Café Di Stasio - St Kilda

This venerable institution has survived much longer than trendy competitors by delivering perfectly executed classical Italian cooking. Overseen by maestro chef owner and now winemaker Ronnie Di Stasio, and highly professional floor staff, this dining room on a once infamous strip has been renovated and joined by a younger sibling next door with drinks and nibbles. Viewing passing "sights" is still an attraction. The wine list gets ever larger (and more expensive) but it does have the best specials and spatchcock in town. Busy noisy crowded and fun, there is a reason it has been consistently rated one of the country's best

Having been a regular and happy customer, I recently tried the set lunch menu and was very disappointed. While the usual excellent service was evident, the set menu on the day choices were pedestrian at best! Dining with a a friend, both entrees and chicken main were ordered with the only recommendation being the baked ricotta entree. The baked rigatoni entree and chicken main were little better than "pub food" with the rigatoni being tough and tasteless and the chicken nothing more than crumbed breast on polenta (the polenta was very good). It shouldn't be too hard to at least give the paying customer something to feel good about at a 'lunch special'!!!

It's a cozy n warm cafe near the beach , has great ambience and Derren took really good care of us . Food was awesome , staff was really friendly

We were there for lunch a sunny and cold week day of july. We staid outside, the place is fine. We both took a 40 AUD menu (1 starter 1 main 1 glass of wine 1 coffee). The starters were OK, but with ridiculously small portions. The "main" was overcooked slices of veal, and with roughly noting to eat. There are billions of excellent, cleverly cooked meals available in restaurants in Melbourne, so just don't go there and spend your money elsewhere to enjoy the cool way of life of this city.

The atmosphere wasn't very nice, felt a little crowded and rushed. Our waiter was too much of a salesman and tried to make decisions for us that ended up being expensive. He set us up with a king prawn each (6) and a couple of bowls of calamari to share for an entree and it cost $220, this was almost more than our mains. He also pushed wine too much and we found ourselves saying no thanks a lot which almost makes you feel bad.