Osteria Renata: Handmade Pasta and Northern Italian Charm in Prahran

Building on the success of South Melbourne favourite Park Street Pasta & Wine, the team behind it launched Osteria Renata in 2022 — a refined yet welcoming Italian diner tucked behind a soft olive-green facade on High Street, Prahran.

While it shares DNA with its sibling venue, Osteria Renata brings something extra: a larger kitchen with a dedicated pasta lab, which now handcrafts fresh pasta for both locations.

Northern Italian Focus, Seasonal Ingredients

Pasta remains the heart of the menu, with a focus on northern Italian egg-based doughs and a selection of southern-style semolina pastas. A standout is the rock lobster spaghetti — a luxe take on spaghetti all’astice, served in a delicate lobster-shell bisque and finished with a whole lobster half.

Head chef Gus Cadden complements the pastas with an array of shareable starters: cacio e pepe gnocchi fritti, oysters with amaro mignonette, and chargrilled octopus with ‘nduja. Larger mains include veal cotoletta with Pecorino Romano and capers, and a comforting slow-cooked lamb shoulder served with cavolo nero.

A Space That Feels Like Home

Inside, natural light, terrazzo accents, and elegant timber tones lend the space a warm but elevated feel. A marble-topped bar invites relaxed aperitivi, and the considered wine list showcases Italian greats — like Barolo and Barbaresco — alongside local varietals from Victoria.

Despite the polished execution, there’s a deeply personal spirit behind Osteria Renata. It’s named after co-owner Alex Ghaddab’s grandmother, Renata — a Polish-Ukrainian matriarch whose heartfelt hospitality is the inspiration for the restaurant’s warmth and generosity.