DOC Espresso

Yesterday I visited this charming Italian eatery on Lygon Street, bustling with life on Wednesdays. It's a cozy roadside restaurant. Authentic and homey, it exudes a warm atmosphere. The food is not just genuine but also delicious. Having been to Italy twice, I have a fondness for Italian cuisine. Gnocchi in particular steals my heart – made from a blend of flour and potato powder, cooked to perfection, drizzled with olive oil, and sprinkled with parmesan. Soft, chewy, and not at all heavy. I couldn't resist trying the "Gnocchi Alla Bolognese" – the meat sauce is flavorful, and the gnocchi is irresistibly soft and chewy. The "Spaghetti Al Pomodoro" surprises with its delectable twist on a classic tomato pasta. The sauce is fresh, and the spaghetti, slightly firm, follows an authentic Italian preparation. Today's special, "Mafaldine Alle Vongole Mafaldine," offers a delightful texture reminiscent of a stylish skirt hem. With sundried tomatoes, it brilliantly highlights the freshness of pipis. The "Torta Del Giorno – Cake of the Day" happens to be my favorite chocolate cake. Not overly sweet, with a soft texture, it includes nutty surprises. With over 10 more pasta options to explore, I look forward to returning for another delightful experience.

I recently visited Doc Expreso and found the atmosphere to be exceptional, earning a solid 5 out of 5. The ambiance was inviting and conducive to a pleasant dining experience. However, when it came to the food, while the pasta dishes I tried were decent, they didn't quite reach the mark, earning a 3 out of 5. Despite this, the pasta was cooked to perfection, striking a balance between sauciness and dryness. Overall, I would rate my experience at Doc Expreso a 6 out of 10. The highlight was definitely the atmosphere, complemented by impeccable service.

I think there’s potential with the good atmosphere and friendly staff, but the food wasn’t fantastic. We ordered a platter to start along with a spaghetti and a ‘pasta of the day’. The first two were dry, and the ‘pasta of the day’ was too oily. The taste itself was fine and the items on platter were really interesting. I’ve personally had better Italian food elsewhere on Lygon St.

They are famous for their authentic Italian dining experience, offering an extensive menu of delectable dishes prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients. they have inviting atmosphere and welcoming environment to enjoy traditional Italian flavors. It is a good destination for those seeking genuine Italian cuisine and a delightful coffee selection. Staffs were kind. Meanwhile, their menu is a bit pricy. LASAGNA 5/5 PAPPARDELLE 4.5/5 RUCOLA SALAD 4/5 Almond cappuccino 4/5 Skinny flat white 4/5

Our choice for an early lunch yesterday. The al fresco dining area was so inviting. There were three male waiters all attentive to customers' needs. After we ordered our waiter brought us complimentary bread saying it meals would be a while. I thought that was a nice touch. I ordered gnocchi with lamb. It was a huge serving and delicious. There was no issue with taking a doggy bag. My husband has the fettuccini with prawns. He loved the flavour of the sauce and there were plenty of large prawns. His only criticism was that the pasta was not cooked enough. Yes, he understands al dente. This was TOO al dente. I'd like to go back some time.

This place was very busy with customers compared to other restaurants along Lygon St, so I decided to grab a quick bite. Fettucine prawns dish flavour was delicious - big fresh prawns, but the pasta was overly al dente to the point that I did not enjoy the dish itself. Meatballs were tasty and generous sized but needed to be accompanied by bread or some carb, not served by itself. Good spot for people watching. Servers were friendly and attentive.

Great tasty food! The spaghetti al pomodoro sauce is spot on, and the lasagna was awesome. The half size option for the lasagna was the perfect size. The outdoor seating was comfortable, and particularly nice on a warm sunny evening. Staff were nice and friendly. We look forward to our next visit!

Decent place with OK service. While the wait staff are friendly, it's sometimes hard to get their attention to order food. Speaking of, the food is... fine? Not outstanding by any measure but there are a few better pasta restaurants around in Melbourne including tipo. So in conclusion, not a bad place to eat, but why would I eat here instead of the other places?

There are many excellent cafes in Carlton that make customers feel welcome and appreciated,, and give real value for money DOC Espresso is NOT one of them. Yesterday the meal was extremely unappetising; bland, chewy, dry rice, gritty salad leaves, all swimming in oil. Each meal was assembled with a view to making it look good in an Instagram photo (hence lots of oil and colour) but absolutely no flavour. Sorry but that is the antithesis of Italian cuisine. You need flavour and properly cooked ingredients. It's not for social media shots. People have to eat it!

