Food is superb, every dish is well put together and we enjoy them all. Even the asparagus vegetable dish can taste so good. Great service with good recommendation and portion for sharing by 4 people. Great ambience but do find the noise level bit much.

We dined at Osteria Ilaria, and it’s easy to see why this restaurant is consistently busy—booking ahead is not optional. From the moment you arrive, the experience feels well considered. Sitting at the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail before moving to the table is a great way to ease into the evening and sets the tone for what follows. The atmosphere is lively and energetic without being overwhelming, striking that ideal balance of buzz and comfort. The wine program is another standout. The sommelier is genuinely knowledgeable and approachable, helping guide you to the right wine (or wines) to suit both your meal and your price point. The list is broad and thoughtfully curated, offering plenty of choice without feeling daunting. Ultimately, though, the food is where Osteria Ilaria truly excels. The dishes are beautifully thought through, confidently executed, and presented with care—but never at the expense of flavour. Everything tastes as good as it looks, with a clear focus on quality ingredients and balanced, satisfying cooking. Osteria Ilaria is a restaurant that delivers on all fronts: atmosphere, service, wine, and most importantly, exceptional food. A standout Melbourne dining spot and one that’s well worth seeking out when you’re in town.

Atmosphere, absolutely divine and sophisticated- Wines textural and interesting- watching the theatre of the kitchen from the chef’s bar is definitely the pic of the seats- pasta was expected to be sublime- but the showstopper tonight was most certainly the mackerel starter. Iconic and memorable. What a special and quintessential Melbourne night out. Loved it.

My friend took me here for my birthday after hearing good things, but honestly left pretty disappointed. For the price you pay, the food and execution just didn’t deliver. Mushroom Croquette (2.5/5) – Looked promising but was bland. Hardly any mushroom flavour came through, and overall it tasted quite flat. Tuna Crudo (4/5) – This dish had a pleasant salt and citrus balance once mixed properly. At first, eating the top layer alone was too salty, but when combined, it came together quite well. King Prawn Tagliolini (2/5) – Easily the biggest letdown. The prawns were overcooked, tough, and dry, missing that sweet, juicy bite. The pasta was also overdone, lacking that proper al dente texture. The flavour was okay, but that’s about it. Sher Wagyu (4/5) – The saving grace of the night. Nicely cooked with a good beef flavour, and the lemon sauce with a hummus-like texture actually worked well. But serving it with just three stems of broccolini felt lazy for the price point. By the end, we skipped dessert; the prices and limited choices, combined with the underwhelming experience, just didn’t feel worth it. Overall, the dishes looked good but didn’t live up to expectations. For a birthday dinner, it felt more disappointing than special.

We had such a wonderful dining experience at Osteria Ilaria. The wait staff were incredibly accommodating, friendly, and genuinely caring. They took the time to explain the chef’s specials in detail and offered thoughtful recommendations, which made us feel very well looked after. We decided to go with the Chef’s Selection, and it was an excellent choice. The menu offered a generous variety – two entrees, two starters, two mains with a side, and two desserts – all perfectly paced so each dish arrived at just the right moment. Every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavour, but the standout for us was the Wagyu rump steak. It was cooked to perfection – wonderfully crisp on the outside while staying rare and tender in the centre. Absolutely outstanding. Overall, a fantastic experience from start to finish. Great service, an impressive menu, and food that truly delivers on quality. Highly recommended.