Cicciolina — Restaurant in Melbourne

3s (Melbourne eateries with good solid tucker that I wouldn't mind eating fairly regularly. Food is competent)[63]: Allegro (CBD) Alma (Geelong) A Minor Place (Brunswick) Bar Idda (East Brunswick) Bekendales (Croydon) Bellarine Estate (Bellarine) Bistro Guillaume (Southbank) Bistro Thierry (Toorak) Boire (Collingwood)[RIP] Brunswick Flour Mill (Bunswick) Cafe Terroni (Yarraville) Carlton Wine Room (Carlton) Carsons (Yarraville) Chapelli's (South Yarra) Cheeky Monkey (Richmond) Chez Bob (Armadale) Chez Olivier (South Yarra) Chris's Beacon Point Restaurant (Apollo Bay) Cicciolina (St Kilda) Collins Kitchen (CBD) Cornershop (Yarraville) Di Palma's (East Kew) D.O.C. Mozzarella Bar (Carlton) Donnini's (Carlton) Dragon Boat (CBD)[RIP] Emerge (Geelong) Empire Cafe Gallery (Brunswick)[RIP] En Izakaya (Balaclava)[RIP] Enoteca Vino Bar (Carlton North) Feast Of Merit (Richmond)[RIP] Fiorelli (Hawthorn East) France-Soir (South Yarra) Grossi Florentino: The Restaurant (CBD) Ides (Collingwood) Izakaya Chuji (CBD) Kinya (Docklands)[RIP] Kofi Beans (Croydon) Laurent Boulangerie Patisserie (Toorak) Lau's Family Kitchen (St Kilda)[RIP] Lindt Chocolat Cafe (CBD)[RIP] Little Creatures Dining Hall (Fitzroy)[RIP] Miss Marple's Tearoom (Sassafras) Monsieur Truffe (East Brunswick) Mr. Wolf (St Kilda) Orange (Windsor)[RIP] Pumphouse Hotel (Fitzroy) Punch Lane (CBD) Reunion Cafe And Dining (Surrey Hills) Sapa Hills (Footscray) Secret Kitchen (Doncaster) Shujinko (CBD) Thanh Phong (Richmond)[RIP] The Carlisle Wine Bar (Balaclava)[RIP] The Green Refectory (Brunswick) The Hardware Societe (CBD) The Kent Hotel (Carlton North) The Perch At Lavers Hill (Lavers Hill) Tim Ho Wan (CBD) Truffles Patisserie (Balaclava) Vines Restaurant at Helen's Hill (Coldstream) Wing Loong (CBD)[RIP] Zelena Cafe Bar & Restaurant (Croydon) Zen (Hawthorn)

4s (Melbourne eateries with great food. Food is a strength[32]): APTE Cafe (Alphington)[RIP] Attica (Ripponlea) Bamboo House (CBD) Biagio's (Niddrie) Brae (Birregurra) Chin Chin's at Koto Moon (Carlton North) Choi's (Hawthorn) Cumulus Inc. (CBD) El Mirage (Brunswick) Estivo (Kew)[RIP] Ezard (CBD)[RIP] Flower Drum (CBD) I Carusi (East Brunswick) Igni (Geelong)[RIP] Jack Rabbit (Bellarine) Junior Tan Hawker Kitchen (Bayswater) Ladro (Prahran)[RIP] Le Petit Bistro (Kooyong) Locale at De Bortoli (Dixons Creek) Mule (Brunswick)[RIP] Papa Goose (CBD)[RIP] Paris Go Bistro (Carlton) Pioneer Kitchen @ The Grovedale (Grovedale) +39 Pizzeria (CBD) Ribs & Burgers (Hawthorn) Riche (Richmond) SUD Food And Wine (CBD) Tao's (Bulleen)[RIP] The European (CBD) The Grand Dining Room (Richmond)[RIP] Vue de Monde (CBD) Wall Two 80 (Balaclava)

5's (The Best Melbourne Eateries. Food is very much a strength)[5]: La Fantaisie (Richmond)[RIP] LeTAO (CBD) L'uccellino (Yarraville) Rockpool (Southbank) Tulip (Geelong)

Eatery of the Year 2011: Tao's (Bulleen) [RIP] Eatery of the Year 2016: Ladro (Prahran) [RIP] Eatery of the Year 2017: The European (CBD) Eatery of the Year 2022: Paris Go Bistro (Carlton) Eatery of the Year 2023:...

