellent too. Thanks Carosello’s for a great night.

On Friday night my partner and I from Tasmania came to this restaurant after hearing amazing things... and it did not disappoint!! The food was unreal and the staff and management made our time even better. Even tho our meals did take a little while it didn't feel like it with the staff being incredibly lovely! Will be recommending to everyone to visit when they head to Melbourne! 10/10 guys! We will definitely be back!

The food was fantastic but the best part was the amazing service. Such friendly and welcoming staff. Would highly recommend it!

Food was amazing, especially their pizza! Also the service was first class, we will definitely be back. Highly recommend this awesome Italian restaurant!

Amazing food! Great company And wonderful welcoming staff!! Would highly recommend �

Best food I have ever had. Licked the plate clean of that is acceptable to say. Fricken amazing service. Waiters are machines. 5 star food and service. Nothing is too hard for this establishment'. Well done..... absolutely well done guys. Amazing.... applause.....

Last minute decision but we did not regret it - First time customers, with hubby & grumpy teen, within 10 minutes our waiter had charmed GT, so much so, he even contributed to our conversation! We immediately felt welcomed, Food was amazing & very quick, we had a lovely family dinner & GT loved his dessert - Nutella pizza, we will be back.

Amazing food, fantastic service! We had a great time tonight, staff are so friendly and down to earth. Definitely coming back to try the rest of the delicious food!

Amazing food, atmosphere and outstanding customer service...highly recommend it and will definitely be back

Carosello would have to be THE BEST Italian restaurant in Melbourne! Came all the way down from Brisbane & just had to give this restaurant a try due to the great reviews. It did not disappoint. Food was absolutely amazing. Great atmosphere & friendly staff. We were waited on by one of the owners & he definitely made us feel special & welcomed. Restaurant was packed fora. Thursday night. Proves how amazing this place is. We cannot wait to return on our next visit. Thanks Jordy & Mark. X

10/10 excellent food with excellent staff. Not pricey and well worth visiting for a meal.

One of the best classic margherita I have evr had. Amazing creamy cheese and sweet tangy tomato just melt in the mouth. Definitely going back for more.

Amazing fresh seafood on a wood fire base. Plump prawns, juicy mussels and non rubbery calamari topped with fresh basil. <br/>Best seafood pizza.

situated perfectly near public transport, serving amazing food, with amazing customer service & beautiful decor what else could you want ?<br/><br/>Had the best pasta of my life at the recommendation of the waiter which kudos to you it was amazing. the owner himself came ensured we were taken care of, even grated a block Parmesan for my pasta which was a cool little extra touch which was gave it that little extra personal touch.<br/><br/>Very highly recommended

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 STAR ALERT! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<br/>Thats right people... we have a rarely given 5 star restaurant thats perfect for dinner in the north of Melbourne.<br/><br/>Carosello is conviently located right accross from Moone Ponds train station, your a myki fair away from great food, a warm atmosphere and the most cheerfull of hosts to welcome you in and reveal his OCD habit of keeping all the cutlery on a perfectly 90 degree straight and orderly angle.<br/><br/>Our party of 4 ordered the margherita pizza and Patate E Salsiccia pizza both topped with 600 day ages san daniele prosciutto and the Linguine marinara. But if you are so inclined, there is a secret little menu tucked away in the owners head which contains a homemade gnocchi with creamy mushrooms.<br/><br/>Mr S ordered some coke to go with his pizza (cause coke always goes with pizza the way that coke always goes with Pablo Escobar). But instead got a Italian Cola called MoleCola that was not too shabby and in theme with the restaurant.<br/><br/>Food arrived and EVERYTHING was delicious. The pizzas, the pastas and after straightening our cutlery for the 452nd time, the owner strongly urged us to let him bring us some homemade bread to dip into the pasta sauce like you do at mummas 👌<br/><br/>The food, the drinks, the service and even the decor was spot on so therefore we rate this bello mio a perfect 5/5.<br/><br/>Will we be back? 100%<br/>But next time im turning the knives on a 84 degree angle on every table just to play with the owners head 😈

Mmaaatteeee this place is unreal !!! <br/><br/>Been to Jordan’s place Carosello three times now and forgot to do a review. This place right from ordering a table was a unbelievable experience it’s literally felt like we were part of the family. The food is incredible arancini is to die for !! The meat balls are homemade and flavour packed !! The pasta is made fresh and the ragu Far out its the best. The only photo I had was of the mixed grill and let me tell ya it’s the best one I have ever had !! Seriously eating here you won’t leave disappointed or hungry. BIG SHOUT OUT to you Jordan you are the man thanks making this place so welcoming

Just one of my favourite restaurants! Food is always of the highest quality and the service is incredible. This place just has no faults, highly recommend!

Great local restaurant. Menu full of the old faves as well as delicious standouts (Moreton Bay Bug Risotto and Duck Agnolottti).