What a fantastic cafe. It's busy because it's so good. We sat on on the footpath to enjoy the sunshine and because inside looked a bit hectic. Amongst us we had the caprese salad, spaghetti pomodoro, parpadelle with porcini and truffle oil and the meat/cheese/etc board. It was all exceptional. Also enjoyed Italian cider, beer and coffee. What else can I say? (Yum)

Simple mozz and parma ham was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. The quality of their meats and cheeses is top notch. The employees were really nice and brought me some ice water while I was eating.

Went to DOC by accident. Was recommended by a local. Never dissapoint the recommendation of a local. Maximiliano was our waiter, not only adorable but knowledgeable in his wines. A must visit. Ciao Bello. PS. Pics are for view if you like pasta.

Really enjoyed the house made pasta, the gorgeous wine selection and the kinder surprise at the end of our meal! Our waiter was very good and the food was delicious. Plenty of vegetarian options, not many vegan.

Poor service. Customers are soooo much trouble. Food was very average. That's not too bad if it's at an average price but $23 for a pasta meal is a bit much to pay for something that didn't even taste adequate.

Food wise, DOC Espresso is a miss. Ambience and location is nice- there is even an outside patio. I ordered the mushroom and truffle pasta, and it was not flavorful or good at all- it was so bad I had to ask for extra cheese to mask the blandness of the dish. There are other restaurants on the 'Little Italy' street that I'm sure you will fare better at than DOC Espresso.

An authentic Itialian experience! Pasta was on point and customer service was on point. Great place to people watch, catch up with friends or bring a date to.

I love carbs... carbs carbs carbs, carbs in my belleh. Carbs don't love me. So, if I'm going to have carbs, I'm going to get them here. Mainly based off their pizza, I tried D.O.C Espresso to see what they can dish up from the pasta side. I had a very soft spot for Lasange (call me Garfield). So I spotted this the first time I came here and haven't actually tried anything else on the menu. Soft, beautiful sheets of pasta with a lovely light sauce and a good generous hit of cheese. HEAVEN. My only comment, is it needs another herb or two just to give it an extra lift, but I'm being picky. Super quick service and a lovely range of Italian beers on offer, it makes for a perfect stop off before a movie or IMAX (in my case!) Two carby thumbs up from me.

Our pasta dishes were delicious. You get a nice taste of Italian culture where you are expected to practise your Italian or at least try to pronounce the dishes correctly. The menu is a little limited and we would have loved to have seen some risotto dishes on offer. Staff were great and very helpful. Would definitely go back.

Great ambiance and environment. We were excited to go because a local recommended it. However, after waiting 30+ minutes for our food, we were majorly disappointed. It was overpriced for such bland food. Would not recommend. Beautiful restaurant and decent service but not enough.

Made to feel like a potential flight risk as I was asked to make payment before I could enjoy my sit-in coffee. While this might seem logical, all other cafe's I have visited in Melbourne have made me feel welcome and asked me to square up my bill at the end instead of having to make multiple payments throughout my stay. I work out of cafe's a lot so usually spend a few hours there and will generally order 3-4 coffees during my stay. Will definitely be enjoying coffee elsewhere next time I'm in Carlton.

So many boring, tired Italian places on Lygon St but this is not one of them!!! The menu is always interesting with an uncommon ingredient or two. The pasta is properly al dente and served with very fresh crusty bread. The beer menu is full of unique treats!

Awesome place to dine super friendly and excellent service . Oh the food was very good

Quick, simple fare served by gregarious staff chattering away in their native tongue, lending itself to a welcoming and rustic ambience - ideal for a Sunday morning breakfast

The food was good. The prices are ok. The place is fully packed with diners. The service was a bit slow but it was worth waiting. Indoor and outdoor area available. The one star lower is for the slow service. We had to wait for over half an hour for our tiramisu order. Will I give it a go again? Probably yes, thanks to the chef.

If you want to be served by beautiful Italian men with European accents, enjoy minimalistic Italian food and sit and watch the crowd wander past, you need to come to DOC. Recommend it's followed by cake from Brunetti.

Had an awful experience this (Sunday) morning. Called in for some breakfast. Sat down expectantly. Somehow I seemed to have become totally invisible to the staff. After a long wait (they continually walked past but were determined never to make eye contact) I walked out. Never again!!!!

Terrible service. Overpriced. Average pasta. Waited over an hour for a plate of very average pasta. This place is all show. Will never dine here again.