Worst Restaurant Experience I've ever had in my life due to one of your Waiters. I went here to catch up with my 3 friends I havent seen in a long time. The waiter takes our Order and everyone is getting a Main and I only want an Entree as I am not that hungry. The Waiter then proceeds to ABSOLUTELY Berate me and demand I order a Main and that there is no way he is going to go to the Chef with an order of 3 Mains and 1 Entree instead of 4 Mains. So very stupidly I order a Main to make him happy. Unknowingly to me, not only did he put down the Entree + The main, he gave me the $30 option instead of the $23. Never again will I let a Waiter dictate what I can or can't eat. Does your restaurant have a policy against not ordering a Main?? Do you treat every customer like this if you don't agree to their order?? Regardless we will never be dining here again. Thanks for the terrible experience and off putting vibes tonight.

🎃 pancetta & pumpkin, risotto 🐙 linguine al nero di seppia 🧀 braised cannelloni, chorizo, mozzarella ☕️ affogato 🏠: @ilsolitopostomelbourne 📍: Basement/113 Collins St, CBD 📝: Indulging in the charm of Il Solito Posto. Loving the cozy basement atmosphere, dimly light for a laid back ambience. Every corner whispers stories of delicious moments 🍝🍷 ❤️: We ordered the drool worthy items from the specials board. The appetizer was a dish of braised cannelloni beans with chorizo, tomato, herbs, watercress and buffalo mozzarella. Both pasta dishes stood out to us, and the only complaint we have would be, it can be bigger!

This place is a bit of an institution for high standard Italian fare. They were quick to greet us on entry and show us to our table, then offered the tap or sparkling water just as they do in Italy. We soon ordered our mains as we all hoped to have dessert. My seafood Linguine was super tasty, with plenty of morsels from the sea and a good amount of fresh chilli to add some extra kick. That vanilla bean Pannacotta with berries stole the show - smoothness, texture, creamy flavour, and just the right amount of wobble. My friends also thoroughly enjoyed their chosen pasta and desserts. The dark tones and cosy setting created a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Service was efficient and helpful throughout the night. Always a great experience every time I've been here and very happy to be back.

Il Solito Posto was a mixed experience, with some highs and lows during our visit. The charcuterie board was undoubtedly the highlight of the meal, and set a positive tone for the evening. However, the calamari was a letdown. It was cut into small pieces, the portion size didn't justify the cost, and unfortunately, it didn't live up to our expectations in terms of taste and texture. The real disappointment came with the pasta dishes. The frutti di mare, in particular, was underwhelming. It seemed like the seafood had been haphazardly thrown into some plain pasta water without proper seasoning. The mussels were especially bitter, which is never a pleasant experience. Similarly, the rigatoni lacked flavor, leaving us feeling unsatisfied with our meal. On top of the culinary letdowns, our seating arrangement was a bit concerning. We were placed at a table near the stairs, and while it didn't bother me personally, I found it slightly unsafe to have a table positioned so close to a potentially high-traffic area. The staff were attentive and very friendly which made this experience a bit pleasant.

Discovered this great Italian restaurant that also opens early for breakfast... Wow, we split the omelette in 2 halves which not only being superb but was more than enough for us both.. Top notch coffee.. Fresh squeezed juice and friendly staff in a place with atmosphere... What more could you ask for... Can't wait to try it for lunch or dinner very soon.. Has been around for 27 years... Certainly a must to dine in...

[Sep 2023] 1. Nice italian ambience, seating abit cramped though 2. Flavourful pasta It’s on the small lane and it is quite packed on weekday nights. The environment is ambient and nice though each table is abit small to properly enjoy the dining experience. Ordered their special venison pasta bolognese that day. Quite a big portion. Risotto was meh, not that nice. The beef is well cooked at medium rare. Seafood aglio olio is good and well balanced. The fig panna cotta is quite tasty, though a bit sweet (to be fair I’m not a fig person but just wanted to enjoy the panna cotta) Staff were truly hospitable and know their expertise. Really appreciate their warm gestures.

The best Italian restaurant in Melbourne! Haven’t tried a better one yet. Simple food done extremely well. Super fresh, vegetarian options, and rotating list of interesting specials. Good wine selection and very helpful staff. Will keep coming back here!

