Mondo di Pasta

THE VERDICT

You had us at bowls of pasta for under $20. 

Mondo di Pasta is living up to its name (world of pasta, for those of us who can’t speak Italian) with genre-bending flavours like a sizzling harissa carbonara or gochujang vodka sauce, and even a jamun–black plum—tiramisu for dessert.

The instantly recognisable green flagship restaurant in the QV, set to open on December 18, will join a Balaclava outpost (with a Thornbury iteration to follow) and promises us affordable, and customisable Italian food. They’ve definitely lived up to their word as every single dish is under $20. Basically unheard of these days. 

Heading up the trattoria is Prem Rasieneni, who formerly worked at Georges Blanc, in France, which is the world’s oldest Michelin-starred restaurant. 

“Mondo isn’t just about traditional Italian dishes,” says Rasineni. “It’s about exploring a world of flavours, which is why we named it Mondo—a world of pasta.”

The QV Melbourne menu will also run a stack of low-carb, high-protein and grain-free pasta alternatives, as well as plenty of vegetarian and vegan options—like a vegan baked alaska.

Bevvies include a bevvy of lunch staples like Italian sodas and spritzes, which you can suck back for a very wallet-friendly $10 during aperitivo hour (3:30pm-5.30pm) daily.

Find Mondo di Pasta next to Incu, on the corner of Albert Coates Lane and QV Food Hall, Level 1, QV Melbourne, corner Swanston and Lonsdale streets, Melbourne.

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