Cucinetta Melb South Yarra - Italian Restaurant Est. 2013

A truly small but beautiful Italian restaurant with only a handful of tables, but incredible quality. The cheese wheel pasta was the highlight — perfectly cooked, not soft at all, with every strand coated in rich cheese and sauce without being salty or heavy. The Capesante (scallops) were outstanding: large, beautifully seared, and extremely fresh. The sweetness of the European turnip purée paired perfectly with the scallops, and the green sauce added a refreshing balance. Desserts were solid too — the tiramisu wasn’t overly sweet and made for a comfortable finish. Lovely atmosphere, friendly service, and the surrounding area is great for a short walk and photos after the meal. Definitely one of the best pasta experiences I’ve had in Melbourne so far. Highly recommend booking ahead, as the restaurant is very small.

Had a great dinner at Cucinet. We ordered the Wagyu carpaccio, lobster linguine (Linguine all’Aragosta), Mediterranean-style fish, porcini risotto, scallops and finished with a classic tiramisu — everything was well executed. The lobster pasta was a highlight: generous lobster, perfectly cooked linguine and a balanced, fresh sauce. The porcini risotto was rich and aromatic, and the fish dish was light and very Mediterranean in style. Scallops were fresh and nicely cooked, and the tiramisu was a solid, classic finish. Authentic Italian flavours, good portion sizes, and a comfortable atmosphere. A big plus is that they also have a Chinese menu, which makes ordering much easier for Chinese speakers. Would definitely come back, especially for the lobster pasta.

Great Italian spot in South Yarra with a lovely, cosy atmosphere. We ordered the lobster linguine, marinara linguine, porcini risotto and the caprese salad — everything was fresh and beautifully balanced. The lobster pasta was definitely the highlight, rich but not heavy. They also have an impressive wine list and the service was warm and attentive. A great place for a relaxed dinner or date night. Would happily come back.

We stumbled upon Cucinetta without realising it’s actually the smallest Italian restaurant in Melbourne — only 29m²! So glad we came without the kids this time! The 29 cheese gnocchi was incredible — light, fluffy, and packed with cheesy goodness. The lobster linguine was nice too, though the tomato sugo was a bit strong for my taste. We also tried the much-talked-about Wagyu Carpaccio — super tender and full of flavour! But heads up, it’s quite a big plate for two, best to share it with a group of four. We skipped dessert (too full) but I’m already eyeing their porcini risotto with truffle paste and the lunch specials for next time! 2nd visit: had the lunch menu and it was incredibly good value! The chef kindly split everything in two for us and we thoroughly enjoyed the arancini & calamari entrees, for the mains we had the Ragu & truffle risotto. The cannoli was the highlight for us. The tiramisu was a bit too dense but it was a good one nevertheless.

One of my top 3 Italian restaurants in Melbourne! Such a cozy, homey place, perfect for a date or dinner with friends. The specials of the day, gnocchi and porterhouse steak, were both amazing. The beef was super tender and juicy, and the tiramisu totally exceeded our expectations - so fresh and delicious! Definitely coming back again.

They say they are the smallest italian but also the cutest and really delicious. The menu is not large but it has veggie options for everyone too, it is all about pasta and traditional italian food. We wanted to try the chicken, as we often see this dish in many italian restaurants and it didn’t disappoint, the chicken was covered with cheese and surrounded with an epic sauce you couldn’t stop eating. We paired it with risotto with the nicest touch of truffle, that together with the parmesan made a creamy risotto and not too strong. Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying the tiramisu, very well balanced with all flavours mixed to perfection. Staff was very nice and helpful. It’s a recommendation if you are in South Yarra but remember your booking!

Nice cosy place, smallest Italian restaurant in Melbourne for sure! Service was great as well as the waitress split our pasta into 2 when she knew we were sharing! Definitely will come back

I liked the pasta and really appreciative the owner made a special effort to process my order. So beware! This place is often booked out. Having said that I think I have eaten better calamari in Melbourne. So calamari is definitely not their specialty.

Brilliant little place. And I mean little, it seats maybe 16 inside. Beautifully decorated. Food was top notch!! I think it is to do with the ingredients. Small menu too which meant the attention to those dishes need to be spot on and it was for the 5 dishes we had! Try it and won't regret it!!

They say good things come in small packages, and Cucinetta is a prime example. This place is a little hole in the wall, but the food is amazing- the best Italian I have had in Melbourne. It was recommended to me by a South Yarra local and I cannot be more grateful- thanks Wilba!! The menu is also small, but all the options all sounded so delicious. We ordered the roast beef (a standout meal) and also the gnocchi. The waiter was super friendly and suggested we order the broccolini as a side- it is a must try!!! I can't wait to go back and sit there enjoying a delicious meal watching the winter rain and world go by outside. Call ahead to make sure you get a table.

We got a reservation how've when we arrived they table was not ready and they told us too wait at least for another 30 minutes without offered a place at the bar or so Theodore we just left

Best meal outside of Italy I've ever had...menu changes daily. This is the spot. Had caprese salad to start...buffalo Mozz was unreal best balsamic glaze I've ever had, maim was tagliatelle and porcini mushrooms delicate and decadent. Finished with pana cotta made with a hint of sambuca...just enough. Very small must make reservations. I love this place and will be back. What are you waiting for????

This tiny place is a gem. The menu is fairly limited (and I think changes regularly - it's posted on a chalk board) but it was still hard to decide what to order (it all sounded so good). We ordered two pasta dishes (one with a meat sauce and one vegetarian) and a salad. Everything was fabulous. The pasta was made in house and perfectly cooked. The sauces were very flavorful. The staff was friendly, professional, and very helpful.