My partner and I called in here for dinner. The service from the waiter was excellent.<br/><br/>I order the duck pasta (can’t remember the exact name) which was delicious, I just wish there was more of it lol<br/><br/>The pasta was al dented and the duck perfectly cooked. <br/><br/>My partner ordered some fettuccine meatballs and once again the pasta was al dente. The meatballs were big, and full of flavour, although just a little dry, I guess because they were so large. The tomato sauce was good too. <br/><br/>Overall though this was a pretty solid experience.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Previous review March 2017 <br/><br/>Inspired by some reviews that I have read on Zomato it was time to visit this restuarant. The biggest drawcard was the Papparadelle Ragu w beef cheek as the photos looked amazing. <br/><br/>My friend and I made a boooking and we were lucky that we did as the restuarant was almost completely booked out at 6pm. Anyway, the service here was excellent, w a lovely waitress serving us. <br/><br/>Obviously i had the Papparadelle Ragu w beef cheeks and it was simply amazing!! Absolutley delicious, this is the best pasta that I've ever eaten. Wow!!! haha <br/><br/>My friend had the Fettuccine (wagyu) meatballs and was equally impressed. This place was wonderful, what an exciting experience to try authentic italian food in Melbourne. YUMMMMM hahaha <br/><br/>I can't wait to go back and try some more dishes when I have more time, i.e. when I am not rushing off the races! lol. I can defintely recommend this place for an amazing foodie experience but don't forget to book.

@ristorantecarosello The home of traditional pizza and pasta and the sister restaurant of @pacinosrestaurant Loved the wide variety on the menu and decided to go with the linguine marinara and it did not dissapoint. It was simple and yet delicious.

I have been to this Restuarant a number of times. I held my daughters christening there as well as many smaller dinners. <br/>I honestly cannot speak highly enough of the food , the service, the atmosphere, the friendliness of the owners and in particular Jordan who is worth the price of entry as his magnetic personality is an experience worth seeing in particular he does a good Tony Montana impersonation from scarface. You also might be lucky enough to feel his arm muscles. Just walk past and he flexes his arms in a second like a trained model. He loves to show off a bit and strut around with a swagger. 🤣🤣🤣 Beautiful man <br/>I would give this an absolute 5 out of 5 and I would give Jordan an A+ for his personality and his welcoming ways #prestoncoinlaundry

The owner and staff were so friendly and honest. Recommending meals and checking on us all the time to see if we needed anything or just to have a laugh. Food was out of this world. Can’t wait to come back again.

This was my first time at Carosello since moving locally. The service was impeccable and the food was divine.<br/>Have the gnocchi (mine GF but that’s just circumstantial) <br/>Absolutely delicious!

I’m not sure why I didn’t find out about this local gem earlier but thanks to my friend’s recommendation, I found a great Italian restaurant nearer to home and doesn’t have to travel to lygon street anymore! Carosello is located at the corner shop, just opposite the Moonee pond train. The restaurant is only open for dinner service and I was told reservation is necessary as the place usually packed! I tried to call in the morning to make reservation but nobody answered the call and I was thinking maybe because they are only open in the evening for dinner service. To my pleasant surprise, someone returned my call even though I didn’t leave a message and managed to give me a table for 5 people at 6 pm on Saturday night! We arrived and was promptly seated to our table. The restaurant was already quite full house when we arrived. We ordered 4 mains to share- osso buco Ragu, Marinara linguine , piggy pizza and pork ribs. Service is exceptionally fast and the food was scrumptious! We are all so full that we couldn’t order dessert ! We will definitely return soon.

Had a potato pizza firstly. Was really disappointed. Was not enough topping and too much crust and not particularly flavourful. The disappointment of the night. Had a super bug risotto very tasty and fabulous meal. My mate had the ribs, huge serve and I tasted them were beautifully tender and flavoursome. Will have to go back and try another pizza.

A local favourite, Carosello’s is sure to satisfy from being greeted at the front door by the happy host through to dessert. I’ve been here a few times and it has never disappointed me. Except that one time they ran out of creme brûlée and I had to share. But I can’t blame them for selling out of such a delicious dessert. The tiramisu is a noble dessert competitor as well. The moreton bay bug risotto is my favourite dish but honestly everything is mouth watering delicious!

First time dining at Carosello and was extremely impressed. The service was impeccable and the food was just amazing. Loved the homemade pasta. We had the linguine marinara and the osso bucco pappardelle- definitely recommend. We are looking forward to trying out the rest of the menu! Thank you for welcoming us so warmly.

This was the BEST pizza I’ve ever had. The staff were very friendly and the service was excellent as was the atmosphere. i will definitely be back.