Hi, we have been coming to Cicciolina for about 30+ years. Have always loved the food but finally I need to call out some really bad features of this restaurant and bar.

On the evening of the 6th of September around 7pm, before Ed Kuepper at the National Theatre, my partner and I went to the back bar at the restaurant we sat down on a table that was free and a young lady with mid length dark hair approached our table. We asked if she had Jägermeister and immediately she became very impatient and seemed to flap her hands a few times and said no.

When we asked if she had anything similar that she could recommend, this seemed to upset her even more so we settled for something simple. Also my partner asked for a cup of warm water and this was clearly a no, no!

As she was walking away I reminded her about the water and she could have not responded more rudely and rolled her eyes. We were clearly bad customers to her.

We were both immediately unimpressed with her attitude, her demeanor, and her waitressing skills.

She walked straight over to the counter and sniggered to a colleague about us and it was audible from across the room.

I then heard the other woman with blonde hair say to her something like “yes, and they just walked in and sat down at a table without asking”.

I did not see any signs that said Please wait to be seated.

But regardless, the rudeness and attitude of the bar staff at the back of this restaurant is just terrible.

When i saw this unfold, we were both incensed and i walked to the barmaids and cancelled the order and told them their attitude was terrible.

I should have complained a year ago when I went there with my then partner who was of African descent and we had a clear racist response from a young barman one night.

I don't know what has happened to the management at the restaurant because as I have said I have always rated the restaurant and the restaurant staff very highly. But this was very, very poor and it needs to be called out and the place needs to change.

I took a large party there one night for my birthday in the rear room and it cost over one to two thousand dollars so I have been a good customer but seriously...

Before COVID hit last year, I had the intention of dining at the famous Cicciolina in Acland Street. Sadly no. BUT...Great things come to those who wait! After my first day of employment after two years, I treated myself to lunch here.

A stalwart of St Kilda since 1993, booking is recommended in these post-COVID times, but if you are lucky, like me, walk-in seats might be available. Bookings can be made via their website and are the preferred method.

There is a lovely picket-fenced area outside or the moody, intimate indoor tables or private back area that seats 10-20 people to choose from.

Their menu offers modern and traditional Italian fare, using seasonal produce with V/GF options available. The servings are generous, tasty and prepared/cooked with passion and care. The prices are medium-high, but you get what you pay for - no issues here. They have a superb, renowned wine list, and the bar allows for the consumption of many cocktails and bar food.

Recommendations: [Only had entrees today - gives me an excuse to return for the mains and desserts - which looked amazing too!]

Cicc bread and butter (serves 2) $5 - still warm and crunchy, but oh so soft inside!

Tuna carpaccio, watercress, lime, baby capers, chargrilled sourdough $28.50 - melt in your mouth tuna. Be sure to eat a bit of everything together, and the pairing of these items will make sense!

Suggested accompaniment: Da Luca Prosecco DOC NV Veneto Italy $14 a glass - smooth, not acidic - divine [I had two glasses, but would have preferred a bottle].

Fritto misto – soft shell crab, calamari, zucchini, orange, green chilli, aioli (GF) - this was a 'special'. A large serve, best shared. An interesting selection of flavour profiles, which will delight your tastebuds.

These are hard-working restaurateurs, chefs and wait staff. There is limited time for chit-chat as they are so busy, whether it be their lunch or dinner sittings. They are also sincere and caring individuals who kept my computer glasses safe and sound after leaving them behind. Bless, and thank you.

I look forward to visiting again to complete my menu...