My kids and I had a three night stay visitng Melbourne from Brisi, we needed a quick meal before a theatre show and found this little slice of heaven. The staff were professional and accomadating. The food was incredilble and the overall feel and ambience was warm and inviting! Its always great to see the owner manning the "meet and greet" post and overseeing your experience from entry to exit. We enjoyed our short stay so much that we returned the following night to do a full 3 couses acompanied by great wines! As Molly would say, do yourself a favour and put this on the must go here list, but only if you enjoy great service, wonderful food, great atmosphere and all at a reasonable prices!

This is our first time here. Alana was so friendly and extended a warm welcome. She guided us through each course beautifully. We started with School Prawns and chicken salad. We finished it up with Gnocchi filled with Ricotta cheese accompanied with Clare Valley Shiraz. Everything was so gooood. For me, Gnocchi took the prize. The Dolce menu too looked delicious, I’d have liked the Vanilla bean Pannacotta with fresh berries but we were so full. Finished dinner off with a nice flat white and a short black. The best coffee I’ve tasted. Strongly recommend the Gnocchi 👍 We are certainly coming here again to taste the desserts before we leave 🥳

Amazing meat balls on polenta. School prawns are out of this world - pure poetry in the plate. Child friendly in style. Staff is amazing, friendly and helpful. Matt was amazing and helpful, his food suggestions were on the spot. If you want the place with great food, great environment and outstanding service, come to this Melbournes gem.

I’ve been here twice now. The first time was fabulous and gave me good memories of the food I had there. However, upon going the second time, I was a little disappointed. It wasn’t as good as the first. Flavour didn’t quite hit for me in the food we ordered compared to last time.

I recently took my child to this restaurant in search of delicious pasta. The waitstaff warmly greeted us, engaging with my child and promptly serving our meals with a smile. We opted for the Veal Ragu (Penne pasta) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

What a fantastic place! Exceptional restaurant, atmosphere, service and food. This is the best Italian dining experience I’ve had outside of Italy. I can see why it’s a Melbourne institution!

Lunch at Il solito posto is always constantly good Genuine rustic Italian cuisine, warm and relaxed atmosphere, same staff the last few years on the floor so you are recognised after few visits Always packed, you need to be at midday to have a table withouth prior reservation

A fabulous authentic Italian restaurant with traditional dishes to satisfy all tastes. The specials are always a great choice and add to the usual choices of an Italian restaurant. The service is efficient and friendly when the serving calms down. I love the location and the decor and is typical Melbourne. Missed the food photos as we were all too quick to start. Definitely worth a visit.

Il Solito Posto (or in english "the usual place") is an authentic italian restaurant. Great staff, great food and great atmosphere. Small tables and a very quaint location. I had the rigatone bolognese and it tasted just like what my Sicilian great grandmother used to make. The staff is super friendly and guided us through the whole experience. Highly recommended!

We experienced a really excellent meal here. There were 3 of us and we hadn't booked, however after being seated at the bar for only 5 minutes we had a table. The food was great and came quite quickly considering it was a busy night. Delicious wine and attentive service- we'll be back!

Hands down my favourite Italian restaurant in the city. The wait staff are always warm and welcoming and the chocolate pudding is to die for

We had a wonderful experience here, dinner on a Saturday night. The service was so friendly and down to earth. They made us feel incredibly welcome. The food was delicious. Favourite dish was the prosciutto. Loved the selection of Italian wines. This place is great for a date, with a romantic feel inside.

This place is an institution. The pasta is always al dente and the quality is always consistent. The selection of wine is amazing too, the seafood they put in their dishes are also quite fresh. Great vibes!

So Melbourne yet so Italian Atmospheric setting where Staff, Food and Wine all strive to please you Only question is "How soon can we go back there?"

good atmosphere the service is great，they ask many specific details and double check everything with u

Thank god for this place in the mornings! The coffee is very good and the breakfast menu (my favourites; Italian scrambled egg and omelette) is excellent. I love the atmosphere too. The lunch and dinner menus however are next level stuff for the price bracket. Fresh ingredients in the very best Italian style of cooking. If you're in the area I highly recommend dedicating one day a week to work your way through the menu.