Delicious gnocchi!!! I will definitely be going back to eat more of it again and again! <br/>Fungi pizza was a little tasteless and watery.... not sure if that’s normal or we got a bad one ... <br/><br/>Atmosphere great<br/>Service good<br/>Food 4.5 / 5 <br/><br/>I’ll be back ! <br/>🍕

What an absolute hidden gem in moonee ponds! Haven’t been this impressed in a long while. Great location, great look and atmosphere. Upon entering the manager owner Jordan was full of life and joy, have never seen such great service and wonderful delightful vibes from him and also from the other very friendly caring staff. The Parma was absolutely magnificent and the special lobster pasta was exquisite. The quality is second to none. It’s fair to say I couldn’t fault this place if I tried!

Ate here with the family on a Thursday night. I booked ahead as I've seen this place is always busy! Food was really delicious, squid ink linguini was yum, pizza spot on. Unfortunately due to it's popularity and I don't know what else - the acoustics I guess you'd say - it is super noisy inside just from people talking.<br/><br/>A touch exy especially the kids meals, but provided I could get a table outside on a nice night I would return.

They were fully booked but found space for us which was superb. We had the ragu pasta, marinara pasta and sides. So delicious. Ragu was a stand out and we will be back to try out other items especially the pizzas asap!

I have been to Carosello's several times now and never disappointed. Service and quality of food is exceptional and tonight was no different. Restaurant was full tonight but service was still excellent.  Tonight our group all ate different dishes and we all rated every dish 5/5.  So nice to dine out in such a pleasant atmosphere with such great staff. Thank you Carosello.

I went to this restaurant hearing only good reviews about it. Me and my friend ordered the arancini balls , Morton bay bug risotto and a lobster pasta from the specials menu... the pasta was extremely under cooked and did not have a very enjoyable flavour. All around not a very enjoyable meal and was way too overpriced for what you got especially the portion of pasta in the bowl. The risotto was quite flavoursome though. The arancini balls were yum but quite dry inside. Both my friend and I actually felt quite sick after eating here. We sat outside as they were fully booked inside, would recommend for them to get some heaters outside for colder nights. Would rate this place a 4/10. Would most likely not return . Was not feeling the vibe. Service was good, food was below average

What gem. Excellent service. Great ambience and the food was great . Was so good we decided to book a family function here. Will definitely visit on a regular basis

The food was sensational. I used Uber eats and as a first timer, was motivated by these reviews. Really delicious seafood pasta and the potato pizza was exceptional. Can’t wait to dine in.

Housemates and I went to this place we ordered linguine , gnocchi and the meat ball pasta and sparkling water . All together for $107. It’s a bit expensive but we did enjoy all the dishes. Just properly cooked. Would love to come back again :)

Good friendly staff and atmosphere. Excellent servings. Awesome choice of wines with reasonable prices. And possible some of the best pizza's in Melbourne.

Hadn't been for a while and went last week and sat outside on a warm night.  The food was superb. We all ordered from the specials menu (3 x crispy skin barramundi and 1 x pasta).  Everyone enjoyed their meals.  We shared entrees (meatballs and arancinis.  Deserts were also amazing.  They do 2 sittings per night but we were there from 6 to 8 and were not rushed at all and had plenty of time for 3 courses and 2 bottles of wine (between 4 of us).  Service is always great.  Highly recommend it - book ahead as it is always very busy.

I was simply blown away, the best pizza I have had in a very long time. <br/>Stumbled across this Italian gem and ordered a seafood pizza take away. Delicious. Fast and very friendly service too. Highly recommend

Excellent service and food! Ordered the salami pizza and the Nutella donut for desert! It was sensational! Food is very good quality and feels like dinning in Italy!

Carosello is incredible! The food is amazing and the service is outstanding 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼 We got the Capricciosa, Scotch Fillet and Linguine Marinara mains and they were all delicious. For dessert we got everything on the menu, and they were all great too!

Came here a few weeks ago and it was the best Italian food we’ve ever had. Went to Gradi at crown during the week and Carosello easily takes the cake, by far!!

Had a Last minute change of plans and headed to carosello with some girlfriends, place was completely packed out. The staff are so lovely and welcoming from the moment you walk in, they all did such a wonderful job going above and beyond to provide wonderful hospitality. We all got a range of items to share (the arancini and calamari was spectacular), the only downfall was having everything come out at different times, dessert was also beautiful!!

I loved my vegetarian pasta tonight and enjoyed the friend's seafood pizza slice. Although have to admit that it didn't have as much seafood as I expected

The positive feedback on Zomato had me anticipating nothing short of a delicious culinary experience however in reality, the food was a far cry from exceptional. The service was good, the place was booked at capacity but it was the Moreton bay bug risotto which was really disappointing. Unfortunately, the tomato risotto base tasted nothing like a home made sauce. It was under seasoned and the equivalent to what you would expect from a pre mixed supermarket jar sauce. The dish may as well have been called tomato risotto with a Moreton bay bug garnish.

