Con Noi Italian Trattoria — Restaurant in Melbourne

This would be perfectly fine for lunch, however for an evening dining experience, I would expect much much more, considering the prices it's charging. You can eat at a very nice hatted establishment, or at any well known place for the same price and have a much better dining experience. The restaurant is shabby. It needs to update the decor, furniture, tableware and glassware. The bright lighting didn't help. It's not cute or rustic, just tired. Paper serviettes are a no go if you are asking these prices. The staff need to be less needy and not continue to come to the table to ask if everything is OK. The toilets are shabby (yes this matters) especially if you have to walk through the middle of the kitchen to get to them. (This is not a good look). The pasta I found to be well made, but fussy. Everything is overworked, just that little bit too much. It's just that - perfectly fine... nothing extraordinary but on the upper end of pricing. Irritatingly we were hurried up to order dessert and then literally hustled out of the restaurant by 8.45pm... despite no-one else being in there. It's local for us, but for what it's charging, I would expect more so we probably won't go back. If Con Noi wants to be a local go-to, then drop your evening prices to match the decor or up the look and give your local a more inviting...

AVOID THIS PLACE

Our visit to this restaurant on a Friday night left us deeply disappointed. Despite having made a reservation, we were seated at the back of the restaurant after being directed through the kitchen and past the restroom. We couldn't help but notice that the customers in our section were predominantly Chinese, while the front seemed reserved for white patrons. This division raised concerns about racial bias, which is completely unacceptable.

As for the food, we ordered two mains - Squid ink crab spaghetti ($44.50) and Agnello ($44.50) - and one entrée - Polpette ($15.50). However, we felt completely ripped off. The crab and meatballs were not fresh, and the quality did not justify the prices. We came home and felt like we were going to have diarrhea.

We initially chose this restaurant based on its 4.7-star Google Review rating, but now we're left questioning the accuracy of those reviews. The subsequent receipt of a message - 'Please write a review, get 10% discount for your next vist' only serves to reinforce our skepticism.

We're curious to see how the owner will respond, especially after observing their very impolite responses to other...

We recently stopped in for lunch at a Italian spot, and the experience was a mix of highs and lows.

Starting with the carbonara, the flavor was rich and satisfying — creamy and well-seasoned.

The seafood linguine pasta, unfortunately, was the biggest letdown. The seafood seemed to come straight from a packet, and the prawns were tiny — barely larger than a 10-cent coin. While the taste wasn’t unpleasant, it didn’t deliver the freshness or vibrancy you'd hope for in a seafood dish.

On a better note, the chicken parmigiana was well-executed, with a tasty, crisp coating and a good balance of sauce and cheese. Definitely one of the more enjoyable dishes. The calamari, however, was on the dry side and could have used a lighter hand in the fryer or a fresher batch. The fish and chips was crispy and wasn't over battered or over cooked which was nice.

Service was pleasant throughout, with friendly staff and a comfortable dining atmosphere.

Overall, it was a lunch of contrasts — some dishes delivered on taste, while others fell short on execution and quality. It’s a place that shows promise, but...