Cosentino

Down on the lower end of Lygon Street in Carlton, between Melbourne Central train station and the University of Melbourne, Cosentino is a restaurant that stands apart from the usual fare in Little Italy. Principally, it offers Spanish food alongside the Italian cuisine that one would expect to see in this part of town. They offer paella and pasta, tapas and antipasto as well as ceviche, soups and quesadillas

Little Italy is among the finest areas in Melbourne to visit for an evening meal, with countless restaurants for you to choose between. Cosentino Restaurant use the slogan “Flavours of Italy”, but in truth, this Lygon Street eatery is far more than that. They fuse Italian and Spanish food, all made with fresh ingredients and time-honoured cooking techniques, so really is something for everyone when you head out to Carlton for an evening feed.

Cosentino Restaurant takes in everything Italian and Iberian on their menu down in Carlton. Begin your meal Spanish-style, with a plate of tapas, perhaps with a bruschetta on the side, before moving onto some Lygon Street favourites, such as spaghetti bolognese and risotto. Paella is also a great option, as are lamb ribs and gnocchi, keeping up the Italian/Spanish tradition. Melbourne has plenty of good Italian restaurants, and a fair few tapas bars as well, but few combine the two quite like Cosentino.