When Rinaldo Di Stasio was inducted into the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Industry Legends Hall of Fame in 2009, he stood as a symbol of Melbourne’s culinary excellence.
Few could have imagined that, sixteen years later, his restaurant empire would teeter on the brink of collapse.
Yet as October 2025 draws to a close, that’s precisely the reality facing one of Melbourne’s most iconic dining figures.
Two of Di Stasio’s companies have been served winding-up applications over unpaid tax debts nearing $1 million—$200,000 owed by Cafe Di Stasio in St Kilda and $710,000 by Di Stasio Città in the CBD.
A federal court hearing, scheduled for 31 October, will decide their fate, leaving food lovers across Melbourne anxiously waiting for news.
A culinary journey four decades in the making
Rinaldo ‘Ronnie’ Di Stasio’s career spans more than forty years, marked by both risk and reinvention.
His first major venture, Rosati in Flinders Lane, opened in 1985 with the dream of transforming Melbourne’s laneway culture through a 500-seat venue that quickly became legendary—but short-lived.
'It was too big, too soon.'
That experience taught him an invaluable lesson about scale and control.
From the ashes of Rosati came the intimate, sixty-five-seat Cafe Di Stasio in St Kilda, which opened in 1988 and became a Melbourne institution for fine Italian dining.
What began as a modest space with nowhere to hide evolved into a beloved pilgrimage spot for those seeking not just exquisite cuisine, but an atmosphere steeped in culture and history.
More than restaurants—cultural institutions
Di Stasio’s venues have always been more than eateries.
With white-jacketed waiters, perfectly curated menus, and impeccable service, his restaurants exude old-world charm—yet their magic lies in something deeper.
They’ve long served as cultural crossroads for Melbourne’s artistic elite, attracting figures like Jenny Watson and Peter Booth, whose patronage mirrored Di Stasio’s own devotion to the arts.
This interplay between gastronomy and creativity became his signature—his dining rooms transforming into living galleries where art, conversation, and flavour met in perfect harmony.
Di Stasio's Melbourne legacy
1985: Opened 500-seat Rosati in Flinders Lane (closed)
1988: Launched Cafe Di Stasio in St Kilda
2009: Inducted into Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Hall of Fame
2019: Opened Di Stasio Città in the CBD
2020: Di Stasio Città named Gourmet Traveller New Restaurant of the Year
2021: Opened third venue in Carlton (not affected by current legal action)
When Di Stasio Città opened in 2019, it marked his triumphant return to the CBD after a three-decade hiatus.
The restaurant quickly earned acclaim, securing Gourmet Traveller’s New Restaurant of the Year title in 2020.
The mother behind the legend
Behind Di Stasio’s enduring legacy stands a story of sacrifice and faith.
His mother, who mortgaged their Thornbury family home to help him open his first restaurant, instilled in him the values that shaped his career.
‘It was she who taught me the lessons of sacrifice, generosity, long hours of overtime and love—and that restraint at the right moment is the most important ingredient of all in running a restaurant, and in life,’ he once wrote. ‘One of the most poignant moments in my personal journey came when I gave that mortgage back.’
Her belief became the cornerstone of his success, grounding his empire in gratitude and perseverance.
What hangs in the balance
The possible closure of Cafe Di Stasio and Di Stasio Città would mean more than the loss of two high-end restaurants—it would erase pieces of Melbourne’s cultural fabric.
Cafe Di Stasio has been described as ‘an intimate dining room that treads a delicate line between well-mannered elegance and indulgent decadence. A place for coming together, a gallery, a cultural centre, an atmosphere, an institution—a marker. More than a meal, Di Stasio is an event—no matter how momentous or intimate, how large or small—to be savoured, enjoyed and reminisced over.’
These words capture what’s at stake: a place that embodies both the art and heart of Melbourne dining.
Business as usual, for now
Despite the legal storm, Di Stasio’s business partner, Mallory Wall, confirmed that operations continue as usual.
Staff have been advised not to comment publicly, but both restaurants remain open—serving diners who may be unknowingly experiencing their final meals in these storied venues.
What makes Di Stasio special for Melbourne
- 37+ years of continuous operation at St Kilda location
- Integration of fine dining with art and culture
- Recognition as industry legend and cultural institution
- Personal story of family sacrifice and immigrant success
- Role in transforming Melbourne's dining landscape
The bigger picture
Di Stasio’s predicament mirrors the broader struggles of Australia’s hospitality sector—where high costs, taxes, and economic pressures have forced even the most established names into crisis.
