"I was in Melbourne for a three day meeting a few days before all international flights we cancelled due to I ended up staying at the hotel for days being separated all this time, and still, from my family who were living overseas....Melbourne, Victoria suffered not just one but two extremely restrictive lockdowns where one could only leave your abode for no more than one hour per day and you could not venture past more than from your residence. Although, by law, restaurants were unable to provide anything but a takeaway menu which more often than not arrived lukewarm. On the very first day Melbourne Restaurants were allowed to provide table service I went down to Acland Street for a meal. Even though the entire street was busy there was a carnival type atmosphere where everyone was excited to have a small level of normality after so long been looked in at home. Even though I didn't think I had a chance to get a table, without a reservation, I went to Cicciolina hoping to have a meal at possibly Melbourne's best Italian Restaurant. Even though there was a wait, about an hour, one it went by very quickly and two, it was well worth the wait. I started with a mixture of entree's, including the Scallops in the half shell, Beef carpaccio, pecorino, chili crumbs, rocket and San Danielle prosciutto, fior di latte, blood orange, radicchio. All three were absolutely fantastic, the presentation, temperature and flavor was stupendous. For my main meal I had Roasted lamb rump, artichokes, broad beans, smoked yogurt in a parsley sauce, although it was again absolutely fabulous and a reasonable portion I ordered Orrechiette marinara calamari, mussels, prawns, bug meat, tomato chili sugo which was absolutely to die for! Normally I don't have a desert, however our waitress, who as extremely knowledgeable and professional, recommended to have a desert and that the Sticky date pudding, butterscotch sauce, vanilla parfait with flaked almonds was probably the best in Melbourne, if not Australia. She was not wrong! The wine our waitress recommended was the Lenton Brae ‘Lady Douglas’ Cabernet Sauvignon or the Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon we had both. In whole the meal, ambiance and staff was absolutely fantastic, Cicciolina really lived up to their reputation."