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Restaurant

Masani Italian Dining & Terrace

313Drummond St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

Recommended by 45 people

Updated

Find Masani Italian Dining & Terrace

313Drummond St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9347 5610
HoursMonday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Masani Italian Dining & Terrace

Tucked off the main Carlton strip on Drummond Street, this heritage dining room pairs fireside warmth with old-school Italian service. Longtime regulars lean on four decades of family hosting from Richard and Kara Maisano, who guide guests through handmade pasta, classical mains, and a cellar list that reads like a tome. Plates hit the table with quiet confidence—think paccheri tossed in slow-braised oxtail ragù, blue swimmer crab angel hair, and crisp-edged roasted potatoes. At the bar, an evening often kicks off with a cold Negroni before shifting into cellar-aged Chianti Classico beside the hearth.

  • Four Decades of Patron Hospitality: Richard and Kara Maisano offer hands-on service, dish tailoring, and cellar recommendations honed over four decades.
  • Fireside Heritage Dining: Two working fireplaces warm a classical heritage dining room set away from the bustle of Lygon Street.
  • Curated Cellar Pairings: An encyclopedic cellar collection with guided pairings matched to traditional courses.
RestaurantItalianRestaurantCocktail BarFine DiningWine Bar

What's On at Masani Italian Dining & Terrace

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Masani Italian Dining & Terrace

Discover why Carlton diners choose Masani for landmark celebrations, sommelier-guided wine dinners, and fireside Italian hospitality.

  • Four Decades of Hands-On Patron Hospitality

    Chef and owner Richard Maisano and Kara Maisano oversee the floor directly, sharing stories, tailoring bespoke plates, and extending over 40 years of attentive fine-dining hospitality.

    the owner has been operating the business for over 40 years, and every dish we had was perfectly cooked, absolutely delicious and served with impeccable care.

    Genevieve Power

  • Milestone Celebrations Grounded in Classical Polish

    Guests marking anniversaries and birthdays experience unhurried dinners with classical table service and timeless Italian craft.

    We have been going for our wedding anniversary for many years and it's always a wonderful experience.

    Chris Lemoh

  • Encyclopedic Cellar Guided by Sommelier Knowledge

    Patrons navigate a vast, encyclopedic cellar with personalized guidance and pairings that elevate each course.

    the wine was another level especially the amazing (& very long) list to choose from which was brilliantly backed up with a world of knowledge & good advice from Kara yet again

    david carbone

  • Made-From-Scratch Italian Regional Cookery

    Every course highlights scratch technique, from house-made pastas to fresh shellfish matched with curated wines.

    Everything we ate was fresh and made on the premises by the lovely chef who was gappy to describe and tailor dishes.

    Sera-Jane Peters

  • Fireside Heritage Dining Away from Lygon Street

    The heritage dining room features twin glowing fireplaces, offering a serene sanctuary on Drummond Street away from the crowded commercial strip.

    2 fire places and the most endearing waiter who recommended the most amazing dishes.

    Kelly Nicholls

  • Refined Heritage Rooms for Group Occasions

    Dedicated private heritage rooms host professional team gatherings and milestone celebrations with seamless, attentive care.

    An amazing place to go for a business lunch, I would recommend taking your whole team there because it is a really welcoming but high-class experience

    Mia Bowyer

Time-honored pasta and antipasti courses central to the Masani dining experience

  • Ragu Pasta

    the ragu and said it was among the best pasta he's ever had — the depth of flavour was perfection.

    Sarah Black

  • Blue Swimmer Crab Pasta

    I thoroughly enjoyed my beef carpaccio and the angel-hair blue swimmer crab pasta.

    Sarah Black

  • Beef Carpaccio

    Every dish was beautifully prepared — I thoroughly enjoyed my beef carpaccio and the angel-hair blue swimmer crab pasta.

    Sarah Black

  • Pappardelle di Funghi

    I couldn't go past the specials board pappardelle di funghi, my weakness and was not disappointed. The flavours were excellent. Truly up there, with generous servings of truffle.

    Lauris Jones

Other favorites

Complementary primi courses, celebratory mains, and classical Italian desserts

  • Zucchini Flower

    Piatto del orto – seasonal zucchini flower with goats curd, ricotta cheese, truffle water and balsamic vinegar. This was such a well-balanced and fresh dish which had a nice crunch.

    Melbourne Food Bloggers Claire & Christian

  • Steak Florentine

    The food was delicious, with the Steak Florentine impressing my husband and the surprise Vanilla Soufflé being the best I've had in ages.

    Carmel V

  • Vanilla Soufflé

    the surprise Vanilla Soufflé being the best I've had in ages.

    Carmel V

  • Bonet

    Dolci: bonet – dutch cocoa, nocello & amaretti custard, and hazelnut praline. The use of dutch cocoa (70% cocoa chocolate) gave this dessert a lovely bitterness which was balanced out with the sweet custard.

    Melbourne Food Bloggers Claire & Christian

Beyond the menu

Concrete, above-expectation personal hospitality details that define dining at Masani

  • Owner-Chef Table Visits & Dish Tailoring

    Owner and chef Richard Maisano directly visits tables on the dining floor, sharing stories, checking on courses, and tailoring dishes directly to guest requests.

  • Personalized Sommelier Pairings by Kara Maisano

    Kara Maisano provides hands-on sommelier guidance across an extensive global cellar list, recommending tailored pairings matched course by course.

  • Dual Working Heritage Fireplaces

    The heritage dining room features working dual fireplaces that create an unhurried, warm fireside atmosphere set apart from the bustling Lygon Street strip.

  • Celebratory Birthday & Milestone Gestures

    Milestone dinners and birthday celebrations are met with thoughtful personal touches, from custom openings to surprise dessert courses like freshly baked vanilla soufflés.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you book a table in advance?

Yes. Masani accepts reservations, and booking in advance is strongly encouraged for dinner or special occasions, though guests also drop in for impromptu visits.

What should you expect from the dining pace and portions?

The dining room delivers a classical fine-dining experience centered on handmade pasta, seafood, and rustic meats. Portions are generous, with options spanning multi-course dining as well as specials boards. Because courses are cooked with care, pacing can be relaxed and unhurried.

What are the wine and beverage options like?

Masani features an extensive, award-winning wine list curated by sommelier Kara Maisano, offering Italian imports, domestic bottles, pairings, and selections by the glass. Cocktails, such as arrival Negronis, and beer are also available.

Is outdoor seating available?

Yes, alongside the traditional indoor fireside dining rooms, Masani offers an alfresco terrace setting suitable for open-air dining.

What parking options are available nearby?

Paid parking is available nearby in the surrounding Carlton area, alongside local street parking options.

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