That one of Melbourne’s most celebrated restaurateurs could face closure despite ongoing patronage reveals how fragile the industry has become.
What This Means For You
Rinaldo Di Stasio’s restaurants are facing court over nearly $1 million in tax debts, putting decades of hard work and Melbourne’s dining heritage at risk. For more than forty years, his venues have shaped the city’s food culture—places where generations gathered to celebrate, connect, and experience something truly special.
Cafe Di Stasio and Di Stasio Città have long stood as cultural landmarks, known for their elegance, artistry, and unforgettable atmosphere. Now, the outcome of the federal court hearing will determine whether these beloved icons can survive or become another memory of Melbourne’s ever-changing past. For anyone who’s ever shared a meal there, it’s a sobering reminder of how quickly even the most enduring institutions can fade.
While Di Stasio’s story captures the struggles of one iconic venue, it’s far from an isolated case.
Across the country, long-standing family restaurants are confronting the same mix of rising costs, tax pressures, and dwindling margins that threaten decades of history.
If you’d like to see how other beloved eateries are facing similar challenges, here’s another story worth reading.
Read more: Another wave of family restaurants face perfect storm as beloved institutions close their doors
Bombshell closure looms over popular Di Stasio eateries in Melbourne as they face seven-figure debt deadline — Sky News reports that Rinaldo Di Stasio’s restaurants face nearly $1 million in unpaid tax debts, with a federal court hearing set to determine their fate.
https://www.skynews.com.au/business/bombshell-closure-looms-over-popular-di-stasio-eateries-in-melbourne-as-they-face-sevenfigure-debt-deadline/news-story/d463d0350adc2bc8e62750652d950754
Five Minutes with a Legend: Rinaldo Di Stasio — Melbourne Food and Wine Festival — An in-depth profile of Di Stasio’s four-decade career, from his early ventures to his recognition as a Hall of Fame inductee in 2009.
https://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/people/five-minutes-with-a-legend-rinaldo-di-stasio/
Di Stasio Restaurants to Face Closure Amid Tax Debt Dispute — Concrete Playground covers the ATO’s winding-up applications against Di Stasio’s two companies and the looming deadline to settle tax debts.
https://concreteplayground.com/melbourne/food-drink/di-stasio-restaurants-risk-of-closing
Cafe Di Stasio | Italian Restaurant | St Kilda | Broadsheet Melbourne — A feature on the history and ambience of Cafe Di Stasio, describing it as a pilgrimage spot for fine Italian dining in Melbourne.
https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/st-kilda/restaurants/cafe-di-stasio
Bar Democratico by Di Stasio will redefine socialising in the city — Good Food explores Di Stasio’s influence on Melbourne’s arts scene and his restaurants’ role as cultural meeting places for artists and collectors.
https://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/news/bar-democratico-by-di-stasio-will-redefine-socialising-in-the-city-20200604-h1ojpa
Di Stasio Città | Italian Restaurant | CBD | Melbourne — Broadsheet recounts Di Stasio’s 2019 return to the CBD with Di Stasio Città, marking a new chapter in his long career.
https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/restaurants/di-stasio-citta
Di Stasio Città, Food and Wine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Visit Melbourne highlights Di Stasio Città’s recognition as Gourmet Traveller’s New Restaurant of the Year in 2020.
https://www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/melbourne/eat-and-drink/restaurants/vv-di-stasio-citta
Cafe Di Stasio—Updated 2025, Italian Restaurant in St Kilda, AU-VIC — OpenTable describes the venue’s signature balance between refined elegance and indulgent decadence, cementing its iconic status.
https://www.opentable.com.au/r/cafe-di-stasio-st-kilda
Di Stasio Città—Melbourne—Restaurant—50Best Discovery — 50Best Discovery profiles Di Stasio’s impact on Melbourne’s dining scene, recognising his role in shaping the city’s hospitality culture.
https://www.theworlds50best.com/discovery/Establishments/Australia/Melbourne/Di-Stasio-Citt%C3%A0.html
Losing Cafe Di Stasio or Di Stasio Città would mean more than losing restaurants—it would mean losing chapters of Melbourne’s soul. Have you ever dined there and experienced what made them special?
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