Caffe e Cucina — Restaurant in Melbourne

To find such a delightful restaurant amidst a pandemic was a real gift. It is quietly unassuming from the outside, and based on experience, it is places like this that end up serving the best food and display the most attention to their diners. I found this to be true of Caffe e Cucina.

Sandwiched between Como and the Jam Factory on Chapel Street, it is a busy area, and parking can be located nearby in many of the long term parking spots. They have limited outdoor seating and well-spaced indoor seating on two levels.

With restrictions in place, dining sessions currently run for 90minutes, and bookings are essential from noon onwards—confirmation of reservations completed by the enchanting Katy is needed to keep things running smoothly.

On arrival, you will be warmly greeted and seated by Andreo, front of house and sommelier or one of the charming waiters. Upon seating, first, come drinks; in my case, I ordered sparkling water and a glass of Col Vetoraz Prosecco, which was accompanied by olives and crunchy crostini.

Having seen the Tartofu Nero Pasta on their Instagram page, I was determined to have this delicacy. It is homemade tagliolini, with black truffle slices from Tasmania and covered in a 24month aged Parmigiano Reggiano butter sauce. If heaven came on a plate, it would be this dish. So buttery and creamy, yet so light. Every mouthful bathing in truffle and al dente pasta. YUM!

To complete my meal, I had an expresso and Tiramisu Tradizionale, presented in a tall glass. It was as expected and finished in a minute of so - it was that good!

I could have sat here for much longer than the set time and probably would have eaten some of the public's favorite dishes: Calamari Sant'Andrea, Linguine di Mare Cartocceo or Vitello alla Milanese. These dishes have been on the menu since 1988, a testament to the quality of the dishes, made with love by their great chefs, like Chef Luca, their current chef.

Thank you for a delightful all-round experience - I will return, and I highly recommend you go and try their food too.

*V, VG and GF...

One of Melbourne’s BEST Seafood Linguines!

Caffé e Cucina has been a family favourite for decades - my parents have been coming here since they finished uni! As one of Melbourne’s most iconic Italian restaurants, little has changed since its opening in 1988, and that’s part of its charm.

If you visit, I highly recommend their signature Seafood Linguine ($59.90), the Tagliatelle with Lamb Ragu ($47), and their Calamari (available as a $35 entrée or $45 main).

The seafood linguine is exceptional, baked in parchment paper to lock in all the flavour. The sauce is perfectly balanced - not too rich, allowing the freshness of the seafood to shine.

The calamari is another standout: light, crisp, and perfectly battered.

The ambiance is equally inviting. The dimly lit interior, adorned with retro Italian prints, creates a warm and intimate setting. The alfresco dining area offers a lovely spot to soak up the South Yarra vibe, while the upstairs Romeo and Juliet balcony is perfect for a romantic date night. Inside, the restaurant bustles with energy, thanks to its attentive and charismatic waitstaff.

That said, the prices are quite high and are definitely a bit steep, but the consistent quality and care in their food over the years make it worthwhile.

For classic Italian fare with a timeless atmosphere, Caffé e Cucina remains a...

Unacceptable Service on a Special Occasion

I recently visited to celebrate my mum’s birthday, expecting a delightful experience, but it turned into a deeply frustrating and upsetting event.

I had brought a cake and flowers specifically for my mum, which I gave to the waiter upon arrival. However, midway through our lunch, I was horrified to see a stranger holding the flowers I had carefully chosen for her.

When I brought this to the waiter’s attention, instead of addressing the issue, they dismissively said, “What am I supposed to do about it?” To make matters worse, I was left to chase down the random person myself to retrieve the flowers. This level of negligence and complete lack of care for a customer’s personal belongings is unacceptable.

The flowers were an important part of my mum’s celebration, and this experience ruined the special moment I had planned for her. For a restaurant that presumably values hospitality, this was an appalling display of carelessness and indifference.

While the food and ambiance might have been fine, this oversight overshadowed the entire experience. I hope the restaurant takes better care of customers’ personal belongings in the future, especially for special occasions. Unfortunately, this incident left a sour note on what should have been a joyful...