Top 5 Lygon Street Carlton Italian Restaurants

Photo: The Age Epicure

Lygon Street in Carlton central is notorious for its robust and inviting italian restaurants - almost to a fault!

With so many italianna restaurants on the same strip, it is often impossible to decide where to go - and where the good vs the bad smells are coming from. I have a top-five list of italian restaurants which i recommend you try atleast once. Then you know what sort of italian-food mood your in next time you've planned a dinner on lygon street!


1. Tiamo
303 Lygon Street, Carlton, Carlton 9347 5759

Tiamos will always be my first pick on lygon street, and last nights birthday dinner for Lindsey confirmed why.

The service is a bit up and down but the food and atmosphere makes up for it.

Lygon street eateries can often be more expensive than you'd think. Which is why I like Tiamo. There are many things that seperate it from the others, most notebly because rather than being sprooked to dine, a wait for a table can be up to 30 minutes! But let me tell you - it is worth it. I recommend to head up before 7.30 on a saturday or sunday night and before 7pm on a thursday or friday night. It's a great place to meet for a coffee on a nice day, as the big wooden tables out front offer a comfy place to people-watch. Now that Tiamo 2 is renovated (completed May 2008) you can get food from both restaurants where ever you sit. I recommend the Don Giovanni or the Tartuffo if you're after something particularly different, but really you can't go wrong with the menu at Tiamo, everything tastes fresh and of good quality. The small garnishes on particular dishes add style, while the complimentary bread with the saucier dishes is budget friendly. Despite it's long history and high standing among locals, there is no pretentious or snobby vibe - which is perhaps why I like it so much. Its just a great place to enjoy authentic italian with a twist.

The food is outstanding for what you pay, which is really no more than you'd pay at any of the nearby restaurants. Oh and the tiramisu... don't get me started!

2. Papa Gino
221 Lygon Street Carlton 9347 5758

If your after good old fashioned corner store style food see Papa Gino. Big servings, gigantic pizza, good prices (though you can pay up to $20 for a large pizza - but boy are they big!). As with Tiamo, a wait for a table can be up to half an hour, if you want to sit inside. An outside table is usually available though. They don't take bookings though (wierd - as the website says they do) and aren't very good at keeping track if you're outside having a drink waiting to sit inside, but the food is yummy. Good hearty (not exactly healthy) feel good food.

The garden salad (for the table) is great value, the chips and garlic bread are hot and salty but the creme de la creme of fatty goodness- the garlic focaccia with cheese.

Delizioso!

3. Cafe Coretto
225-227 Lygon Street Carlton 9347 2300

So if you're after something casual but can't stand the wait for a table with the Papa, head up to Cafe Coretto. Once you're through the doors seated at one of the red and white laminated tablecloths you'll see why. In contrast to Papa's, the staff seem to be made up of more women than men, which is nice and welcoming. Which is not to say that Papa's is not welcoming; its just more of the pizza makers peering out the window at big-breasted women variety. Food isn't as good as Papa's but it's pretty quick! Which is why it takes third place.

4. Cafe Italia
56-66 University street Carlton 9347 0638

If you're really struggling (say you're in a big group and can't find a table for more than five) head down the laneway to Cafe Italia. The prices are a bit higher for smaller servings, but there is a bit more variety. It is a good place for more of a formal dinner (p.s tiamos has an upstairs quieter area too) with big tables and well dressed waiters. But to be honest it isn't my first pick - it's more of a backup plan.

5. Now I know I said I had a fifth recommendation, but honestly I don't - so tell me what your favourite Italian restaurant in the Carlton area is and I might post it (and if it is the only one i definately WILL)!