Mate's Table
Subscribe
Create
Share with the community

What would you like to make?

Add a recommendationShare a place worth gathering around.Create a guideBuild a useful list for your city.
For business

Restaurant

Bottarga

198 Bay St, Brighton VIC 3186, Australia

Recommended by 53 people

Updated

Find Bottarga

198 Bay St, Brighton VIC 3186, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9530 6515
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM Friday: 5:00 – 11:00 PM Saturday: 5:00 – 11:00 PM Sunday: 5:00 – 9:30 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Book Now

About Bottarga

Italian craft meets native Australian botanicals and Asian nuance across a punchy multi-course tasting on Bay Street. Diners settle into the dim room as the kitchen unrolls its narrative course by course—pairing house-made pasta with Geraldton wax, green ants, and charred cuts of Wagyu. Smoked risotto arrives cooked squarely al dente, followed by Glacier 51 toothfish and warm potato bread served alongside black garlic butter.

  • Native-Infused Italian Tasting: Multi-course tasting menus intertwine Italian technique with native ingredients like green ants and Geraldton wax alongside Asian accents.
  • Crafted Mains & Breads: House-made pasta cooked al dente, tender Wagyu beef, and toothfish pair with distinctive touches like potato bread with black garlic butter.
  • Narrated Table-Side Hospitality: Staff guide diners through dish origins, native ingredient provenance, and tailored wine selections across an unhurried evening.
RestaurantItalianAustralianFusionRestaurantFine Dining Restaurant

What's On at Bottarga

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Guests Choose Bottarga

Discover why diners choose Bottarga for exploratory tasting menus and celebratory milestones.

  • Inventive Cross-Cultural Tasting Menus

    Multi-course menus blend classical Italian pasta and risotto techniques with native botanicals like Geraldton wax and green ants alongside regional influences.

    curate an experience that transports diners through a unique intersection of Italian, Asian, and Australian cuisines

    Alessandro

  • Ethically Cultivated Foie Gras Cigar

    A standout signature creation exclusive to Bottarga offers an innovative, cruelty-free culinary indulgence table-side.

    Alongside it came the ethically lab grown foie gras cigar, exclusive to Bottarga, which felt innovative and indulgent at the same time.

    Juliana

  • Unscripted Anniversary & Milestone Surprises

    Milestones and anniversaries are marked with thoughtful surprises, from off-menu chef desserts to commemorative celebratory touches.

    We were gifted a little ice cream for the three of us for our wedding anniversary which was sweet.

    Shirley Torres

  • Sensory Wonder and Visual Artistry

    Diners experience sensory awe through deliberate culinary pairings, intricate textures, and artistic plating.

    The arancini truffles cream was so spectacular it made me tear up - literally.

    Laura Solano

  • Engaging Storytelling Table-Side

    Staff narrate dish backstories, cultural influences, and regional ingredient provenance throughout the progression of each course.

    Nick the manager did an amazing service by explaining every dish and the chef Federico prepared literally work of arts.

    Alessia Cannistraci

  • Intimate Atmosphere for Special Gatherings

    Special occasion couples and groups receive attentive, detail-oriented hospitality that balances pacing and warmth.

    It speaks to the attention to detail the owners put into every aspect of the dining experience.

    alysia song

Standout signature courses and culinary highlights

  • Wagyu tartare

    The wagyu tartare, however, was the standout dish of the night.

    alysia song

  • Potato bread

    Highlights were definitely the potato bread, fish mosaic and la dolce vita.

    swing

  • Lab grown foie gras cigar

    ethically lab grown foie gras cigar, exclusive to Bottarga, which felt innovative and indulgent at the same time

    Juliana

  • Scallop crudo

    highlight was the scallop crudo and the smoked risotto

    Barry

Other favorites

Handcrafted cocktails, sides, and sweet finales

  • Aged Negroni

    I had the Aged Negroni, which was beautifully balanced and full of character

    Franco Di Maggio

  • Americano

    partner enjoyed the Americano, which was equally well-crafted

    Franco Di Maggio

  • Affogato

    wagyu steak and the affogato. Every dish was a showstopper

    Lanna N

  • Brussel sprouts

    the brussel sprouts was perfectly sweet and grilled

    Audrey Chandra

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality gestures and personal nuances that elevate your dining experience

  • Personal Tableside Visits from Chef Federico

    Chef Federico personally visits dining tables to present dishes, check in on guests, and add a meaningful human connection to the tasting progression.

  • Complimentary Milestone and Anniversary Desserts

    Guests celebrating milestones are treated to thoughtful surprises, from custom off-menu sweets to complimentary anniversary ice cream.

  • Thoughtfully Restructured Menus for Dietaries

    The kitchen meticulously adapts tasting menus for guest dietary requirements, ensuring bespoke multi-course dining without compromise.

  • Unscripted Tableside Course Storytelling

    Front-of-house staff narrate the origins, native ingredients, and cultural connections behind each course, bringing unscripted depth to the dining journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What dining formats and menus are offered?

Bottarga offers multi-course experiences, including the curated Tasting Experience or chef's FEED ME menu, alongside a la carte and two- or three-course selections featuring dishes like wagyu tartare, handmade pasta, and house-made potato bread.

Can the kitchen accommodate dietary requirements?

Yes. Staff are attentive to dietary preferences and have accommodated guests by modifying and restructuring the tasting menu courses. Bottarga also serves vegetarian options.

How much time should you plan for the tasting menu?

A full tasting menu can extend beyond two to three hours. If you are dining within a specific schedule, note that a faster-paced tasting progression is available upon request.

Where can visitors find parking nearby?

Free street parking can be tricky on the main strip, so guests recommend looking for bays on nearby side streets like Hamilton Street.

Explore more places in Melbourne

Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Melbourne.

Similar places

More places for the flavours and food you enjoy.

  • Barragunda DiningCape Schanck · Australian, Fine Dining Restaurant
  • FlorentinoMelbourne · Italian, Restaurant, Fine Dining Restaurant, Functions
  • Good Old MantraCarnegie · Indian, Cocktail, Restaurant, Bar, Family Restaurant, Fine Dining Restaurant
  • WarabiMelbourne · Japanese, Restaurant, Fine Dining Restaurant
  • KENTAROMelbourne · Japanese, Fine Dining Restaurant
  • Cape RestaurantCape Schanck · European, Fine Dining Restaurant
Browse all Melbourne venues