Italian restaurants in Melbourne CBD anyone?

Yes, I recently tried out Rosati's in Flinders Lane (between Russell St and Exhibition). It's a large restaurant with a nice airy feel. And you can get lasagne!

Waiters restaurant upstairs in Meyer's place. Old school, big serves, delicious food, no wankers, not pretentious, relaxed and most enjoyable.

Hi guys,

I just got back from Rosati's in Flinders Lane (I took your advice melbournefan) and it was fantastic. Highly recommended for a nice Italian lunch. Great Risotto, and of course, great coffee.

Thanks for the help guys!

AJ

I think i've been to 'Waiters Restaurant'. It's this tiny place, with a real simple old decore ... but with good food! It's like it's a place that was opened in the 60's or 70's.. and hasn't been updated. Great and simple food, though :)

Hi guys,

Has anyone tried out the new Italian restaurant in crown? It's called Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons. I was walking past yesterday, and someone mentioned you can't actually book there, and they only accept walk ins. Looks quite "traditional" and must be good if it's a new restaurant at crown. Anyone been there?

AJ

Although it's not exactly in the CBD Scarpetta in Fitzroy is an excellent Italian restaurant. It's on Brunswick St.

UPDATE: So I had a beautiful dinner at Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons at Crown on Saturday night. It's not over the top expensive, about $100 per head (3 courses, and wine) and the food was fantastic. BUT the best part about the restaurant is the fact that they cut the bread right in front of you from large freshly baked loafs. AND they even do the same with the cured meats. So you know when you are ordering the prosciutto it's as fresh as can be. Entrees were very good, with a range of traditional Italian foods such as meatballs, risotto balls, seafood, antipasto etc. For main I had the Pasta with Crab baked in a bag. Sounds a bit weird, but was fantastic!!

Overall I'd give Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons a 4.5/5 and highly recommend it for anyone looking for Italian fine dining.

AJ

Pellegrini's too on Bourke St. Excellent plate of pasta for about $14 or whatever they decide to charge you on the day (the service is old school and can be brilliant or erratic). But it's good and cheap and has a great vibe.

Places to avoid - anywhere in New Quay Docklands - bland and overpriced!

Most Italian restaurants in Lygon St are pretty good

I'd disagree with that DArgy big time! I worked in Carlton for 3 years and tried a lot of places. A lot of the Italian restaurants on Lygon St are tourist traps. The food is way overpriced and is pretty average in quality. A tip from a local - never eat anywhere on Lygon St that has a spruiker out the front!

+1 Brian! i've lived in carlton for a while also and there's NOTHING WORSE that a cheesy bloody spruikers tying to pull me into their restaurant :( I mean SERIOUSLY ... trying to sleeze me into an establishment does nothing but make me NOT want to eat there. If your product is as good as you're trying to make it, then you won't need someone to grab you as you walk by. Many of those restaurants are tourist traps :( So true dude.

That said, i still like the street but don't go there for Italian food any more :( i go there for the shopping, for Borders, the cinema, the icecream, tiramisu and some of the awesome deli's (eg. the one opposite FCUK) for example.

So .. is there any other suburbs for nice Italian food, or streets, these days?

I'm pretty fussy with what I eat and always make an effort to cook something for the family at home, so when I eat out I expect something great. I don't actually mind the spruikers as you call them, if you've been to Europe you'll see that that is quite normal. It's the European way of welcoming you to their establishment. Here in Australia however it feels more like sleezey, pressure sales tactics : )

And on Lygon St it is pretty sleazy...

Has anybody been to Florentino's? Its always highly rated. I used to love The Latin which was on Latrobe but it closed down along with its sister The Tuscan

Bottega is lovely for special occasions.

Hi guys,

I thought I would revive this thread because I just got back from a trip to Sydney and had the very best Italian food I have ever had. I was recommended to go to a beautiful restaurant called Machiavelli on Clarence Street in Sydney. It was STUNNING. After a little more research I have discovered it has been around for a little over 20 years. All family run and owned, this amazing traditional Italian restaurant really brings a taste of Italy with it.

Details are:
Machiavelli Luxury Restaruant
123 Clarence Street Sydney
PH: (02) 9299-3748

SO after having what I consider the very best Italian outside of Italy, I was so disappointed to come to the realization that I have never been to anything like it Melbourne. Real traditional Italian food, where the salads don't come out pre-made, yet they are prepared in front of you by a 70yr old gentleman who clearly knows his stuff. Where even a basic spaghetti bolognese tastes special, and not like something from a can, and the prosciutto is hand sliced before your table to accompany your imported Italian red wine.

Can anyone help me please? Is there an traditional 'classy' Italian restaurant in Melbourne that can compete with Machiavelli?

AJ

AJ, I agree that Machiavelli is certainly authentic Italian food. Certainly not a cheap place to eat at though and was surprised how many politician's appeared to be dining there (tax payers footing the bill?!).