Really great service, they managed to squeeze us in without a booking.. Pizza was delicious and so was the Sticky Date Pudding - everything was super fresh! Will definitely be back to try the pasta :) gracias!

Absolutely amazing service, amazing food!!!!! The owners are so nice, greet you as soon as you walk in the door. Would 100% recommend the slow cooked lamb

What a great find out west! One of the best pizzas I've had in the Western suburbs. We had the funghi, diavolo, capricciosa and ortolana pizzas which all had crispy thin crusts and tasty toppings. My fav was the capricciosa - absolutely delicious and love the addition of the artichokes; whilst the funghi was a close second. We shared the calamari and a range of pastas including the papperdelle osso bucco, fettucine meatballs, duck agnolotti and linguine marinara. All were good, although I probably liked the squid ink linguine best out of the pastas. The service was excellent: super-friendly, attentive and efficient. Nice selection of drinks as well. We had a lovely dinner and will definitely be back. Highly recommend.<br/><br/>Came back again and it's as good as last time. This time, we also ordered the Miss Piggy pizza which was nice, and the scotch fillet which was cooked to perfection with an amazing mushroom sauce. Wow.

Very impressed, pizza the way I like it. Best fish I’ve ever had. And meatballs were great with perfectly cooked beef with el dente pasta. I’ll be coming back in no time

Carosello would have to be THE BEST Italian restaurant in Melbourne! Came all the way down from Brisbane & just had to give this restaurant a try due to the great reviews. It did not disappoint. Food was absolutely amazing. Great atmosphere & friendly staff. We were waited on by one of the owners & he definitely made us feel special & welcomed. Restaurant was packed fora. Thursday night. Proves how amazing this place is. We cannot wait to return on our next visit. Thanks Jordy & Mark. X

Great pizza with wonderful service and just basically a marvellous Italian restaurant once you’re there you’re basically in Italy so overall it’s outstanding.

Wow, not like the old Carosellos' that I used to eat pizzas at 2am. Totally upmarket traditional Italian menu. Great choices on the menu and the service is as good as it gets. Professional Italian waiters and the owners buzzing around to ensure everyone is happy.  Could not recommend highly enough. Great place for great food and service. Bruno

Amazing place that i walked past all the time from work but never decided to try it out. Entree was the calamari which was lightly battered which gave it a good crisp. With a good lemon juice and garlic mayo, really a great start to the meal. I ordered the squid ink marinara which was phenomenal! Nice buttery sauce coated very well by the thick squid ink linguine. Texture of the noodles was nice and al dente. My friend ordered the goat cheese pumpkin gnocchi which was really filling but nice and flavoured. Service was awesome very welcoming and authentic. Definitely will come back!

Good vibes, friendly staff and delicious food! <br/>I had the linguini marinara with squid ink linguini, which I’d never had before but really enjoyed my friend had the 250gr crumbled pork cutlet, very tender! Will be back again<br/>

Yummy pizzas. The lasagna was so big and looked delicious. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars was because it’s a bit on the pricey side for a pizza but overall a good night out.

Absolutely cannot fault the service at all! The restaurant has a lovely atmosphere to it and the bread sticks on the table were a very nice start to the whole experience. Only fault is that the cappicosa pizza was extremely soggy and dripping wet in the middle however the crust was crispy and perfect. My partner had the meatballs and could not fault them. We will definitely be back for pasta but maybe not the pizza. Regardless, Thankyou for a lovely night, see you soon

Loved the food & friendly service. Cosy restaurant on a busy cold Saturday night. Must book in advance. For entree we had arancini balls and calamari fritti. The calamari was cooked perfectly with a light crunchy batter yet soft inside, nice tartare sauce to complement it. For mains we had pappardelle osso bucco ragu and duck agnolotti. Delicious handmade pastas. I really enjoyed the osso bucco ragu which was rich in flavours with soft meat. We were stuffed midway through our meals so took the leftovers home. Thank you Mark & team!!

Oh my what a delight! <br/>Capricciosa had so much flavour, artichoke a great addition. Seafood pizza was beautiful also just would have liked a couple more king prawns. Best pizza I’ve eaten this year, was a little soggy once I brought it home but wacked it back in the oven for 5 mins at 200c to get it singing again !

Went here last night to catch up with some girl friends from my old work. I don’t normally write reviews but as soon as I walked in the door I was amazed. I was greeted at the door and like magic the gentleman said “table for Claire?” (I still have no idea how he knew) as he showed me to my friends. The rest of the night the service continued to be just as impressive. The fun and attentive staff really added to the atmosphere. I will definetly be bringing more friends here. Oh and don’t forget the FOOD!!!! Really fresh, good quality pizza, and my cheeky limoncello martini was delicious. A really enjoyable night, thank you!!

