Italian Dining In Melbourne
Are you looking for some good quality Italian food when you venture out from your luxury serviced apartments – Melbourne is famous for its Italian food. Fear not, there are many places where you can find great pasta and pizza, not to mention spaghetti and risotto! Tiamo, for instance, serves great coffee, and Grossi Florentino’s is probably the most famous Italian restaurant of them all. Ladro, situated on Gertrude Street, has fresh Italian produce, and absolutely yummy pizzas!
La Lucciola (Shop 4, 478, Chapel Street, South Yarra), has great priced food. Choose an entrée for $8 – $12, a main course for $15 – $22, and wine is available as well. Try out Trunk, situated at 275 Exhibition Street, the Chef is Andrew Hunt, this restaurant was established in December 2007. Originally, the space which now makes up the restaurant was used as a synagogue, then was the Italian restaurant Sillitto. The renovation is great, check out the ceilings which give a barn-like feel, the gardens are pretty as well. The hand-drawn graffiti style art and the mirrored panels catch your eye, not to mention the glossy tables. The menu is classic pan-Italian, juxtaposing tradition with a slight twist. Try the spaghettini with smoked eel, garlic, chili and pangrattato. If you want something small, you can go for crostini with agro dolce anchovies, or even the panzanella salad with wild rocket and parmigiano reggiano. The desserts are simply amazing, the Chocolate Florentine wafer with honey emifreddo tramezzino is top-class! You might even consider a cocktail from the bar, like an espresso martini (cold coffee, vodka, Kahlua, and star anise), or the Velvet Sip (vanilla meringue-style mixture of vodka and lavender mist). Do try and make a reservation before going to this place.
Grossi Florentino, like we said, is probably the best in Melbourne, if it comes to Italian restaurants. Situated at 80 Bourke Street, (down the road from several Melbourne short stay apartments) it is headed by Chefs Guy Grossi and Chris Rodriquez. It’s a truly romantic place to dine. The menus are bound in beautiful leather, the waiters provide great service, the chandeliers are elegant, and the Florentine murals on the wall provide an extra touch. The furnishing, cultlery, paneling, etc. is great – this is the place to come to if you want classy, opulent dining. Wine is available, there are even vegetarian options open to those who would like it, and there’s an outside dining area for those who’d like some fresh air.
We also suggest Brunetti, another decent Italian restaurant. You’ll find it at 194-204 Faraday Street, at Carlton 3053 VIC, and it has been around since November 1991. Be it a simple traditional Italian meal, or just an espresso and dessert, this Café will cater to all your needs. There’s a wide range of food available – Panini, bruschetta, calzone and soup. Do try something from the rather impressive pasticceria section – the opera cake (made up of layers of almond, sponge, coffee butter cream and chocolate ganache) is mouth-watering, you might even try a cup of mixed gelato. Vegetarian options are available, and you can dine outside if you wish.