Top 5 Italian in Melbourne

This post is dedicated to my friend Roni Romano who helped me put together my Top 5 Italian list. We voted, we researched, we collated and finally came up with this list. We selected the restaurants based on affordability, authenticity, originality & of course, service. Ciao bella, belissimo!

TOP 5 ITALIAN IN MELBOURNE

1. I Carusi
231 Barkly Street, St.Kilda - (03) 9593 6033
46A Holmes St, Brunswick East - (03) 9386 5522

When Roni first told me about I Carusi and how good the pizzas were, I certainly believed him but little did I know how impressed I'd be by the experience. Open daily from 6pm, this cosy restaurant serves up some of the best pizzas in Melbourne. Thin crust pizzas with fresh Italian ingredients lovingly assembled by the Italian chefs and served up by an attentive friendly waitress. The decor as described by Roni is classic french provincial, with cute french prints, wooden furniture against brick; not unlike perhaps the owners who happen to be surprise surprise, French! It was love at first bite! I had a classic margherita and was amazed by the fineness in its simplicity. The pizzas were a good size for one but I highly recommend you finish up with the 3 chocolate calzone. I thought I had died and gone to heaven as I devoured the melted dark, white & milk chocolate within the warm calzone dusted with icing & served with a side of ice cream.

2. Waiters
20 Meyers Pl, Melbourne, (03) 9650 1508

Mamma mia! The Waiters is indeed an institution. It has been in operation for years and years but continues to "keep it real" with its authentic Italian at reasonable prices. When we first got to the Waiters, we thought it reminded us of an Italian version of Supper Inn in Chinatown, walking up a rickety flight of stairs up to the restaurant and then being accidentally locked out. We had to knock and wait a good 10-15 min before someone realised there were people outside. Nonetheless, we thought the wait was worth the while when we got to sampling the Italian delicacies. The interior is basic and there's no menu but you can look out for specials & dishes on the board. Fresh pasta with authentic rustic Italian sauce, the penne matriciana was scrumptious and no doubt delighful. All around the table, we could hear a unanimous "mmmmm" indicating the typical enjoyment & reaction to each mouthful of the Italian fare. Fresh seafood - with the grilled sole fish & salmon steak, generous portions of chunky succulent lamb shanks in red wine jus served with potatoes & vegetables, are just some of the specials on the board. Go for a sweet way to end the meal with Tiramisu if you still have space for it. N.B. should you decide to book for dinner, you need to come in 6pm and be hurried out by 7pm to make way for the rush hour. Otherwise, walk in but expect a slight wait.

3. Pasta Classica
352 Smith Street Collingwood, (03) 9419 2366

We came here on Yvette's recommendation and I have to thank her for introducing us to this friendly family-run Italian restaurant. Do not expect a grand affair, Pasta Classica is a simple lunch or takeway venue, you come here strictly for the food, not the ambience. Selling both cooked & fresh pasta, the portions are generous so come here on an empty stomach. You don't have many choices or a menu to select dishes from but you'll be sure to be taken care of by the owners of the restaurant. Whipping up the pasta & serving them on a pan, this is typical home-style cooking at its best. A little trivia - just across the road lies their Nona's restaurant Mamma Vittoria so expect the same quality but at a fraction of the price.

4. Maria's Trattoria
122 Peel St North Melbourne, (03) 9329 9016

Charming Nona Maria serves up her fantastic array of traditional Italian cuisine with a smile & immaculate hair tied up in a tight bun. The service is quick with big-hearted portions to match. We each ordered an entree size pasta but struggled to finish. Choose from up to 19 pasta dishes. Plus more on the specials board. The seafood penne was fresh & light on the palate with luscious napoli sauce. The pollo al funghi was scrumptious without being overly greasy and heavy. The highlight of the night was the lemon tart, with its creamy texture, dusted with icing, accompanied by light cream & fresh sweet strawberries. All in, with garlic bread, pasta, glass of red & dessert, it came up to $25 per person. Certainly worth a visit!

5. Pellegrini's
66 Bourke St, Melbourne, (03) 9662 1885

Another institution in its own right, Pellegrini's never fails to provide quality affordable Italian. Order from over the counter and wait for your order to be called out, before picking it up from the counter. No doubt, its mostly self-serve here but this casual dining makes for a unique experience. Sit by the counter on the high stools or on the wooden benches within the cosy eatery. Classic Italian dishes await you including the spagetti bolognese, spagetti marinara, spagetti in napoli sauce, and so on, it's simple elegance is a crowd draw. Make sure you order the watermelon granita to wash down your palate with its fresh sweetness.