I was greeted by a young little Italian man with the freshest haircut and beard I have ever seen. He escorted us to our table which we were delighted to see a schooner full of bread sticks. My oh my what a good start to the evening. We continued to order our pizzas (3) and were soon presented with the first of the trio. The Miss Piggy. It. Was. Heaven. The toppings and texture of the pizza was a thing of dreams. It worked so well and created a symphony of flavour within my mouth. We then had the Patate E Salsiccia, again a nice little treat with the perfect amount of garlic (no vampires will be coming to get me tonight). To top it off a spicy yet delectable Diavola, which was diavolicious!!! Special shout out to the waiters and waitresses that continuously topped up our napkins. This is a rare treat and a necessity in the pizza game. This is our first encounter of such a rarity and to be honest, can never go back. Great banter from the staff and a funky Italian vibe both inside and out. A must visit for all keen pizza appreciators.

First time trying this place and considering how popular and busy it was, I wasnt overly blown away. The pizza dough was nice but there was so much liquid in the centre of the prosciutto pizza that it was completely floppy and soggy in the middle. Flavours were good otherwise. Other downfall was that they had no tables left and crammed us into an awkward waiting spot where one of us sat on a metal, highly uncomfortable stool. I will give this place another go but a third chance won't be on the cards if my pizza is soggy again. Not for $26 a pizza.

Hidden behind all the hustle & bustle of busy Moonee Ponds - Carosello is a true hidden gem.<br/>Parking was easy to find, being right behind the resturant.<br/>We were greeted at the door with a smile and the smile remained throughout the night!<br/>Service was great with our drinks order being taken straight away and they arrived within 10 minutes.<br/>Our seating was at 6.30pm and by 9pm we had a well spaced out 3 course meal with ample drink service in between.<br/>The calamari fritti were a generous serve & tasted fantastic. For main I had the potato and sausage pizza = Amazing! The creme brulee... I could have eaten 20 serves!!<br/>Overall a great experience!<br/><br/>Will definitely return!

Small busy Italian restaurant in Moonee Ponds. Came here with friends & we shared the Funghi pizza, Ortolana pizza, rocket salad, tiramisu & chocolate mouse. Pizzas were average, I couldn’t really taste much of the truffle oil on the funghi pizza & the pizza base was not crispy. The desserts lacked presentation but fortunately tasted amazing. I enjoyed both desserts & the serving size was generous. The fresh orange juice was sweet & refreshing. Complimentary home made bread sticks were delicious. Prices were a bit overpriced. Service was nice and friendly.

It was a beautiful night. We sat in the outdoor area. The service was really good. The waiter was authentic Italian and made you feel like you were in little Italy Italy not Moonee Ponds. We shared a pizza to start and it what you expect from a wood fire pizza restaurant. The mains were generous. I thought it was a cool spot.

What a fantastic little place in Moonee Ponds. Had heard so many good things about this restaurant so decided to give it a try. Great first impression when we walked in. The host came straight over and gave us a warm welcome full of cheer and delight. Food was absolutely fantastic we ordered pizza pasta anti pasta and deep fried olives. All the waiting staff were very efficient and friendly. We will definitely be back and will make it one of our regulars!!

Carosello's has a lovely, cosy interior and the wait staff were very friendly. I tried two of the vegetarian pizzas on the menu, the funghi and mama mia, both were ok. All was fine, nothing to write home about.

It's Zomatos favourite couple back for another Italian adventure and today, we have been fortunate enough to stumble across Carosello. With a resonating pain since our last La Porchetta experience, I have been seeking a great pasta fix to cure my worldy needs and thus gave birth to our date today at Carosello.<br/><br/>Upon entering the restaurant, Emily and I were greeted with nothing short of impeccable service. Service that makes you feel good, welcomed and invited. We laughed, joked and conversed with each staff member, from the waitress to the manager- every one we met was absolutely outstanding. Carosello really know how to make you feel like you are a part of one big Italian family and I cannot stress this enough. A huge props to all staff present tonight, especially the gentlemen of the evening.<br/><br/>Tonight we decided to mix it up and try some dishes we have never before, opting for the duck pasta and a pizza with potato's on top of it. The pasta? Sensational. Exquisite. Imagine a huge ravioli stuffed with the most tender and succulent duck meat and this is what you get. Topped with some nice sweet potato crisps and a layer of sauce, I can say with confidence that this was one of the best pastas I have had. The pizza was also good, very starchy due to the base and potato combination, and the topping of pork was a surprisingly welcome taste too. We do have to say though, that we think we like our tomato based pizzas more. With that being said it is a very nice pizza nonetheless if you love that sort of vibe.<br/><br/>Overall a tremendous Italian experience that has left us satisfied, in love and full of praise for the service and food alike. We highly recommend Carosello to all local or Italian cuisine onlookers!<br/><br/>Food: 4/5<br/>Service: 5/5<br/>Ambience: 3.5/5<br/>Value: 3/5<br/><br/>Overall: 4/5

We have been frequenting Carosellos for many years now, however I doubt that anyone would disagree that under the guidance of Mark and Jordan, they now operate at a high level. Food and service is superb.

