8 April 2017 Had reaaally good memories of the Linguini…read moreMatriciana... tossed in flavoursome olive oil with h the pasta being the star of the dish and not the seafood. No longer the case very disappointing ... sauce was like a soup. Seafood was ok but is no longer what it used to be. Has the cook left?? it doesn't have that olive oil herb taste. Only seafood brine which I can do!! Hmmmmm 28 Mar 2016 Have been here quite a lot over the years.... my favourite would definitely be their linguini pasta and the sticky date pudding!!! can be quite busy but usually tables are readily available due to size of the place and outdoor seating.

Just terrible and very rude service. 2 of the staff were really abrupt and rude yelling at…read morecustomers that they don't serve outside because it's going to rain. They then called out over other customers for us to move tables when we went inside.. it was embarrassing and when we said so they got defensive saying they have been so busy and she has been working all day and didn't need to hear upset customers.. She said if we wanted to just leave. Again this was in front of other customers!. The lady next to us said she was rude and the staff should've apologised. We left. Do not go to this restaurant the staff are arrogant and rude. The food is average too.

We went for a family dinner recently and I felt it was nice without being special. They were due to…read morechange menus later in the week and there was no fish available, no pork belly available and no veal available. Given it is not an extensive menu, it pretty much left steak and pasta dishes. I had the steak and it was nice enough but I would not say it was nicer than a decent steak at another restaurant. I also had the aranchini balls and again nice but lacked seasoning. For dessert, between the two of us we had the chocolate slice and the donuts. To be honest, the donuts were no more special than a hot jam donut van and the chocolate slice was nice but again, did not blow my mind. Finally, the service was friendly but a bit slow-one entree came out about 10 mins after everyone else's. And then they forgot a coffee at the end. At the end of the day, it was nice but would definitely try a few other places before heading back anytime soon.

I have never eaten here but sitting here now at this perfect location overlooking the water,…read morewatching the sun start to dip, and indulging in a great glass of sangria. So that is a-ok in my book! Will come back for food. The people are nice, the decor is ok, but the sangria is delish!

So grateful they fit me in at the last minute Such kind,…read morecalm and friendly ambiance Highly recommended but don't be silly like me and book ahead to enjoy the full menu

Absolutely beautiful night. Everything was so good--my four person group had the veal, duck…read moremeatballs, gnocchi, carbonara, and tiramisu. Staff was super sweet. From the outside it isn't obvious, but this is definitely one of the best Italian places in Melbourne. There's a reason it has been around for 40 years!

Our family has eaten here many, many times over the years and we cannot fault them. The meals are…read moreconsistently good and provide good value for money. Plenty of options on the menu and ample street and off street parking is available.

We're able to accommodate a table for 2 without a booking during a busy Saturday night. The staff…read morewere friendly and attentive. The menu range was not huge but reasonable. The Moreton Bay Bug entree was tasty as was the lamb risotto. The food was good with average size servings. The price was ok too. I would dine there again sometime.

Back in the States, we have a preponderance of dining establishments that think they can slap on…read morecertain key words such as "fusion" or "bistro" to their name and then jack up the prices 50% and cut down the serving size 50%. Most of these places don't last very long (unless they can supplement their meager dining offerings with something like a lounge or nightlife area). Bistro Bakini seems to fall hard into this category of restaurant. I get it - Australia (and Melbourne) is a very expensive place to eat / live. That does not justify a $25ish small plate of bland risotto that I could have gone to A&P (that's Safeway for you Victorians) for and bought pre-made. I will give them this - their decor is nice and their manager was very personable. Have a drink or a coffee here and skip the food.

MY FIRST 5 STAR EXPERIENCE!…read more This place is truly amazing. I first happened upon this place a few months ago when the coffee shop that I usually go to was just a bit too packed for my liking. Bakini is located at the bottom of an apartment/hotel complex and is decked out in a very modern design. The music they play here is a mixture of chilled out jazzy songs and Spanish flamenco (think Gipsy Kings or Santos Bonacci [those guys that play the classical Spanish guitar on Bourke St outside of Myer]) which makes it feel very cool. The staff here are genuinely friendly and helpful. Over the past few months, I've gotten to know Andre, Renee and Stavros (although the 1st 2 have recently left) and I'd have to say outside of Pearl Restaurant in Richmond it's the best service I've ever received (note to self: write up of Pearl coming soon). When you sit down for a coffee, you get CHILLED water in a nice glass and a few biscuits. Everything about this place oozes class, and it's my favourite place to take clients for lunch where they have a pretty nice tapas menu (particularly the fried calamari that comes with this amazing dip) as it always leaves a terrific impression.

Great Italian fare, enjoyed in sophisticated yet casual surrounds. The pasta dishes are frequently…read moreupdated according to seasonal and are cooked to perfection. Good wine, food and service are staples at this long standing and truly Italian North Melbourne local. Can't wait to return soon.

Put simply, Sosta manages to do what many Melbournians *claim* of their favourite haunt but we all…read moreknow to really be a bit of a fib. Sosta, is actually a secret. Of course, on a Friday night despite taking reservations they were turning people away as the restaurant was fully booked. So clearly it's not a secret to everyone... Anyway, Sosta provides North Melbourne and that general neck of the woods with an alternative to the usual fare. It's not absolute fine dining, but it's also several grades better than the pub and other burger joints. Offering super tasty Italian cuisine with many a gluten-free and vegetarian option, you're looking at a teens price point for entrees, a late twenties to early thirties price for mains and sub $20 for dessert. My recommendations? Make sure you book, make sure you listen carefully to the specials and make sure you examine the dessert menu closely. Hello vanilla cream filled donuts with liquid Lindt chocolate.

Just had an amazing meal! The staff made you feel like family. Lovely spit and you can tell there…read moreare many regulars. Was recommended by our good friend Manny and he was spot on. We had the house risotto that was divine a the salads were perfect. Would go back next time in Melbourne!

This place is without a doubt, my favourite restaurant in all of Melbourne. It is so unbelievably…read moregreat in every conceivable way. Firstly, stepping into the restaurant, the staff are warm, attentive and treat you like friends/family. Even on my first visit here, they were hospitable and friendly. They've got terrific memories, and know you by the time you make your second visit (and believe me, you will). They really take the time to go over the specials, and answer any questions you have regarding the menu. Secondly, the decor. Yes, it's a small restaurant, but it gives it a homely feel and it's cozy on wintery nights, and open on summer nights with the big sliding French doors. It can get noisy, but not overwhelmingly so. Parking is easy; there's usually a space right outside. But I'd never come here without making a reservation first, or you could be disappointed. Thirdly, the food. It is DELICIOUS. I've never, ever had a problem with the food. It comes as you order it (i.e.. if you make any amendments, they honour it and are very obliging. Everything comes as you'd imagine; hot and as if it were homemade. It's fresh and unique. The special board is always changing and there's plenty of variety. It may be a teeny bit pricey for some, but to me, it's worth every penny. I could go on and on about how much I love it here, but I think what you should do is try it for yourself and I'm sure you'll agree with me. It's simply outstanding!!!

This place was jumping on a Saturday night, the host was kind and put us on the waitlist and we…read morecame back to our table in like 25 minutes, our server made excellent recommendations as well, strawberry cocktail if you like sweet and pasta. The food was superb, some of the best pasta I have had seriously! The restaurant sits in an alley and we had a quaint table outside, walking and car traffic, if you're in Melbourne say yes to this place for outstanding food and service!

The Vegan options here are amazing! I had a pizza and pasta and the change in ingredients did not…read morelack flavor at all.