Specialising in northern Italian contemporary cuisine, Centro Cafe has been trading in the same location since 1977. Originally known as Marcellino, Centro Cafe was the only Italian restaurant in South Melbourne for many years when it first opened. Today it boasts little competition in its select cuisine and a clientel that is made up mainly of regulars - food lovers that visit often enough so that the menu needs to be revised and updated every two months.

Many of the dishes on the menu are the chef's own unique recipes; dishes such as Con Lampascioni (Paper thin slices of marinated raw beef dressed with virgin olive oil and served with endive and baby wild onions), Conchiglie Di Mare (Pasta shells tossed with a selection of fresh seafood, shellfish, garlic, olive oil and tomato), Coniglio ai Funghi di Foresta (Braised rabbit in white wine, juniper berries and forest mushrooms served with a rabbit sausage and Esemolina) and our own version of the traditional Venetian dessert Pere Allo Zafferano. Entree prices range from $9.50 - $10.50, main courses from $10.50 - $19.50, and desserts from $7.50.

The carefully selected menu is complimented by an extensive wine list and a small wine bar. The wine list offers only fine Australian labels - the majority being from Victoria. The quality and excellence of the service have earned Centro Cafe numerous industry awards - including six "Good Food Award(s)" from The Age newspaper and four "The Good Life Awards(s)" from Melbourne's 3AW radio station. It has been listed in the "Age Good Food Guide" since 1982 and in 1995 won "The Australian Wine List Award" for its selection of Victorian wines.

In 1999 featured in Mietta's eating and drinking in Melbourne 1999.

At Centro Cafe you can choose to dine al fresco (during summer) or organise your own private function at one of our two private rooms (seating 36 and 12).