Went here for my birthday dinner on Saturday night and the food was absolutely amazing and delicious! For some fussy eaters when we go out, we were able to enjoy a great meal as the service was professional and friendly and all dietary requirements were met! Thanks again guys it’s a lovely little restaurant and we will be back for dessert next time as we were so full from finishing our meals haha...

Always great pizza! The prosciutto pizza is amazing same as the capriciossa. Nice and light and thin crust. The pasta here is also wonderful esp the meatball pasta!

Wow! Thoroughly enjoyed my ragu and the pizzas were also pretty good. Place is busy so recommend booking. Great service and they serve the nicest Moscato I've had.

Delicious home made & fresh Italian food! Cannot recommend this restaurant more. Service was professional and very friendly! A local gem. Definitely be back soon.

Friendly service and really nice food the gnocchi was delicious and everyone else in my group ate all their dinner. Only fault is the price of a bowl of chips $12 😔 other than that a perfect night out

Absolutely incredible, authentic Italian food. Every meal I have had over several visits has been delicious. Fantastic friendly staff. The only downside is it is very loud - but all part of the atmosphere.

We had a fantastic meal. From the get-go, Jordy greeted us with a big smile and handshake. Wait staff were very helpful and friendly. I ordered the margherita, friends ordered the potato and pork pizza and the fettuccine marinara. Rave reviews across the board. Unlike some other nearby traditional pizza places, the pizza didn't go soggy and the base was light and crispy, not overly doughy or heavy. Pasta was al dente and nice and garlicy. Will definitely be back!  <br/>

When I want a take away pizza at home, I always get the prosciutto pizza from Carosello. I love the flavour of the dough and the 600 day aged prosciutto is amazing! A must try :)

Carosello was nice! The arancini were beautiful & tasted homemade. We all had different pasta dishes, they were all nice but the serving sizes were huge & we were unable to finish them! But the service at Carosello was fantastic. All staff were really friendly and helpful! I regret not ordering a pizza instead of the pasta, I would probably recommend to choose pizza over pasta at this cute little venue! The desserts were also huge & delicious!! <br/>Slightly disappointed after hearing some hype but it was definitely still a nice dinner out!

First time back after about 20 years and I must say I was a little disappointed. Our plates were taken without us even finishing, the dishes are overpriced (I paid $70 for two pizzas, an entree and a drink) and the pizza was a little unassuming. I won't be returning in a hurry.

I am a Moonee Ponds local so the new and improved Carosello's has been on my radar for a while. I tell you what without a booking it's hard to get a table. The pizzas have been reinvented to a thin crispy traditional base which was quite delicious. I had the bresaola. I was expecting the bresaola to be fresh (as in not cooked) but once I got it I realised it had been cooked with the base. It was still delicious and the fig balsamic vinegar gave it a a lovely sweetness. We also tried the broccoli pasta, the pumpkin and spinach gnocchi, the pasta meatballs, and a couple of other pizzas. You get fresh Parmesan and fresh chilli oil on the table too which I thought was a wonderful touch. Everyone was quite happy. Not the best pizza and pasta in Melbourne but definitely good for a local.

Outstanding service, good food. My only criticism is that the food was a little bit salty for my taste but I have to admit that I tend to eat with very little salt in general.

My review on this place has taken some time as I was not signed up to Zomato when my unpleasant experience happened. <br/><br/>In April I made a booking for 4 people at 8 pm for a Saturday night. After dinner, we had other plans in close proximity so we anticipated to eat and go. For all you parents that have a baby and toddler, you can just imagine the coordination and preparation that goes into a date night. At 6 pm on the night, we received a phone call asking us to come at 9 pm because they had unexpected customers and could not accommodate us at the time we booked. When my husband was on the phone I originally thought they were just confirming our booking but after hearing the conversation I was embarrassed for them. If they were experienced in the hospitality industry we would have never received this pathetic call asking us to make changes to our booking. I have gone to many restaurants without a booking and if they decide to seat us they also advise they require the table by a certain time. We did not get the opportunity to eat at this restaurant, who wants to eat at a place and give their money to a restaurant that does not value a customer that has chosen to dine with them. We immediately canceled and the person calling advised my husband we were being unreasonable for getting upset and canceling. Is this a restaurant or PUNK'D<br/><br/>My 3 Key Pointers<br/>• Don't bother booking, your spot will be given away. <br/>• Management should do a hospitality course because good food also needs good service to be sustainable. <br/>• San Lorenza in Moonee Ponds is a great Italian restaurant that got our business that night. Don't take your customers for granted they will go elsewhere.

