who doesn’t love Italian food?? 🇮🇹🦪

Here’s another food experience and recommendation in Melbourne for Italian food 🇦🇺🇮🇹. Located just in the heart of CBD area on Little Bourke Street, Osteria Ilaria left me still thinking of the food even after a month later and typing this makes me miss it even more !!

We were finding a date spot in Melbourne to celebrate our monthsary and we chanced upon this restaurant.

Here’s what we ordered:

(didn’t order too much since we had a late and heavy lunch)

🥖 complimentary brioche bread with butter

🦪 Sydney Rock Oysters ($6 ea)

This was so so delicious. Oysters were huge and plump and very fresh. I could literally taste the seawater in my mouth !!

🧀 Stracciatella, Romanesco, Wild Garlic & Pumpkin Seed ($23)

We had no idea what this dish was but the waitress recommended this and truly, no regrets!! She described it as “the centre of buratta”. The many components of this dish was fascinating and it was a burst of flavors in every mouth.

🦞 Tortellini Pasta, Lobster bisque & Prawns ($40)

this was on the special menu and we decided to go with this as the other options were:

- squid ink pasta with crab

- rabbit Ragu

- gnocchi with duck egg

well, we didn’t want to eat something common (squid ink pasta) and rabbit was completely not an option for us…

Anyways, the tortellini was stuffed with the lobster bisque and was very rich. The dish also came with prawns and it was super fresh.

🍹 We didn’t order any drinks as we were driving :(

But do order the drinks there cause they looked so colorful and pretty

If you’re planning to head down, do make a reservation as they are quite popular and packed. We were quite lucky to be able to get a table (bar seats). They still welcome walk-ins though ◡̈

A for sure must visit !!

Osteria Ilaria

📍367 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

🕥 12-10pm (closed on Sunday)