I love this place, it’s one of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne because it’s easy – you can go there for a full meal or just desert and know that you will get consistently good food and service. This restaurant is very aptly named “cafe italia” – the atmosphere is just beautiful, it really does feel like you are in a nice little cafe in Italy. Tucked away in a laneway off Lygon St, walking into cafe italia feels like you are walking into someone’s private courtyard. The garden style setting is perfect for a nice leisurely lunch in summer or cosy dinner by the fireplace in winter.

The menu is made up of meat / chicken / fish dishes (many of which are gluten free), pizzas (not gluten free), pastas (not gluten free) and risottos (some gluten free). For desert there is a selection of cakes, usually there is at least one gluten free option, or you can just go for a nice coffee or hot chocolate!

For a full menu and more details you can visit their website, www.cafeitalia.com.au

[rating:4.5]

55-56 University St, Carlton

[mappress]

This place started off really well. It has a nice set of couches at the front, an open area looking out onto Elgin St, perfect for a drink before dinner. The menu is a good mix between pizza / pasta and meat / salad dishes and offers gluten free pizza, pasta and garlic bread. However it all went downhill as soon as the food came out – or in my case, didn’t come out. We were a table of 6 people and my meal didn’t arrive until about 10 minutes after everyone else had finished their meals. When it did arrive the meat was flavourless and really tough and the salad looked like it had been prepared the day before. My friend had gluten free pasta that tasted like it had been frozen and then de-frosted.

It looked like there were a lot of regulars there who obviously enjoy eating there – I’m not sure if it was just a bad night for our table but I won’t be going back again!

[rating:0.5]

[mappress]