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Cuccinetta would have to be one of Melbourne’s smallest restaurants.

There are just six tables for a grand total of 18 people. This number grows to 24 with a few tables on the footpath.

The dining space would probably fit two small cars, and that’s it. It’s super cosy, almost like a living room with Italian tunes pumping from the kitchen. But what Cuccinetta lacks in size, it sure makes up for it on the pasta front.

We went for lunch on a chilly Monday and it was the perfect antidote to our wintry weather.

We started with homemade arancini of the day (pumpkin) and the most beautiful bright beetroot carpaccio with goat’s cheese and pine nuts.

But we came for the wheel. The parmesan wheel. It’s only around until Monday so you’ll need book fast! You can see the chef creating the cacio de pepe, which simply means cheese and pepper. The pasta is cooked and then finished in the parmesan wheel. Be warned it’s very peppery, the pasta silky and the cheese sauce rich and creamy. Maybe don’t order this if you suffer from heart problems!

We got the ragu of the day, which was a duck tagliatelle. It was the dish of the day for me and the perfect winter pasta.

We also enjoyed the mushroom fettucine with truffle oil and, yes, more parmesan!

Cuccinetta celebrates its 10 year anniversary this year and you can see why this little gem has been around for so long.

Pro tip: you can hire out the entire space for functions.

Cucinetta
4/3 Murphy St, South Yarra
cucinettamelb.com.au

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