Carboni's Italian Kitchen — Restaurant in Victoria

Venue is good with plenty of parking, which can sometimes be an issue in Ballarat. The staff friendly and helpful.

The food was delicious, exceptionally good in taste, the only negative being the quantity was less than I expected from an Italian restaurant.

The arancini balls for entree were delicious.

My partners spaghetti was moderately sized and being a prawn dish had only four small prawns in its entirety (I've had more prawns sit atop schnitzels in other places, and they aren't even the star of the show!).

I had the gnocchi, which was absolutely delicious, except the "house made pork and fennel sausage" wasn't sliced or even cubed sausage like the wording implied and instead was like the sausage mince was used in the cooking so was essentially just part of the sauce, the whole dish was served on a flat plate and there just wasn't enough of it to fill me up, it was crazy deliciousness but I honestly was craving more of it, come on this is Italian here, we want that served in big bowls!!

The tiramisu dessert served in small mason jars was nice, except my partners had little flavour to it while mine tasted like it had three shots of the strongest coffee in its center, I tried both and there was a huge difference in taste between them, still I guess they're made individually and I wouldn't base my reviews off the dessert.

I would have given Carboni's a solid five stars if it wasn't for the meagre amount of prawns in my partners dish and the tiny serving of gnocchi I received that didn't have any conceivable home made sausage in it (if you buy a dish that says it has scallops in it you wouldn't expect them to come blitzed into the sauce and unseen!? as was this pork and fennel...

My family and I came here for Father's day yesterday. I was extremely impressed by every aspect of this place. First of all it was extremely busy yet the staff were still so warm and welcoming. Our waitress was so helpful and had good banter with us. Even some other staff kept coming to us and asking if we needed anything, which was really impressive and shows that the staff care. We ordered an antipasti platter to begin with which was reccomended for two people to share, however there was three of us and we could barely finish it, which is always a great sign to me because it shows you're getting value for your money. It was delicious and very well presented. The same goes for the mains we ordered, absolutely flavourful and looked appetising too. It was a very classy restaraunt and well priced in my opinion. I loved all the Italian interior too because it really felt like we were in Italy. There is something to be said about the atmosphere of a place, if I am eating Italian food I want to be transported to Italy and that's exactly what I got at Carboni's. We ended up leaving a tip because of how much we loved it here and one of the staff actually thanked us for the tip, which was really nice that they actually appreciated it rather than just expecting to get one. Everyone was so nice here and really made our experience even better than it already was. They even gifted my Dad with a free keychain for Father's Day which was really lovely, and I must say I've never been to any other place that does this which made it all the more special. I could not speak more highly of this place, and you bet I'll be back next time I'm in Ballarat. Thank you for a wonderful...

Our first visit to Carboni's was a lucky find after sightseeing at Sovereign Hill, but the second time, we came here specifically for the food and made a reservation in advance. This is absolutely a place with great flavors, generous portions, and a relaxed atmosphere—perfect for family gatherings.

Margherita Pizza: Truly unforgettable and a flavor we crave even after returning to Melbourne. The thin crust is topped with tangy tomato paste, while the thick, fluffy crust edges are delightfully soft. The fresh torn buffalo cheese adds a rich creaminess. Surprisingly, this meatless dish turned out to be everyone’s favorite!

Crudo Pizza: Also delicious, with a generous serving of prosciutto. The cherry tomatoes and rocket add freshness, but honestly, the Margherita was so good that the extra ingredients on the Crudo didn’t feel like much of an upgrade.

Linguine Nere alla Marinara: This squid ink pasta was gone in no time as everyone shared it! The pasta itself had a subtle briny flavor that complemented the dish without overpowering it. The tomato-based sauce and fresh seafood, including mussels and clams, combined beautifully. The broth absorbed the unique saltiness of the shellfish, making it incredibly flavorful.

Casarecce al Ragu: This was my first time trying Casarecce pasta, and it was a delightful discovery. The pasta had a chewy texture and clung to the rich sauce perfectly. The lamb shoulder and beef brisket were braised to tender perfection.

Calamari Fritti: The crispy calamari rings were a great appetizer and incredibly moreish.

Next time, I’ll be sure to save room...