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!

I went to Rossini's because I've been before and it was good (not great, just good). The one thing…read moreI especially love about this place, is that they'll basically let you create your own pasta dish. They're accommodating for sure when it comes to alterations and substitutions. Anyhoo ... Though we'd made a reservation a couple of days ahead, we were still "shoved" into the back room, where there was so much noise (not their fault for all the loud kids running around and screaming, but the acoustics in here are really bad), and no atmosphere. The staff barely cracked a smile, and seemed as if they wished to be anywhere else but here. Having said that, after ordering, the food came out promptly, and as requested. I ordered the Caprese Salad, which was nice, but I've definitely tasted better elsewhere. It lacked the basil taste I've come to love. Presentation was great, and the mozzarella was good, but the overall flavour was far more bland than I'm used to. Price was reasonable for size of the portion. For my main, I ordered a gnocchi with salmon and avocado. I've ordered it before and was really craving it. It was horrible. Filled with things I didn't order (like onion and other greens), and lacking a decent sauce. It was more oil than cream sauce and it literally made me feel ill. We didn't stay for dessert, so we paid the overpriced bill, and were met at the counter with an apathetic staff member who looked like she'd just tasted my main dish and disliked it as much as I did. With so many other good Italian restaurants in Melbourne, I do not see the need to rush back here again. I prefer to go somewhere with a warmer atmosphere (and better parking, too).

The other yelpers are right, it's the same menu for the last 20 years. Zero innovation and nothing…read moresuperb. The back is family friendly (because it's loud as hell) and they have BYO so a good place to get loud and rowdy. Prices a little on the high side. Food is solid but nothing is amazing. I tried 6 different things and nothing blew my skirt up. Service, contrary to other reviews was excellent but we are regulars. Place is always busy.

Decent pizza, though their special (honey and pineapple) was too sweet. Somewhat lacklustre service…read more(wait staff avoided our eye, never asked how we were doing, didn't offer a second glass of wine when clearing the table, etc). Very crowded. All a bit disappointing given that pizza places are one of the few restaurants in Melbourne that try to shame you into giving a tip.

I wasn't planning on eating more Italian food in Melbourne but I walked into the fancy place across…read morethe street assuming they'd have pizza but it was all pastas. When we got the urge for pizza, +39 came into mind. There were no reservations available online for the last minute decision so we decided to try to walk-in. It was 515pm when we showed up and they told us they would need the table back by 630pm. Not a problem I said and I was right. We were out of there by 545pm. But we didn't feel rushed at all! The food just came out so fast, hot and delicious. The tables are set up nicely, crammed in without feeling too crowded. I love the specials wall and watching the people in the back cook the pizzas. Service was really good, I'm not sure if it's because they wanted the table back or if it's because they're just good. I'm going to go with the latter because I saw good service with other tables as well. This meal felt really authentic. I've never been to Italy but I've tried a lot of Italy-Italian food and this place ranks pretty high up there. I forgot how much a cocktail with amaretto and lime is sooooooo good. I forgot how hot salami might be better than pepperoni. I forgot that arugula salad with balsamic glaze goes so well with red sauce pizza. Pro tip? Order the lasagna croquettes and keep the sugo for your pizza crust and some of that fresh grated parm for your pizza.

My wife and I showed up for dinner at 7 pm on a Monday night and we were seated inside after a very…read moreshort wait. We probably could have sat outside after a few more minutes, but the interior is beautiful, stylish, and airy, so we were happy to experience that space. We ordered two mains: --Ricotta gnocchi, one of their specialties. It came out piping hot in a cast iron casserole dish, and was delicious, the gnocchi delicate and creamy, the tomato sauce with lots of basil, and plenty of melted parmesan. --Spaghettini Prawns, only average, the prawns were tender and a bit too salty, the tomato sauce sparse and underflavored, topped with lots of fresh dill (actually an interesting flavor variation) and basil. The ambience is urban, sleek, social, very fun date night restaurant.

This place was always busy when we walked by and the food looked incredible so we had to stop!…read more We got the Salumi Due pizza, which had light, crispy crust, and was a good size to split between two! The burata on top was delicious. Also tried the Tagliatelle Carbonara, which was phenomenal! Pasta was slightly al dente, creamy, and lots of pieces of pancetta. Would come back again just for that!! Drinks were ok -- G&T and a Limone Spritz. Nice, but nothing special. Service was a bit slow, but overall the atmosphere was nice and the food was good.

Food was top tier, the service was so good and the staff were friendly will go again!read more

Basilico is a good, reliable Italian restaurant. Very much child-friendly, this is the place to…read morecome with the family for a fuss-free meal. Offering a nice alternative to the more pricey establishments on Albert Park's ritzy Bridport Street, Basilico has become a fast favourite. Perfect for those days when you're feeling too lazy to cook but not quite lazy enough to call for takeaway. While the food isn't going to change your world, it sure is good. Think classic italiano fare, with wood fired pizzas and a wide range of pastas. All the favourites are there from spaghetti bolognese to the good old fashioned supreme pizza. However Basilico's extensive pizza list does come with a few quirks. Thin crusted and cooked to perfection, this place offers a whole lot more than the soggy Hawaiians. The Zia Diana is particularly great, with zucchini, eggplant, peppers, olives, artichokes, goats cheese and pesto. Basilico is the kind of local restaurant that you come to rely on, an easy Sunday night alternative that leaves you feeling stress-free.

When I took the first bite out of the world record food I was speechless. The service there was so…read morefriendly And the place made it felt like Italy. The texture of the restaurant was unbelievable. The ricotta made my mouth water. You should definitely go to this place for a birthday an outing or a date. It's just the perfect restaurant.

Wow loved this place. When I walked up I loved that they have both indoor and outdoor covered…read moreseating. The ambiance is really nice with an upscale feel. The host was very kinda and greeted me and they were very attentive throughout the night. 4 different staff members asked how I was doing and I'd needed anything, all very friendly. The food was delicious!! They have wide selection for food , starters, drinks etc , popular for their pastas and pizzas!! Definitely would come again !!!

The food is authentic Italian fare. The pizzas are very tasty and the mains are big serves. The…read morestaff are very friendly and professional. The house white is very quaffable too ! We'll be back !

Good place for a quick bite. The pizza's are nice, but alot depends on who's making them also. And…read morethe service is pretty good too.

We waited for this pizza place to open as we had just come from the Princess Theatre afternoon…read moresession and it had us out at 5pm. SPQR opens at 5:30pm but as we must have looked a little hungry we were let in early with a request that if we would like the window seat could we be out in 90 mins as the table had been booked. No Problem! Obviously, the waiter won our hearts for taking pity on us but he was also very attentive whilst setting up the place with the other staff. The seated area was in two levels. The upper level was near the bar and the lower level (lower than street level) was at the window. There was also another area as you walked in where you could have pizza by the slice and a drink and stand right next to the DJ. The pizzas were excellent. The dough was interesting as it was thin in the middle with a chewy crust. We did make pigs of ourselves and had three pizzas between two of us. They were just so nice.

Staying at Rydges and in search of gluten free pizza I found this pizzeria just around the corner…read more The first night I came in and ordered a gluten free pizza with pork (porchetta and italian sausage) and potato, it was really good. So good, that I came in the next night for a pepperoni and sausage. One of the best gluten free pizzas I have ever had. The staff love to chat it up with the customers. It has a super casual vibe. The pizzas are cooked pretty quickly, so if you on a time crunch it will be no problem!