DINNER<br/><br/>Amazing food, great pizza, the best I've had in Melbourne. Very Italian. Meals come out pretty fast, this is a new place and it's got rave about it, def deserves the rave it tasted damn good and atmosphere was great, we could hear each other without hearing other people. Loved it.

Ambience is nice and casual, with modern touches here and there. Staff are absolutely superb and made dining here such a pleasure.<br/><br/>Hearty food of a high calibre; executed deliciously well. Truly a homage to the Italian cuisine. The respect to the flavours by using fresh, quality produce helps to lift the dishes to more than just home cooking. The mussels are absolutely plump and divine - make sure to mop up those sauces with your bread (and kindly request for more if necessary!) I've previously had the worst luck with risottos and generally steer clear, but after this experience I am a hopeful. The Bug is cooked to absolute perfection, and I can't get enough of it. Definitely will return! This is a gem in its own right, and one for the list. <br/><br/>

Wow what an amazing little italian restaurant. I ordered the ragu pasta and my partner ordered the margarita pizza. Everything was cooked to perfection. The ragu was tender, full of flavor and what made it perfect was having an entire bowel of parmesan cheese next to it. The pizza was light, perfect amount of toppings and satisfied my partners cravings. I wish we had the room for desert because that tiramisu looked devine. Deffently coming back soon.

Food was great. I recommend the brocollini pasta and tiramisu. Only negative is we were sat outside but there was no heaters which I thought was strange. I got pretty cold...

This was our first time at Carosello's since new management took over and what a welcome surprise!! Jordan, the restaurant owner was a most attentive host, ensuring all his patrons were happy and enjoying their meals. Our meals were delicious, generously sized, with a modern Italian menu providing a lovely variety to choose from. The in-house made gnocchi with caramelised pumpkin, goat curd and spinach was divine as was the lightly crumbed, 'melt in your mouth' calamari. If you want to really top the experience here, you can't go by the massive Nutella calzone and tiramisu. Our 'Nutella' crazed girls were in heaven and hands down thought it was the 'best ever'! The tiramisu was light, delicious and topped the evening off beautifully. Service: 10/10, Quality of food: 10/10, Ambience: 10/10. Jordan, thanks so much for a wonderful evening, we look forward to being regulars at Carosello's!

A Great Italian in the heart of Moonee Ponds. <br/><br/>I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to dine here with the wonderful Matt from EatsByDonutSam. It was a wonderful evening starting off with wine and they had a great selection.<br/><br/>It was then time for the starters, Opting for the Calamari rings and Focaccia to share. The Calamari was fresh and soft with lots of good flavors, now i love sauce so having one on the side was great and it really brought the dish to life. The Focaccia was fresh full of the classic flavors, crunchy and textural it was gone very quickly. <br/><br/>For Mains i went for a pasta dish and it was pretty perfect, full of great quality ingredients home made pasta cooked perfectly it really was a great dish. Matt went for a pizza and again crispy fresh and full of flavors and textures. i had a slice and my mouth exploded with flavors. <br/><br/>Ending the night we were so full so decided to share a Tiramisu, and it was the family recipe WOW! it was so soft so full of flavor and a great one to share i would highly recommend it and it was my dish of the night. All washed down with a wonderful Aperol Spritz the classic Italian drink and it was made well. <br/><br/>I will be back for a second attempt at the menu and eat some more delicious Italian home made food. <br/><br/>Restaurant Type: Family Dining/ Italian<br/><br/>I Would like to thank Carosello for the Invite

Loved it! Can't wait to go back and try something from the pasta menu. If it's anywhere near as good as the pizzas, we're in for a treat. Jordan was lovely and made it incredibly easy for us to eat out somewhere nice for a change with the kids and the kids loved the food too...

This place is absolutely amazing. Jordan the owner is very friendly and helpful too. We ate here on Saturday evening, after a friend recommend we try this place. We loved it! Best Italian food in town. Try the beef parppadelle ragu, and prosciutto pizza, 10/10.

A local restaurant in Moonee Ponds considered to be an institution by some, Carosello serves traditional Italian pizza, pasta and more. They have only been open for about 3 months, but their contemporary vibe mixed with rustic homely feel is buzzing with conversation and families on a Sunday night.