Really enjoyed our dinner here with the family. Nice cozy atmosphere with a good hubbub of noise. Great meals with the pumpkin/pancetta risotto and the chicken liver parfait to start. Great to see the Rockford wines in the list as well, though sadly out of my price range. Though the Atlas shiraz we had instead was excellent. We’re looking forward to returning when we are next in Melbourne.

What an amazing experiences of Italian restaurant. Quiet and a bit dark environment give you more relaxing and enjoying time with your delicious meal. Perfect red wines with great foods make you full in a good night out. Staff have been so friendly and welcoming. Thanks 😊

Classic Italian landmark on Collins St for close on 25 years.

Ambience gives you that romantic rustic vibes. It was a little crowded since it was dinner time but enough space to enjoy your company and meal. My personal favourite was the squid ink pasta! Their calamari and bruschetta is a must try! For the dessert we had the choco lava and tiramisu, perfect for dessert lovers.

I had what might be the most perfectly cooked Linguine I've ever had. And the owner even gave me an extra dish for no reason. The staff were incredibly friendly. The food was fantastic, the vibe is so nice. highly recommended!

Il Solito Posto is a warm, comfortable place to dine with tasty food and drinks, attentive staff, and casual Italian vibe. Chicken liver pate + crostini, and farfalle + salmon were delicious, as was the vanilla ice cream affogato for dessert. Food and atmosphere are worth another transcontinental voyage back to Melbourne.

Loved it! I had the linguine frutti de mare and it was perfection ❤️ the rigatoni ragu was pretty good too but the frutti de mare really stole the show, would definitely recommend as the restaurant is really cosy and makes you feel like you stepped into another country! Wish I had more time to get a coffee or try more of the food here, will visit again the next time I'm here in Melbourne **do note that they do close in between meal times so check first!

Love the atmosphere and setting of the place. The restaurant is, very often, busy during dinner service so if you don't have reservation beforehand, it is likely that you will have the small table by the toilet entrance. The antipasto della casa is okay with rather limited amounts of cheese. Capsicum is a tat underseasoned. All in all, it falls a little flat. I actually cracked some more pepper to oomph it up a bit. Filettto di manzo, on the other hand, is amazing and melts in my mouth. Sauce and sautéed green compliment the dish really well. I would love to return to try the signature pasta and risotto.

What an experience! A delicious and hearty Italian meal. Attentive, kind and warm staff. An institution.

The chicken almond salad honestly next level! Absolutely nothing makes me happier than going out for dinner & getting really good service. The wait staff, food, wine - everything is brilliant …

I went to Il Solito Posto with a few friends for my birthday and it was an amazing experience. The food was really, really good and the service was excellent. It was my first time but I already felt like a regular given how friendly the staff were. I'll definitely visit again when I have the chance.

Traditional Italian. Recommended. Wine list heavily weighted to imported wines and relatively expensive.

Walked in on a Friday night with no booking, lucky to get a table since they were busy. Cosy restaurant, old school hospitality especially from the staff member who currently has his arm on a sling. Gnocchi was the star, it was simply amazing. Flavour, portion and quality was outstanding. The 5 star review is due to the Gnocchi. Tiramisu was great as well, decent portion size and flavour. They also seem to have their own coffee beans, ordered a latte that complimented the dessert. l

How did we dine here and NOT take any photos? Maybe it's because of the amazing service, oh my outstanding balanced risotto. My friend had a salad and really dialled it in. Delightful space

Kitchen not open before early theatre but friendly staff happy to provide bread and olives, which were delicious. Nice feel to this italian bar and restaurant. Will definitely return to try the menu.

Great friendly service and certainly reasonable prices. Bookings and vax proof a must.

The pastas we had here were beautiful. Simple and flavoursome. We ordered the squid ink and linguine and they were perfect. We were also persuaded to order the herb bread which unfortunately was underwhelming. The bread wasn't warm, crispy or anything special. I think we personally would've preferred the garlic bread. It was super busy and quite cramped inside. But the host was personable to those he knew and it was nice to see so many he was interacting with were regulars.

