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Caterina's Cucina and Bar

Our Review

Il Bacaro circa 1997.

Eight long-running Melbourne restaurants spill on their highs, lows and famous diners

From cooking for Serena Williams to waking up to a flooded restaurant, the people behind landmark venues look back at moments that made them.

  • Emma Breheny and Ardyn Bernoth

Caterina's Cucina and Bar

More on Caterina's Cucina and Bar

Baby octopus with red wine, tomato, olives and soft polenta.
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Caterina’s Cucina e Bar

Celebrating 30 years of warm service, ultra-seasonal cooking and fine wine.

Basement restaurant Caterina’s Cucina E Bar is back.
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An almost-30-year-old city power-lunch hub finally gets its second hat

Does the basement restaurant still feel right after it flooded and closed for a seven-month rebuild? Yes, and then some.

  • Dani Valent
Caterina Borsato before the reopening of her basement restaurant, which has been closed for renovations after a flood.

This Italian CBD stayer is reopening after a flood and a seven-month rebuild

Owner Caterina Borsato is itching to get back to business, ushering in the venerated city restaurant’s 30th year.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Spanner crab pasta at Kew local favourite Centonove.

10 of Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants

From the best creamy, fluffy bechamel this side of Italy to theatrical special-occasion dining, these are the Italian restaurants worth getting excited about.

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Gnocchi with olives and sage.

Old-school hospitality at Caterina's Cucina e Bar

The loyalty runs deep at this lunch-only Italian run by Caterina Borsato, and it's not hard to see why.

  • Gemima Cody
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Vitello tonnato at Caterina's Cucina.

Caterina's Cucina and Bar

Caterina's makes a persuasive case that long lunches are a must.

  • Dani Valent
Caterina's Cucina e Bar Thumbnail
14/20

Caterina's Cucina e Bar

This luncheon-only basement Italian restaurant is an institution in Melbourne for both its Italian ...