Restaurant
Dilano's Risotto Pasta Bar
18/84 Gorge Rd, Newton SA 5074, Australia
Find Dilano's Risotto Pasta Bar
18/84 Gorge Rd, Newton SA 5074, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Plan your visitAbout Dilano's Risotto Pasta Bar
Tucked into Gorge Road, this father-and-son pasta and risotto bar settles carb cravings in earnest. Diners who usually skip rice order the Arrabiata without hesitation—the kitchen works the mantecatura until every grain turns creamy, tuning chilli heat to exact request. Rich beef ragù over tender gnocchi shares billing with octopus plated alongside radish and fried capers. Johnny runs the floor tableside, swapping kitchen stories over heaping bowls while Friday and Saturday dinners fill every seat.
- Father-and-Son Hospitality: Johnny and Dilan run front-of-house personally, sharing cooking methods and checking in on every table.
- Pasta & Risotto Specialism: Scratch-made gnocchi ragù and rich risotto dishes take center stage over broad multi-course menus.
- Custom Heat Levels: Sauces are tailored on request, letting guests select their preferred heat scale from mild to fiery.
- Intimate Dining Room: A cozy, limited-capacity dining room where weekend reservations are essential.
What's On at Dilano's Risotto Pasta Bar
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Why Diners Choose Dilano's Risotto Pasta Bar
Discover why locals regularly book ahead for scratch-made pasta, signature risottos, and heartfelt hospitality—plan your visit and reserve a table today.
Scratch-Made Risotto and Pasta Specialism
Scratch-made sauces, velvety risotto mantecatura, and fresh pastas deliver authentic, deeply flavorful Italian comfort food that wins over even discerning diners.
The Arrabiata risotto was absolutely delicious, full of flavor and perfectly cooked.
Mahsa Salasi Tailored Chilli Heat Ratings
Guests can dial in bespoke chilli heat ratings directly into their sauces, ensuring each dish perfectly matches their spice tolerance.
Loved the seafood pasta had a 3/10 chilli next time I’m trying a 5/10
Sue Spicer Hands-On Culinary Storytelling
Father-and-son proprietors Johnny and Dilan share tableside narratives detailing the preparation methods and inspirations behind their dishes.
He even tells us how he prepares the food and stories behind them, and the story behind his business name and theme!
jasmine tabibi Charismatic Personal Hospitality
Charismatic, personal front-of-house presence creates an engaging dining room where guests feel directly looked after by the owners.
What made the visit even more special was the hospitality from the owners Dilan and Johnny, who were incredibly warm, friendly, and attentive.
Jasmine Lynch Treated Like Family at Home
Warm and attentive service dissolves formal dining distance, making guests feel like cherished personal houseguests rather than restaurant patrons.
From the moment we arrived, we felt like we were dining with family rather than simply being at a restaurant.
Lana Baker Unquestionable Value and Satisfaction
Generous portions and uncompromising ingredient quality ensure complete diner confidence that every dish delivers real value.
While Italian can often feel overpriced for what is served, lunch at Dilano’s was worth every bite.
Andrei Pick
Most popular items
From melt-in-the-mouth handmade pasta to standout seafood and classic desserts, explore the house favorites that diners rave about—plan your visit to experience them firsthand.
Gnocchi Ragù
Then the Gnocchi Ragu was heavenly, with soft fluffy clouds of gnocchi, not stodgy or gluggy. The ragu was also perfect in every way.
Michelle Green Tiramisu
Didn’t regret our choice, tiramisu was light, sweet and layered with flavour.
Xinyu Liu Octopus
Octopus paired with radish and fried capers just impeccable
Rebecca Strangio di Pollo
I chose the Strangio di Pollo, I was asked how hot I would like the chilli and woosed out at 1, turns out I made the right choice for my taste. This was again perfectly presented and cooked, and the home made chicken stock flavour was fabulous. Honestly, the chicken was moist tender and juicy absolutely perfect for me.
Spanner Nanna
Beyond the menu
From custom sauce spice scales to personal tableside storytelling, these hospitable details make every meal memorable—reserve a table to experience them firsthand.
Tableside Culinary Backstories
Owner Johnny regularly stops by tables to explain how dishes are prepared and share the personal history behind family recipes and restaurant traditions.
Calibrated Dish Heat Levels
Guests can specify their exact chilli tolerance on a numbered scale, allowing the kitchen to calibrate sauce heat directly into dishes like Strangio di Pollo and seafood pasta.
Texture-Matched Gluten-Free Pasta
Gluten-free diners receive dedicated culinary care with pasta crafted to match the exact bite and texture of traditional scratch-made pasta without compromising sauce adhesion.
Attentive Ingredient Tailoring
Staff actively talk guests through daily specials and offer proactive ingredient substitutions to ensure every dish suits individual tastes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to make a reservation?
Booking ahead is strongly recommended, especially for Friday and Saturday evenings, as the restaurant is cozy with a limited number of tables.
Are gluten-free options available?
Yes. The kitchen offers gluten-free pasta options that deliver the same texture and rich flavour as traditional pasta dishes.
Can dishes be customized for spice level?
Yes. You can customize the level of heat in your dishes upon request, such as selecting a mild or numbered chilli rating cooked into the sauce.
How generous are the portion sizes?
Dilano's serves generous, hearty portions across its pasta and risotto mains, with dishes like gnocchi ragù and seafood linguine offering substantial servings.
Explore more places in Adelaide
Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Adelaide.
Similar places
More places for the flavours and food you enjoy.
- Godi La VitaHyde Park · Italian, Restaurant, Cafe
- EDO CUCINALyndoch · Italian, Restaurant
- Trittico Italian Restaurant and CafeHackham · Italian, Restaurant
- The Killer Tomato Pizzeria - NewtonNewton · Pizza, Italian, Restaurant, Takeaway
- Bibo Bar and EateryKent Town · Italian, Australian, Cafe
- Chicco PalmsBrooklyn Park · Italian, Pizza, Restaurant, Bar
More in Newton
Keep exploring this neighbourhood.
- ShamoraNewton · Restaurant, Cafe
Discover more in Adelaide
Explore another side of the city's food and drink.
- Balthazar CafePasadena · Italian, Coffee, Restaurant, Cafe
- FRED EateryAldgate · Coffee, Modern Australian, Restaurant, Cafe, Takeaway
- Royal CopenhagenBrighton · Dessert, Restaurant, Food Court
- GillberriesDulwich · Cafe
- The Little RickshawAldinga · Southeast Asian, Restaurant
- Taste of NepalNorwood · Restaurant
- Rozelle'sSpringfield · Mediterranean, Cafe
- MALOBO Bakery & Terrace BarHenley Beach · Coffee, Restaurant, Bar, Cafe
- Dino's GreekAdelaide · Greek, Restaurant
- SixTwelve BrewingSaint Agnes · Brewery, Bar, Pub
- Gaucho's Argentinian RestaurantAdelaide · Argentinian, Restaurant