To be honest can not really think of anywhere in Melbourne that is similar. Possibly 'The European' in Spring St.

Hi tactix,

Thanks for the heads up, I think I have been to The European though. I wouldn't call it strictly Italian fare, but I would call it European (hence the name I guess). From memory I had a really goo old fashioned Pie from there. I don't work in the city unfortunately so I'll have to organise a dinner there on a weekend to try it out again.

Thanks for reminding me!!

AJ

I had an amazing dinner last weekend at Cecconis Cantina (61 Flinders Lane, Melbourne). The food was incredible and while not inexpensive, not as expensive as some of the top rated restaurants at Crown. www.cecconis.com

Definitely recommend!

My favourite Italian restaurants in the CBD:

1. Il Solito Posto: you can choose between the bistro (amazing pastas) or the restaurant which is $$ but lovely. This is in a little laneway up near 101 Collins. This is probably one of my favourites and often frequent it at least once a month!

2. Italy 1: amazing, traditional Italian food. Small and very intimate with Italian waiters. A must for a special occassion with your loved one. This is located in the same little laneway as Il Solito Posto.

3. Sud: traditional Southern Italian food, wonderful collection of wines. On King St, near Bourke St.

4. Il Bacaro on little Bourke St. Fabulous.

5. Guiseppe, Arnaldo & Sons in crown. Food is always fantasic however the service has been a bit on the average side of late.

What can I say; I love italian food. I am not a big fan of the European, or anywhere on Lygon St! I am a little dubious of some of the restaurants mentioned in this thread (no offence!). That said, Cecconis Cantina is quite lovely....

P.S Some great Italian eats in South Yarra would have to be Cafe e Cucina (expensive) or La Lucciola (great traditional italian food - cooked by a nonna out the back - at great prices).

What's Florentino's like in Bourke St?

Grossi Florentino has been around for a very long time. Good food, good service... I would certainly recommend it. For something more casual, try the Cellar Bar or the Grill downstairs.

Do you have to dress up for Florentino's? Heard it's strictly jacket and tie.

@JVS I second that vote for cecconi's as well. I went there for a nice romantic dinner with my girlfriend last year, and loved it. Great wine as well.

@lala81 great to see you on the site, keep it up!!! I have to completely disagree with on Il Solito Posto! I went there about 4 months ago for a dinner with friends, and did not like it much at all. The service was good, wine was good, but the food wasn't great IMHO. Perhaps it was my choice of food, but I just didn't like it compared some of the other Italian restaurants in town. I COMPLETELY agree with you on Guiseppe, Arnoldo & Sons at Crown. BEAUTIFUL food, and very relaxed atmosphere. I had Crab pasta and was delish. I'll have to try some of the other suggestions though, Italian is my fav as well :)

AJ

AJ - Disappointing to hear that you didn't enjoy Il Solito Posto. Perhaps it was what you ordered. I go there often and am never let down. The caprese salad is wonderful and the seafood marinara, matriciana and pretty much all their pastas are fantastic. Their tiramisu is to die for!

Hey guys,

I have discovered two new Italian restaurants, while not in the CBD, they are very close. One is called Ricardo's Trattoria in Albert Park. Always busy, and makes fantastic traditional Italian food. The other is a smallish cafe\restaurant called Provincia on Victoria Avenue in Albert Park. Both are fantastic, and I highly recommend them.

AJ

Hey guys,

One more bump, I went to Cecconi's again on the weekend, and was amazing even more so this time! Started with a prawn cocktail, and finished with a veal shin parpadelle for the main. Was delish!

Has anyone tried MAZE at Crown Metropol? I tried to get in there on Saturday night but they said they are booked for 14 Saturday's straight!

AJ

Yeah, I'd love to hear what people think of MAZE .. anyone?

Went to Maze Sat night. We decided to choose the Chefs menu which consisted of 7 dishes each to save us having to select off the a-la-carte menu. We were very impressed with the quality of food which is french with an Australia touch. The Ox tongue and cheek melts in your mouth! Whilst individually the price of dishes is reasonable ($15 - $30), you do need at least 5 dishes each to not go home hungry. We thought the service was a bit cold, if not efficient. I also thought the restaurant wasn't overly cosy and the view over Clarendon st is certainly nothing special. Overall came to $270 for 2 people including a bottle of sauv blanc.

Kewl Tactix :) and the atmosphere? cold also? And the other patrons? noisy?

Maze atmosphere was ok. There was a variety of patrons, young and old. Not too noisy, with tables nice and spread out.

Hi tactix,

Thanks for the mini-review of Maze. I'll definitely try it one day, but i must say when I walked past the atmosphere didn't look anything great? Almost a little too modern for a French restaurant. The prices on the menu looked good though, so I will try it for my next 'special' occasion.

AJ