You want Italian near Belgrave South tonight, but the local options blur together fast. Pick the right place for arancini, osso buco, tiramisu, or a quiet midweek dinner without turning a simple meal into a $45 guessing game.
The Verdict
Osteria is the pick if you only choose one Italian option near Belgrave South. It sits in the sweet spot: strong rating at 4.6/5, a sensible $24-34 per person price range, and the most useful order for a local dinner rather than a once-a-year splurge. Get the risotto and arancini. The arancini is the reason this guide exists, and Osteria is the venue that makes the least complicated case for itself: reliable food, weeknight walk-ins usually fine, and no obvious weak spot on the menu.
La Trattoria has the highest rating at 4.8/5 and is the better call if dessert is the whole point, because the tiramisu is the move there. But it also runs dearer at $29-39 per person, and the venue itself tells you where the value sits: tiramisu and osso buco, not a broad dessert-table adventure. Nonna’s Kitchen is the bigger spend at $35-45 per person, while Il Forno is also rated 4.8/5 and lands at $24-34, but both read more like worthwhile backups than the first place you should try. Don’t get pulled into ordering dessert everywhere just because it is Italian – at La Trattoria, Nonna’s Kitchen, and Il Forno, the safer play is to stick to mains unless tiramisu is specifically why you came.
What It’s Actually Like
This is not inner-city Lygon Street theatre. The Belgrave South Italian run is more practical: street parking, usually no wait on weeknights, and the kind of places where the best decision is made before you sit down. Osteria is the easiest default because you can walk in midweek, order arancini and risotto, and avoid turning dinner into a long comparison exercise. La Trattoria is the one to keep for a slightly richer meal when tiramisu matters. Nonna’s Kitchen and Il Forno are worth the trip if you are already moving around the area, especially if osso buco is what you want.
The useful local detail is timing. Midweek is the better bet for no queue and the full menu across all four venues. Street parking is available, and vegetarian options are listed at all venues, so mixed groups are not boxed into one safe pasta order. Skip this list if you need a loud, late, city-style Italian night with a long wine bar feel; that is not what these places are doing. If you are already west of Belgrave South and do not want the drive back into the hills, you should probably compare nearby suburb options instead of forcing this list to solve every dinner problem.
Who This Suits
If you are a weeknight local who wants the least risky dinner, pick Osteria and order risotto with arancini. If you are a dessert person, pick La Trattoria for tiramisu and accept the slightly higher spend. If you want osso buco above everything else, shortlist Osteria, Nonna’s Kitchen, or Il Forno, then choose by price: Osteria and Il Forno sit at $24-34, while Nonna’s Kitchen pushes to $35-45. If you are feeding a mixed group with vegetarians, any of the four can work, but Osteria is still the cleanest starting point. If you are chasing value first, check the price comparison carefully before you book.
Cost expectations are a little uneven. The venue notes put most meals around $24-39 per person, with Nonna’s Kitchen climbing higher, but the comparison table shows average per-person figures from $15 at La Trattoria to $32 at Il Forno. Treat those numbers as a guide, not a guarantee: what you order matters. Arancini and pasta can keep things sensible; osso buco and extras will push the bill up quickly.
Time of day matters more than season here. Go midweek if you want the quietest version of these restaurants and the best chance of walking straight in. Friday and Saturday are still worth booking ahead, especially for La Trattoria if tiramisu is part of the plan or Osteria if you want the safest all-rounder.
What to Do Next
Book Osteria for a midweek dinner, order the arancini first, and use La Trattoria only when tiramisu is the reason you are going. For a broader fallback list, read the Belgrave South best restaurants guide.
Price Comparison
| Venue | Avg Per Person | BYO | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osteria | $16 | Yes | Yes |
| La Trattoria | $15 | No | Yes |
| Nonna’s Kitchen | $28 | Yes | No |
| Il Forno | $32 | Yes | Yes |
Original Venue Notes
Osteria
Rating: 4.6/5 | Price: $24-34 per person | Best for: osso buco
A local favourite that consistently delivers. Usually no wait on weeknights.
What to order: risotto and arancini
Skip: nothing, it is all solid
La Trattoria
Rating: 4.8/5 | Price: $29-39 per person | Best for: tiramisu
A local favourite that consistently delivers. Usually no wait on weeknights.
What to order: tiramisu and osso buco
Skip: the dessert menu – stick to mains
Nonna’s Kitchen
Rating: 4.5/5 | Price: $35-45 per person | Best for: osso buco
Worth the trip if you are in the area. Usually no wait on weeknights.
What to order: pasta and pasta
Skip: the dessert menu – stick to mains
Il Forno
Rating: 4.8/5 | Price: $24-34 per person | Best for: osso buco
Worth the trip if you are in the area. Usually no wait on weeknights.
What to order: risotto and osso buco
Skip: the dessert menu – stick to mains
What to Know Before You Go
- Best night to visit: Midweek for no queue and full menu
- Booking recommended? Walk-in usually fine
- Parking: Street parking available
- Dietary options: Vegetarian options at all venues
All venues visited and verified in 2026. Prices and hours may change. Check venue directly before visiting.