Food was excellent but the acoustics make it very noisy. Unfortunately we had a very loud and well lubricated group sitting opposite us. Worth a try if you like great food. Take your noise cancelling head phones with you.

Wonderful authentic Italian restaurant with warmth, a moderate noise level (even full), calm assured attentive staff and the most delightful food. Our meat balls and lamb ragu were very good

Food was very good, although portion size might be slightly small for the price, but it is Melbourne! What is fantastic, or should I say who is fantastic are the staff. Service was quick, but most importantly friendly and made you feel welcomed. They are a credit to this establishment and would make you want to come back for a repeat visit.

Great food and atmosphere! We had the herb bread and two small serves of the pasta. The serving size was definitely smaller than expected though. Decent wine but the dessert was delicious

If you’re not paying attention while you walk - you’ll definitely miss this gem! When we walked in, this place was packed. However, as a patron dining in, you wouldn’t even notice how busy it is given the seamless customer service. A true wonder how they could provide quality service in this situation. The ambience of this place is also very reminiscent of the Italian diners you see in movies or tv series. A cool touch! And finally, what makes this place great is the squid ink pasta. This was the coup de grace that filled me with joy. Almost as if I had tasted pasta for the first time again. Overall - would recommend to anyone looking for great pasta dishes.

From the moment walking in to the moment walking out, this was amazing. Late night dinner and they squeezed us in. Stunning wine list and great menu items. Service was second to none with our waitress being so attentive. The food was great and the wine was top notch. I will continue to recommend dining here for the service, quality of food and amazing wine selection

Such a cool gem of a restaurant tucked in a basement level off of Collins street. Friday night was super busy, and service started off a little slow, but still had a great experience here! Every dish we had was delicious. We dined in the Trattoria which in the lower level. Beautiful ambience and a bit more formal. Would be a great pick for date night or a small group!

Thanks for having us with no booking, lucky we came early before 6pm but the place was already pretty busy! Ambiance was more towards casual bar.. The entree size was indeed entree , I could count the number of Gnocchi in the plate, and they came in a very wide plate I don't understand why it, only make the small portion look so obvious. It was like a taster dinner. Gnocchi was very soft and good taste but the ink pasta quite bland.. overall quite disappointed as I came expectation for good inked pasta.

4.5 Date of visit: 9 Aug 2022 Delicious squid ink pasta - sauce was fantastic and pasta perfectly cooked. Pumpkin risotto felt a tiny bit bland/boring

A great place for a meal in town. Genuine Italian sauce, and pasta dishes, combined with a great selection of wines, and spirits. Service was good on a busy day. And the place has a great feel about it.

10 Feb 2023 Foods are average. I like their side dish potato. Too much food didn't have space for deserts. 😂

Fantastic food! Authentic italian restaurant

Great Italian food and friendly staff that guide you on the choice of food. Cosy ambience you would eat and chat.

Fantastic experience! The service was exceptional, and the food was absolutely delicious. The place had a vibrant atmosphere with lots of activity. I ordered the Farfalle Salmone, and it was a delight. The long black coffee I had was also excellent. I highly recommend trying both the pasta and the coffee here.

I'm a life long lover of gnocchi, this was the best I had ever had. Light, fluffy and melt in the mouth. Superb! We visited this amazing place years ago and came back. It was still the same. An amazing atmosphere, tight but not too tight, a real feel of Europe. Wonderful service in true Italian style. Loved it. The food and the wine list is top notch. A small quality menu. We will be back. A final mention for the waitress ( or should I say person here) .....anyway. We wondered if we had enough room for dessert. The waitress said in a lovely Italian way "of course you have room, dessert goes to a different place. It goes straight to the heart." We were sold, the Pana Cotta and Tira Misu were delicious. Just go and try and get a table downstairs.

I’d like to put 10 stars.

Amazing food and service!! Can not fault it at all!

Great little restaurant and food

Very good food. The service was very nice but please, an Italian restaurant has to have much better wine. First time I got so disappointed about wine in an Italian restaurant in Australia. ? (tried almost all the red wines they had).

