Bar Carolina

Well-executed favourites with a few twists.

November 18, 2024

1 / 8Rabbit ragu on pappardelle.Kristoffer Paulsen

2 / 8Bar Carolina in South Yarra.Kristoffer Paulsen

4 / 8Ravioli di barbabietola.Chris Hopkins

7 / 8Tagliolini con crostacei.Kristoffer Paulsen

8 / 8Take a seat at the bar.Bonnie Savage

14.5/20

Italian$$

This slender corner site has consistently crammed in lunching ladies, new-wave negroni sippers and loyal locals since 2017. The attraction? Sleek interiors, house-made rigatoni in vodka sauce, impressively charred steaks straight from the Josper oven, and staff who know how to charm.

Window seats in the terrazzo-tiled conservatory are perfect for people-watching. Get comfy with a skin-contact pinot grigio from a list of 20 or so wines available by the glass, and flaky gnocco fritto draped with velvety culatello.

Tuna crudo comes with squid ink crostini in the shape of a cartoon fish-bone – a tongue-in-cheek move that’s classic Carolina.The sweetness of Humpty Doo barramundi is tempered by limoncello-spiked butter sauce.

If the popular Bomba Carolina dessert is sold out, a big scoop of tiramisu layered with chocolate mousse should cushion the blow.