Il Cantuccio

Very old fashioned Italian, gloomy inside. Pretty poor Caesar salad with stale croutons. Pasta OK but all a bit bland. My mistake coming in with a tourist. If you love fresh tasty food you can do much better in Melbourne.

After visiting Rome last month with relatives that love Italy and have been on several extended trips there was a lot of pressure when they told me to pick a place in Carlton to share a meal. What restaurant would be up to snuff and relatively affordable?
After a bit of research I found Il Cantuccio and it is described as not so lovely on the outside but a delight inside and I found that to be true. Compared to other restaurants on Lygon the outward appearance is a bit drab, and the inside is mainly brick with photos lining the walls but the meal more than made up for that.
It was full with big tables and lots of reservations when we came Friday night but we had a reservation for four and arrived right on time. The staff was friendly and attentive but not pushy or intrusive. We ordered a bottle of prosecco, two bottles of a lovely Shiraz with bruschetta, white bait, and an antipasto platter. Those along with the complimentary bread service was enough to fill you up. I had chicken with scallops in a mushroom sauce and the others ordered another chicken dish and veal, which they all enjoyed.
At the end of the night our party was thoroughly satisfied and very happy with the service. I will definitely go back!

I do not doubt for a second that this is the best Italian food on Brunswick Street. I wholeheartedly appreciate the La Famiglia ambiance, the freshly made pasta, the white tablecloths, the BYO policy, and of course, the large portions, I really do. Perhaps what I appreciate the most, more so than even the food, is the great service. After a hiccup with our reservation, (being that although it was confirmed, it was somehow lost on the list) we were all left a bit annoyed since we were celebrating my friend’s big 30. YEAHYUH! However, the Maitre d’ and owner of the restaurant really went out of their way to apologize, immediately seating us somewhere quiet and bringing us a birthday desert to share, sparkler and all. We all enjoyed our pasta dishes, although next time, I probably would not go for the trio sampler for 2 — it all comes on one plate, which i wasn’t a huge fan of. Aside from those two things, I totally recommend you should come here, be it a special occasion or not.

Hideous from the outside, but great, fresh, crunchy garlic bread, tasty pollo, cream and mushie pasta and super chilled Peroni’s. No complaints from anyone around the table and would definitely recommend for a fairly priced, good-​tasting meal. The staff are very friendly too!

It wouldn’t be a weekend away in Melbourne without some good home style cooked Italian like Nonna used to make. Sadly my anglo heritage never gave me a Nonna, so I have to make do with other peoples and restaurants.
The food was delicious and very filling. No one leaves hungry. We ordered the trio of entrée size pastas as a main to share for two and it was plenty of food.

Amazing!
Beautiful authentic Italian food with amazingly friendly service!
We’ll defiantly be returning! :-)

First dates can be tricky. You can often run out of things to talk about, one person always likes the other more and then what do you do when the cheque comes?
I was taken on a first date to Il Cantuccio and it was incredible. It was a very brave choice by the gentleman concerned considering this venue is quite intimate and romantic — perhaps more an Anniversary destination than a first date.
The wine list is extensive and the staff have that warm, family feel and will help you match your wine to your meal and assist with any other queries.
The food is traditional Italian but not the greasy, cheesy kind you can so often find in other restaurants on the Lygon street strip. This food is filling, classic and made with love (yes, with love.)
This is a great destination when you are trying to romance your partner — it worked on me!