IL Matto Torquay

"This place was an absolutely incredible find, and totally unexpected! We were driving late at night on a public holiday, still far from Melbourne, and realized we wouldn’t make it there in time to eat. Around 10 PM, we stopped in Torquay, and this was one of the only places still open—and what a fantastic choice it turned out to be!

What We Ordered:
• Margherita Pizza – Our child loved it! The cheese and tomato sauce were rich and flavorful, and the pizza was well-made.
• Seafood in Tomato Sauce (a dish for two) – Outstanding! The seafood was perfectly cooked, with tender calamari, a generous portion of mussels, shrimp, and clams. The tomato sauce was delicious and well-seasoned, and it was served with freshly sliced focaccia—an absolute delight!
• Braised Beef in Shiraz & Italian Herbs with Corn Polenta – This dish was fantastic. The beef had been marinated for 48 hours in Shiraz, infused with aromatic Italian herbs, making it deeply flavorful and incredibly tender. The corn polenta was served as crispy sticks, adding a nice texture to the dish.
• Beef Carpaccio in Aged Jus – A bit of a surprise! Usually, carpaccio is thinly sliced raw beef, but here it was cured beef instead. It was still delicious, just not what we expected.

This restaurant was an unexpected gem, with fantastic Italian food and excellent execution. The seafood and slow-cooked beef were particularly outstanding, and the unique touches in the dishes made the experience even better. If you’re ever in Torquay late at night looking for a great meal, Il Matto is a must-visit!"

Nina Skalko

"We ordered arancinis and pizza. The arancinis were okay, but cold on the inside; their size was good—pretty big—and the flavour was also nice. The pizza capricciosa was good, a good size, and nicely flavoured. We also had tiramisu for dessert, and it was very delicious.

The service was funny. The staff were not rude, but not the most friendly or welcoming people. We mentioned the arancinis were cold, and a waiter said she would mention it to the manager, but no one else spoke with us or asked how the food was. We asked another waiter for a spoon, and he was so distracted that he did not return with it, so we had to ask another waiter for it."

ANA CAROLINA URIBE RUA

"Had an amazing experience at IL MATTO! The food was absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere was just perfect—relaxed, welcoming, and beautifully set up. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Since many menu items were listed in Italian, they kindly explained everything and made us feel right at home.

The Polenta Chips were out of this world—seriously the best fries I’ve ever had. Perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, paired with a great dipping sauce.

We tried the Chicken Gourmet Pizza, which was full of flavour, generously topped, and great value for the price. The Rigatoni All'Amatriciana was rich and satisfying, with just the right amount of sauce and cheese. Drinks were also spot on—refreshing and well balanced.

Definitely recommend this spot if you’re around Torquay. Can’t wait to go back!"

Ushan Liyanarachchi