Man fatally stabbed in restaurant brawl

A man fatally stabbed during a brawl at a Melbourne restaurant has been remembered as a quiet, happy and gentle soul.

Deni Dimovski, 31, has been named as the victim of the brawl at the Korzo Grill House at Caroline Springs, where a group gatecrashed a private event early on Saturday.

About 30 people were partying at the Macedonian restaurant when another group arrived about 2am, sparking the fight, police said.

"He was a quiet man who was very happy -- he loved life," Mr Dimovski's cousin Gulapka Dimcevska told the News Corp Australia.

"He was gentle, not a troublemaker; he was very kind.

"This is such a tragedy. It's just devastating for us."

Dimovski's attacker fled the scene and remains on the run, while investigators urge witnesses to the attack to come forward.

Korzo Grill House could not be reached for comment but owners Jim and Jasmina Ribarovski told Fairfax Media that Mr Dimovski was a "very close personal friend".

"He was the most caring, genuine and helpful person we have known, always putting others first and willing to give a helping hand when needed," Mr Ribarovski said.