Pino's Trattoria
/
Tucked away along the bustling main street of Cowes, Pino's Trattoria has long been considered one of Phillip Island’s dining institutions. For more than 30 years, the family-run restaurant has been welcoming locals, holidaymakers and returning visitors through its doors with the kind of warm hospitality that instantly makes you feel like part of the family.
Founded by the late Pino Scarlato in 1991, the restaurant continues to honour his vision of authentic Italian dining — generous food, flowing conversation and meals designed to be shared around the table. Today, Pino’s legacy lives on through his wife Rosa, their children and the wider Scarlato family, who continue to bring heart and soul to every service.
Step inside and the atmosphere feels unmistakably Italian. The dining room hums with energy as families gather over pizza and pasta, couples linger over wine and desserts, and large groups celebrate milestones over long lunches and relaxed dinners. It is the sort of place where memories are made, and where returning guests are greeted like old friends.
The menu champions classic Italian comfort food, beginning with beautifully executed starters like the calamari — tender Corner Inlet calamari dusted in semolina, lightly fried and served with potato salad, rocket, lemon and homemade aioli. It is fresh, crisp and perfectly suited to Phillip Island’s coastal setting.
Pasta lovers are spoiled for choice, though the oven-baked lasagna remains one of the restaurant’s enduring signatures. Layered with parmigiano, béchamel and a rich pork and beef Bolognese sugo, it delivers the sort of hearty satisfaction only a traditional family recipe can provide. Equally memorable is the prawn ravioli, enveloped in a creamy tomato sauce that balances richness with delicate seafood sweetness.
For those craving something deeply comforting, the osso bucco is a standout. Translating to “bone with a hole”, the classic Italian dish features cross-cut beef shank slowly braised in red wine jus until meltingly tender. Served with chunky potatoes, carrots and house bread, the marrow-filled bone at its centre adds an unmistakable depth of flavour that elevates the entire dish.
Pizza is another cornerstone of the menu and the marinara pizza captures the restaurant’s relaxed coastal spirit perfectly. Topped with mozzarella, tomato, prawns, calamari, parsley, garlic and olives, it is generously laden yet beautifully balanced, with a crisp base that holds its own beneath the seafood toppings.
No Italian feast is complete without dessert and Pino’s delivers in true trattoria style. The tiramisu is rich, creamy and comforting, while the vanilla bean pannacotta with poached pear and salted caramel offers a lighter finish with silky texture and delicate sweetness. Then there is the housemade gelato, with flavours like salted caramel and hazelnut proving impossible to resist.
While Phillip Island is renowned for its beaches, wildlife and iconic Penguin Parade, dining at Pino’s Trattoria is an experience worthy of adding to the itinerary in its own right. More than just a restaurant, it is a celebration of family, tradition and the enduring joy of gathering around good food — exactly as Pino intended.
Location: 29-31 Thompson Avenue, Cowes
Phone: 03 5952 2808
