Bar Idda

4 Below Average

Food  4      Ambience  4      Service  5      Value  3     

Tiny portions, over priced, no ambience - major no no! To top it off, the 'owner' did not respond well to my very polite in person constructive criticism. In fact, undermined my feed back. I would not recommend for the price.

Feb 01, 2012 

5.5 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  2     

Wow, really disappointed. Don't believe that the menu is ideal to share, the portion sizes are tiny. Would anyone think that it's appropriate to share one arancini ball between 4 people? Please. Even the mains were roughly a tapas bar size. It's bizarre, they go for all this rustic charm & ambience, and then serve you things that the chef could have sneezed onto a plate. I would definitely not go back, what a farce. Dishes were tasty enough, but if they think one starter, one main & one side should be enough, they're deluding themselves. I'm completely amazed it rates so well.

Jan 21, 2012 

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

I can't praise Bar Idda enough. I have been there several times in the last year. It's the kind of place you pop into once and then can't get enough of. The food is very simple but equisite. I can still taste the caper berries bursting on my tongue when I think of the warm potato salad. Would go back just to sample their Sicilian olive oil again - it's really that good. The eggplant parmiagana is excellent. Ooh, the sardines! I love the simple decor, the staff are warm and friendly. The prices are very reasonable - especially for a carafe of wine! This is great for two people, or for a group. A little loud in the evenings, but worth it for the amazing food. Found it best to order a variety of dishes and share. That way you can pretty much order everything on the menu because I guarentee you'll want to.

Apr 03, 2011 

8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

I must say the first time I went to Bar Idda I wanted to go back again and again. And I did! I ate there recently after several months and I found it very different to its inception. Now-a few items on the menu that are not sicilian and not that great, oh the coffee was burnt. The service is fantastic which is why I'd probably go back. It's definitely a great local cheap eat but please Bar Idda stick to what you do best! Don't go spoiling it with northern italian dishes.

Jul 29, 2010 

7.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

Have had better Sicilian food in Melbourne I must say. Great, friendly and fast service but the food wasn't as wonderful as expected. Maybe we were expecting more as the reviewers had been raving about this place but I found the meatballs overpowered by the cinnamon and could not taste anything else. I couldn't even finish the meal. We had a large group so got to sample lots of dishes from the menu. Really can't understand the hype.

Apr 17, 2010 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

After a drink at the Alderman Bar next door, we were deciding where to eat and as Bar Idda was half empty, though we would give it a go (My partner had secretly been wanting to go there for 6 months).

The first thing we were struck by was how simply it has been set up, you really felt like you were in a little village trattoria in the back blocks of Sicily. The waitress was delightful and very helpful, and when we asked her to guide us through, she put together a selection of things for us to share.

Everything we ate was a delight, fresh and tasty and flavoursome without being overpowering. It really felt like home cooking. Their portions are not big, but sometimes it is nice not to stuff yourself when you go out for a meal.

We also has some house wine with dinner and that was probably the low point of the meal. If you can afford it, get a decent bottle of wine (its not BYO so you have to take what they have). Overall, a great dining experience, and one that I would thoroughly recommend.

Feb 02, 2010 

7.5 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  5     

The food here is tasty and very traditional. I have had dinner here twice, find the portions alittle small but I am a big eater. There needs to be some additional vegetarian options added to the menu.

The chocolate canoli are to die for! I've been back a few times just for dessert and coffee. My Greek girlfriends are still raving about the lamb chops encrusted in pistachio. Try Bar Idda if you like home style food. It's almost like the food my Nonna used to cook.

Nov 25, 2009 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

I like to add my praise to the growing number of reviews about Bar Idda. Between three people, we got the famed meatballs (beautifully sweet), a pasta dish, the pork and fennel sausage, some arancino entrees (my friend said should be happy just ordering a few of them for her meal), the red peppers, olive and broccoli dish and the potatoes.

Hard to pick a winner out of that lot, but I think I topped the list with my meatball order. Fresh, simple flavours which didn't have to compete for attention, and at around $30 each for our meals, pleasantly affordable. Chef Alfredo's wife Lisa was a lovely host, full of life and laughs, and the staff members really knew their stuff ând handy for someone who is not a Sicilian food buff. It's really great to see enthusiastic and talented young new restaurant owners doing so well early on in the piece.

Bar Idda has joined the small list of places I take out-of-town friends and family to for a memorable Melbourne food experience ând highly recommended.

Oct 07, 2009 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

Great addition to upper Lygon St, Tasty Sicilian food, great service. I will be back to try out more of the menu.

Aug 21, 2009 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

This place is awesome, authentic Sicilian! Food amazing, service great and a cute little setting.

Aug 04, 2009