A refined Italian restaurant in South Yarra, Melbourne, known for exceptional wine, classic dishes, and elegant dining, celebrating 30 years of operation.
Adam D'Sylva is a highly acclaimed Australian chef, celebrated for his innovative approach to modern Asian and Indian cuisine, often infused with his Indian-Italian heritage. He is the co-owner and head chef of...
Cosi Italian Restaurant in South Yarra has been a Melbourne institution for 30 years, known for its refined Italian cuisine, exceptional wine selection, and elegant yet cosy dining atmosphere. It is a sister venue to Cucinetta and Vaporetto, offering a blend of tradition with a modern twist.
Customers consistently praise Cosi for its beautiful food, both in presentation and taste, highlighting dishes like Wagyu Carpaccio, Osso Buco, and various pastas. The atmosphere is frequently described as glam, romantic, and cosy, making it ideal for date nights. While staff are generally seen as friendly and efficient, some noted a lack of small talk. The restaurant is considered to offer an incredibly affordable experience for its quality. Minor criticisms include small restrooms and occasional out-of-place background music.
Additional Details
Cosi Bar Ristorante has been operating since 1996, celebrating over 30 years in Melbourne. It is located at 68 Toorak Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141.
Cosi offers an Express Lunch daily from 12 pm to 3 pm, which is a popular option. Evenings are ideal for a romantic dinner date or a special occasion, given the restaurant's glam and cosy ambiance.
5
My partner and I celebrated my birthday here on Friday night, and wow! It was our first visit to Cosi and it certainly won't be our last.
I was pleasantly surprised with a complimentary glass of Prosecco on arrival, which was a lovely touch. To top it off, my Affogato arrived with a candle and our wonderful server, Badri, sang Happy Birthday to me. Thank you, Badri, for making the evening feel so special! 😊
We chose the Taste of Italy three-course menu, accompanied by a couple of cocktails and a BYO bottle of wine. Our starters were the Yellowfin Tuna Tartare and Beef Carpaccio, followed by the Prawn & Scallop Ravioli and Linguine Marinara for our mains, finishing with an Affogato for dessert.
We shared every course, and we especially appreciated that the Linguine Marinara was able to be served on two separate plates for us.
Every dish was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious, and the service was exceptional from start to finish. The staff were friendly and attentive without being intrusive, always ensuring our wine glasses were topped up and clearing plates promptly throughout the evening.
Thank you to Badri and Cosi for making my birthday such a memorable occasion. We thoroughly enjoyed the food, the atmosphere and the outstanding hospitality, and we're already looking forward to our next visit.
My husband and I had a dinner date night on Saturday evening. We both ordered the Taste Of Italy 3-course offering, plus extra salad, plus drinks.
The food was beautiful, both in presentation and taste. The waiters were friendly and efficient, although did not really smile or engage in small talk.
The menu had an awesome variety of dishes and drinks to choose from.
Our table was very cosy and the general vibe of the restaurant was glam and romantic.
I must admit I didn't like the restrooms - the space was claustrophobically tiny, there was no proper separation between men and women, and they were located at the top of a high flight of stairs. This is definitely a problem for diners who are elderly or have mobility issues.
Had a really good meal at Cosi. It’s been around for ~30 years, and it feels like the kind of place that has been consistently turning out good food.
We started with the wagyu carpaccio, which was fresh, light and beautifully presented, with a great mix of flavours. We then shared the lamb ragu pasta and the osso buco with creamy mashed potato, broccolini and green beans. Both were full of flavour, and the osso buco was especially tender. We finished with the crème brûlée and it was the perfect amount of food for 2 of us.
The waitstaff were attentive, the restaurant was warm and cosy, and it had a really nice atmosphere. The only thing that could be improved would probably be the background music - they were playing Italian songs, but every now and then a rap or pop song would come on that felt a little out of place with the setting. More relaxed/chill Italian songs would probably suit the vibe better, but it didn’t take away from the overall experience though. Will definitely be back to try more!
We had a fantastic lunch at Cosi Restaurant, which we later realized is the sister venue to Cucinetta and Vaporetto. We decided to go a la carte, and it was the right move.
The Wagyu Carpaccio with black truffle mayo was incredible—the slices were paper-thin and literally melted in our mouth. It was honestly much better than the version at Cucinetta, which can be a bit rubbery.
We also loved the fresh scallops with roasted cauliflower puree and the arancini to start.
For the main, we had one of the best Linguine Marinaras we've ever tried. Even though they kindly split the portion in half for us, the servings were still huge and packed with fresh seafood—you can really tell they don't use frozen items here.
It was also our first time trying the Cotoletta Milanese (350g beef rib-eye) and it was beyond our expectations. It is quite a big serving for two people, so it would be perfect for a group of four to share.
We finished with a nice Crème Brûlée and some cannoli. We made a bit of a mess trying to cut the cannoli ourselves, but it was a great end to the meal.
The space is exactly as the name suggests—very "Cosi" and authentic. It felt like a quick trip to Italy and we can't wait to come back.
We all loved the Parmigiana di Melanzane—roasted eggplant smothered in Napoli tomato sauce, so delicious we ate every last drop. The Gnocchi Pere was creamy and delightful, with crunchy walnut pieces and sweet pears adding rich texture and flavour. The Fettuccine alla Norcina was the most delicious truffle fettuccine I've ever tasted.
The service and atmosphere here are excellent—we'll definitely be back