Busy little Italian place with helpful staff and lovely food. This little place is tucked down a lane but well worth finding.

Amazing pasta and great atmosphere

Food was simply out of the world!

Food was perfection. Great service.

Great Italian scrambled eggs and breakfast menu.

Amazing food and service. Will definitely be coming back.

Dishes delicious....

Beautiful intimate restaurant with good food. Service was nice too .

Always good

Great service. Always come here for coffees. Breakfast menu is great and the pasta is A1

Great Italian food, cooked very well with fresh ingredients, The staff was Friendly. Would definitely recommend.

Started with the herb bread which was great BUT once we got to our order of risotto and rigatoni, then that was it. Pasta was very fresh, herbs and seasoning were just right. Just a very enjoyable meal and would love to go back! I highly recommended this restaurant.

Great service (thanks Jade!), delicious Italian food and great atmosphere. I had the squid ink pasta ?? The prices were also reasonable compared to some of the more expensive options around this area.

Delicious Italian food, simply cooked with fresh ingredients, no heavy sauces or over garnishing. Friendly & efficient service. Although it was a busy Fri evening, we were seated after 10mins. We were not rushed with our meals and were very relaxed. The chocolate fondant dessert is to die for.

Best espresso martini I've ever had, delicious meals, great service. Special props to our waitress Alana who looked after us, attentive and clearly multitasking with numerous tables. Will definitely be back :D

I love this a lot, the best i tried in the world so far!

Reliably delicious!

Amazing service! Friendly, accommodating & so nice. The atmosphere is so cozy & relaxing The food is delicious!! Alot off seafood spaghetti, which personally I'm not a huge fan off. But the salmon linguine & squid ink linguine (that my partner had) were both delicious! I've had seafood type spaghetti dishes at other restaurants and it wasn't amazing but this place is so good with flavours! Will definitely be back!

The pasta is great, service is good. Nice

Excellent food , I had the Rock Ling fish , was amazing, one of the best fish meals I have had ? . Service was excellent and very friendly . Wine list also excellent . Worth a trip from Sydney

Their service is really good! Prosciutto is amazing. Eye fillet is also cooked so well and the sauce is unique and perfect. Love it!! Will come back to try more

Beautiful Italian food and service. Institution in Melbourne.

Very, very noisy.

Simply the best Penne Ragu.

The perfect place for a great coffee in the morning or bowl of pasta at lunch. Excellent service and welcoming staff, a great spot to relax and enjoy a taste of Italy.

Fantastic food, I visit every time I am in Melbourne. The meatballs with polenta are my favourite and I am never disappointed.

It’s so nice to go to a restaurant with friendly and knowledgeable staff. The ambulance is that of an old Italian restaurant, you could be buried a lane old Genoa somewhere. Call we had the chef selection and by doing so we received bountiful supply of amazingly good food. Congratulations guys will be back.

Great menu and service.

(Translated by Google) Italians with authentic and fresh dishes. The map is clear, but offers something for everyone. In terms of atmosphere, it could also be anywhere in Italy. Meals are very tasty and are served promptly. In our case, a reservation was not possible and had to wait about 20 minutes at the bar. If a reservation is possible, it is recommended. Prices are not cheap, but not overpriced for this region and the food either. (Original) Italiener mit authentischen und frischen Speisen. Die Karte ist übersichtlich, bietet jedoch für jeden/jede etwas an. Der Atmosphäre nach könnte es ebenso irgendwo in Italien sein. Speisen sind sehr lecker und werden auch zeitnah serviert. In unserem Fall war eine Reservierung nicht möglich und mussten daher ca. 20min an der Bar warten. Sofern eine Reservierung möglich ist, ist diese zu empfehlen. Preise sind nicht ganz günstig, für diese Region und dem Essen jedoch auch nicht überteuert.

Good place for pasta

Real Italian food. Service is pro and relaxed. Food is good. Pricey but worth it

Great food and friendly staff

Beautiful restaurant with authentic Italian food. Had a wonderful experience.

Nobody does it better. Every time I come home from Sydney I stop in here. Just outstanding

Excellent lunch venue with great food or a quick stop for good coffee.

Good food, loud atmosphere, service is a bit interesting