Agostinis Italian Restaurant

Agostinis Italian Restaurant brings a family-owned take on Italian dining to Manuka, Canberra. The restaurant’s menu covers breakfast, lunch, dinner and takeaway, with a broad selection of house-made pasta, pizza, seafood, meat, sides and Italian desserts. Breakfast includes options such as brioche French toast, baked eggs, frittata and eggs your way, while the later menu moves through starters, fresh pasta, secondi, pizza and dolci. The website lists weekday breakfast from 6:30am to 11am, lunch and dinner from noon to 9:30pm, and takeaway from 6:30am to 9:30pm; breakfast begins at 7am on weekends and public holidays.

There are several distinctly regional and house-signature dishes to look for. Frico is a Friuli speciality made with thin layers of Montasio cheese and potato, while the restaurant describes its fried calamari as an Agostinis classic. The fresh pasta section includes fettuccine marinara, pappardelle with lamb ragù, lasagne al ragù and spaghetti with burrata. Pizza is offered on both red and white bases, including Margherita, Diavola, Capricciosa, Gamberi and the truffle pizza. For a larger occasion, the Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a 1.2-kilogram aged T-bone designed to serve two to three people, with 45 minutes’ preparation time noted on the menu. Desserts include tiramisu, cannoli, zeppole, affogato and gelato or sorbet.

The venue’s approach is rooted in family history. Agostinis began as a bar in Northern Italy before the owners’ family immigrated to Australia, and the Canberra restaurant was named in homage to their mother, Marisa. Owners Dion and Dan describe the restaurant as an expression of the simple Italian food and generous family gatherings they grew up with. Executive chef Francesco Balestrieri brings experience from Rome, Bologna and Sardinia, along with a stated focus on authentic Italian cooking and quality produce.

For groups, the restaurant offers set menus including Cena, which requires a minimum of two people, and Festa, designed for groups of at least seven. Its private dining space, Il Camino, is available for exclusive or partial hire for between 12 and 34 guests, with larger tables, flexible separation and a screen for semi-privacy. The space is suitable for guests aged 12 and over, and a food and beverage minimum spend applies. That makes Agostinis suited to shared family meals, group celebrations, work gatherings and private events, while the à la carte menu also provides plenty of choice for a more casual Italian meal. Agostinis holds a 4.3 Google rating from 1,164 reviews.