Amazing place! Clean restaurant, beautiful food and friendly staff. The powers of social media brought me here via Sophie Cachia and I'm glad it did. My husband and I had no idea what to order and the owner Jordan made it such a wonderful experience by recommending dishes. We had the polpette, calamari fritti, diavola pizza and tiramisu. Our favourite was the polpette - that meat and sauce is AMAZING! We will definitely be returning for that. Staff were friendly. Our 3 year old was breaking out with his random dance moves and we were concerned that he was disturbing the other diners but what made us feel at ease was every single waiter/waitress that saw him broke out some dance moves of their own. 👍

We started off with the Arancini and weren’t disappointed. At a hefty seize, each arancini was costed in a crumbly batter that was fried to a crunchy golden brown. Breaking open the outer shell reveals an exceptionally gooey and cheesy inner, mixed with a delicious beef ragu and soft Aborio rice. Served with some white truffle aioli, this gave it a welcome depth in flavour.<br/> <br/>Despite the flawed execution, it was overall a pleasant meal, bar the desserts. Spectacular and authentic Italian it was not, though Marcello provides a taste of Italian that’s catered towards suburban family dining.

3.5<br/>Mid week evening dinner. Seated at a table outside and were given friendly and prompt service.<br/>Probably over ordered but the dishes were all really good.<br/>We started with mussels, calamari and the arancini and finished with a couple of pizzas. All dishes were very authentic and the pizzas were a stand out - simple and tasty.<br/>The beers were cold and the wine plentiful.<br/>Probably be back again.

Ristorante carosello is located in the northern suburb of Moonee ponds just across from the train station , you won’t struggle to find it , there’s also a nice art work on the front wall that will most likely catch your eye … they pride themselves of doing a traditional italian cooking with most of their items made in house from scratch 👍…

Overall, Carosello hits that sweet spot where it’s not a cheap pizzeria, but it’s not a high end place either – it’s right in the middle. An average family can afford to eat here from time to time, and enjoy the quality of the food.<br/><br/>The menu is not too broad, and not too narrow. There are 14 types of pizza, 5 pasta dishes, two gnocchi dishes, and one risotto – plus antipasti and salads. Pizzas are $20-25, pasta and risotto $25-32. One thing I did miss on the menu was veal saltimbocca. The specials included a chicken saltimbocca, but I hope that chicken saltimbocca doesn’t become as widespread as chicken schnitzel and chicken parmigiana.<br/><br/>Service is also good: attentive but not intrusive. The staff know the menu – many of them seem to be from Italy.<br/> This is a restaurant in the right price bracket, with better quality than most restaurants in that range. We will definitely return.

Carosello is a warm, authentic Italian restaurant located in the centre of Moonee Ponds. We went for dinner on a Sunday evening and were surprised to see it full to the brim with a great atmosphere. Carosello is perfect for a family get together or catching up with friends. There’s generous portions across all the food.  The Pappardelle ragu was a stand out dish for us with silky smooth, melt-in-the-mouth pasta that was topped off with a rich beefy topping.  My one top tip if you are thinking of going to this local is to book to avoid disappointment.

Driven past Carosello a million times, so finally stopped and tried it our for myself.<br/><br/>It's a traditional Italian style restaurant. Feels authentic. From the overly friendly guy at the front door welcoming us in to the pictures on the way and the loud chatting which made it a little hard to hear in the restaurant.<br/><br/>Food score: 4 - the food was pretty good. I really loved the flavors of my pasta and pizza. However the pizza base was a little soggy which made it hard to eat. The missus loved it too, but felt her salad was too salty.<br/><br/>Customer service score: 5 - This was an easy 5. The staff here were amazing from start to finish. Even with some tough demands we made. So thank you for that.<br/><br/>Overall a 4.5 and will go back for the pizza and to try some of the other pasta dishes!<br/><br/>Thanks for having us.

This place has the best gluten free pizza base ever!<br/>It's hard to find a nice one and they have got it just right! Delicious food all round!

Invited by Carosello Pizza, along with other foodies, we sampled a selection from their extensive menu.<br/><br/>They have a great range of pizzas and pastas, and the must try is the seafood pizza and sorbet. Check out the pictures below.

Came here on opening night the food was amazing. Very Authentic, it was like eating at nonnas. The staff were very attentive and gave great recommendations. Everything was fresh and very tasty. Could not fault the food.

Bellissima! Moonee Ponds' latest and greatest. Authentic Italian restaurant. Great food, great staff. Can't wait to come back and sit outside on a warm summers night. Where else would you rather be?

We came here on opening night and fell in love! <br/>We shared 2 mains (meatballs and prosciutto pizza) and the Nutella lava cake! <br/><br/>For drinks we had a Shiraz, Bellini and 2 cappuccinos!<br/><br/>I could not rate the food any higher and the customer service was second to none! <br/><br/>Thank you for a beautiful night, can't wait to come back soon xx

We loved Carosello! One of those menus where you want to order everything! Pizza, pasta and desserts amazing and great service!! Thanks for giving us a new favourite local!!

We're loving Carosello!<br/>I had the Funghi pizza and meatballs in the most amazing Napoli sauce.<br/>Hanging out to come back and have it again, but this time I need to check out your tiramisu as well...